Brooklyn Nets Center Jason Collins Dies At 47

BROOKLYN, NY— Jason Collins, who played for the Brooklyn Nets and broke barriers as the NBA’s first openly gay player, died after brain cancer treatment.

Brooklyn Nets center Jason Collins, who became the first openly gay athlete to play in a major North American professional sports league, died Tuesday at age 47 after a battle with glioblastoma, his family said in a statement released through the NBA.

The Nets organization confirmed his death and honored his impact on the franchise, where Collins returned late in his career and played during the team’s move to Brooklyn.

“Those who were around Jason every day knew him not just as a competitor, but as a genuinely kind, thoughtful person who brought people together,” the Brooklyn Nets said in a statement. “His impact extended far beyond the court.”

Collins played briefly for the Brooklyn Nets in the 2013–14 season after signing late in his 13-year NBA career.

He appeared in 22 games alongside veterans Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez under coach Jason Kidd.

Kidd, a former teammate turned head coach, said Collins earned immediate respect in the locker room.

“He fit right in,” Kidd said in a statement. “He competed, he worked, and he made everyone around him better by how he approached the game every day.”

Paul Pierce described Collins as steady and professional during a high-pressure season in Brooklyn.

“He came in and did his job,” Pierce said. “No noise, no distractions — just a teammate who showed up ready every day.”

Collins made international headlines in 2013 when he announced in Sports Illustrated that he was gay while still an active NBA player.

“I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay,” he wrote.

The announcement made him the first openly gay athlete in one of the four major U.S. professional sports leagues while still active.

The moment drew support from across the league, including from then-President Barack Obama and NBA players across multiple teams.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Collins’ influence reached far beyond basketball.

“He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career,” Silver said. “His impact and influence extended far beyond basketball.”

Collins played 13 seasons in the NBA after being selected 18th overall in the 2001 draft out of Stanford. He played for multiple franchises, including New Jersey and Brooklyn, before retiring in 2014.

Former teammate Kevin Garnett also remembered Collins as a strong locker room presence during Brooklyn’s transition era.

“Solid teammate, solid pro,” Garnett said. “He handled everything with class.”

In September, Collins announced he had been diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor. He later underwent experimental treatment and briefly returned to public events, including NBA appearances and honors.

The National Basketball Players Association called Collins “a global beacon of hope for the LGBTQ+ community,” adding that his courage “shattered barriers.”

Collins is survived by his husband, Brunson Green; his parents; and his twin brother, Jarron Collins, a former NBA player and coach.