Jason Collins, The NBA's First Openly Gay Player, Dies At 47 From Brain Cancer

CBS Bay Area

May 13, 2026

Jason Collins, the NBA's first openly gay player, who went on to become a pioneer for inclusion and an ambassador for the league, has died, the NBA announced. He was 47.

Collins spent 13 years as a player in the league for six different franchises. He revealed in 2013 that he was gay, an announcement that came toward the end of his playing career.

Collins announced he was diagnosed with Stage 4 glioblastoma in December, which has an extremely low survival rate. In a statement through the NBA, the Collins' family said the former NBA player died "after a valiant fight with glioblastoma."

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