Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleTim ReynoldsWednesday 13 May 2026 00:56 BSTCollins played 13 seasons for six different NBA franchises (AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman)Jason Collins, the NBA's first openly gay player and a pioneer for inclusion, has died at 47 after an eight-month battle with an aggressive brain tumor.His family announced Tuesday that Collins succumbed to Stage 4 glioblastoma, a condition with an extremely low survival rate.Collins made history in 2013 by publicly revealing he was gay near the end of his 13-season NBA career, playing for six different franchises.NBA Commissioner Adam Silver praised Collins' impact, stating he helped make the sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations.Just last week, Collins was awarded the inaugural Bill Walton Global Champion Award, which his twin brother Jarron Collins accepted on his behalf due to his illness.In fullJason Collins, first openly gay NBA player, dies at 47Thank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in