Jason Collins, NBA trailblazer, dies at 47

sportsMay 13, 20267918,384

Jason Collins, the NBA's first openly gay active player, died at 47 after a battle with brain cancer. The 13-year NBA veteran came out publicly in 2013 while still active, a landmark moment for professional team sports. Collins spent the past decade as a global ambassador and advocate for LGBTQ inclusion, helping make the NBA and other leagues more welcoming to LGBTQ athletes.

Phil Lewis

@phillewis.bsky.social

Jason Collins, the NBA's first openly gay player who has served as a global ambassador for the sport, has died from brain cancer, his family said. He was 47 www.espn.com/nba/story/_/...

66907h ago

David Daniel207

A good basketball player and a great human being. May his memory be a blessing to his family and the world.

CherylTruth4255

😢 My bro died today. He won't care whether Jason was gay when they meet today at St Peter's Gate

Lexine Sage43

Too young. Fuck cancer. I still have this issue. Something like this wouldn't be done today and it's a shame, to say the least. RIP Jason 🕯🕊

Orlando Hawkins (Ph.D)35

What is going on today with the deaths of NBA players? So sad.

Boudicasal29

RIP Jason. Well done 👏

Coretta Anderson27

Devastatingly sad. Jason was a lovely human being and an incredible ambassador for the NBA. May he rest in eternal peace.

Abby L20

That's the one that got my dad. Much love to his family, and condolences

ZoZo14

Met him once at the Forum. A really good guy. RIP.

Ernesto12

#RIP to former NBA player #JasonCollins, the first openly Gay, active, male pro athlete. Hard to explain what a big deal it was in 2014 when Collins signed with the Nets. He took number 98 in tribute to Matthew Shepard, the Gay teen murdered in a horrific hate crime. JC was brave and will be missed.

Blkshrink11

When I saw this I immediately thought “Isn’t he a twin?” and looked it up…he is. Brother Jarron. Condolences to his family, friends, and all of loved and appreciated him…☮️❤️‍🩹

BanmarNJ10

Glioblastoma is such a bitch; may he rest in peace

mrbluesky5810

RIP. May his memory be a blessing.

♿️Maestro Fluger (he/him)10

Collins AND Clarke on the same day.

Alan7

Gone too soon. The nasty comments online are vulgar. We have gone backwards as a country.

korbelrenokia7

So young. Sincerest condolences to his family and friends.

ingemarknows.bsky.social6

This makes me very sad. Wishing his family and friends peace & comfort. 🕊

Dona Dickinson5

💔 condolences to his family.

Giygas5

Sucks. Brain cancer sucks. Had it, dealt with treatment and side effects. 3 too many brain surgeries. Wish instead of shit fuck war we could fund cancer research and actually do something good

🚫👑Is he dead yet?🚫👑5

Such sad news. He was literally a trailblazer and brave as hell.

veritasok5

So sad. I’ll wear my Collins jersey tonight in remembrance.

That Other Dude5

May his memory be a blessing for his family and friends. Also, from a purely selfish POV, I hate it when I see good people, good people 20 years younger than I am, die.

Elise4

Oh no. How terribly sad.

Booboo's Mom 🐈‍⬛4

Last week, Jason had won the Bill Walton Global Champion Award. His twin brother Jarron, accepted the award for him as he was too ill to attend the ceremony. Rest in Peace. 🙏

massholio.bsky.social4

Jesus. What a gut punch. RIP

Kalavender4

I'm so sorry to his family and loved ones. My husband also died from brain cancer. I wish them all the very best.

Astro Friend3

RIP. Condolences to his family, relatives, friends, and all who knew him.

teresalfenton.bsky.social3

Condolences to his family. Very sad loss.

Zack Loran Clark3

Rest in power, Jason. Thank you for everything.

John Pettus3

Man, I remember Jason and Jaron being the first twin towers at Stanford (before the Lopez brothers). So sad to see this.

Susan Brown3

Rest in Peace, Mr. Collins; thank you for making such a difference.

Good Trouble3

It absolutely pisses me off knowing that evil mfer is still alive while beautiful souls like Jason are taken way too early. My grandma was right: god leaves the mean ol' cusses. 🤬💔

Lyndsay3

That is so sad 💔

Grateful-1.bsky.social2

Ooooh NO 😢...This is beyond heartbreaking!...RIP, dear Jason 🙏...

Brian..2

Is it really important to mention he was the first openly gay player? The man died from brain cancer Anything to get a fucking click

Zu2

Too soon, young ancestor, RIP!

ELIZE2

A trailblazer in every sense. His courage paved the way for others to be their authentic selves.

SpartyParty2

RIP Jason. You have given so many people hope and helped them navigate a very difficult time in their lives.

Dwight Williams 🇨🇦2

My respect to his memory.

🥀2

may jason’s memory live on 🕊️

Sandy2

My heart breaks for his momma.

Boaz Nash2

Gosh, how sad. I wish I heard more about him while he was alive. (Not really a big basketball fan though..)

Lady Lo2

I hope he knows how much we care.

Diaspora20222

I am crushed 😩 I have followed Collins’ fellows since high school. FUCK glioblastoma!! I lift his brother, their parents & Jason’s husband 🙏 #HarvardWestlake

Dave Zirin

@edgeofsports.bsky.social

RIP to former NBA player Jason Collins, the first openly Gay, active, male pro athlete. Hard to explain what a big deal it was in 2014 when Collins signed with the Nets. He took number 98 in tribute to Matthew Shepard, the Gay teen murdered in a horrific hate crime. JC was brave and will be missed.

18317h ago

Chris in SF13

He was a real one. The world lost something today.

Peter Kaufman11

Real nice, NBC, breaking for a Fan Duel ad DURING a moment of silence. Classy.

Tammie Visintainer11

I didn’t know that about his number! Thanks for sharing. RIP hero 🫶🏼

deon-botl.bsky.social8

Bad day for NBA players

I slapped SCOTUS and Ouiser Boudreaux🥄😷7

May his memory be a blessing.

Duchess of Naught3

This is so sad. 😢

Seabeck3

im wearing #98 now, mourning his loss. (I've kept it on a special shelf in my closet wearing it for only special occasions.)To commemorate his coming out in 2013 the NBA sold his #98 Brooklyn Nets jersey with all proceeds going to the Trevor Project (www.thetrevorproject.org)

Shams Charania Tweets

@shamsbot.bsky.social

13-year NBA veteran Jason Collins has died at 47 years old after a battle with Stage 4 glioblastoma. Collins was the first active, openly gay player in NBA history. RIP.

16577h ago

trynastay.bsky.social20

Devastating news. Horrible day for the NBA. 🕊️

2BeOrNot2Be18

That is a brutal death. I worked as a neuro RN in my early years in nursing. May he RIP.

jerseymom545.bsky.social14

My dad died from glio, my heart breaks for his family, way too young.

Sarah 🦼8

I don’t even watch basketball, but damn the news was rough. Both players ridiculously young.

Jackie8

This cancer took my mother's life as well, it's horrible. RIP

Kid Coheed aka Fat Leftist on Cruise4

Thoughts with his partner, his twin brother and his entire family

Molly Knight

@mollyknight.bsky.social

Here is Jason’s essay about being the first active player in one of the four major men’s U.S. sports to come out as gay. What an absolute hero who will never be forgotten: www.si.com/more-sports/...

14237h ago

Four Seasons Total Landscaping (not really!)15

As courageous an athlete as we have ever had.

Lucie’s Human12

I can’t say this emphatically enough…FUCK CANCER

Peter Delevett4

I loved watching Jason play at Stanford. His senior year, he was a wrecking ball inside who could also stroke the three-pointer. The Nets fleeced Houston for his draft rights (along with Richard Jefferson’s), and they became a quietly effective tandem. I was glad when he signed with my Celtics. +++

Scone Mason2

Oh man. That disease fucking sucks. I’ve had two people in my life die from GBM.

Willow 💫2

“I’m crazy about my nieces and nephew, and I can't wait to start a family of my own.” :(

Julia Poe

@juliapoe.bsky.social

Rest in peace to Jason Collins, an unthinkably brave person and incredible leader for the LGBT community. Over a decade later and his coming out column is still an astonishing piece of writing. Wish the sport had caught up more and that he could have lived to see it.

11827h ago

mrkickbacknchill.bsky.social12

Come on man… RIP😔. Another young man leaving too soon.

Brett’s club is heading to a European final6

Rough day for NBA players leaving this world much too young.

paradigm317.bsky.social4

I’m so sorry to hear this. Far too young

Dylan Max's4

Thank you for sharing, i didn't know about this man before

Scott Lange4

RIP to a history maker.

Monte Poole

@montepoole.bsky.social

Pour one out for Jason Collins. First - and only - openly gay man to suit up as an active NBA player. Gone at 47. Glioblastoma. Rest easy big fella. Sending warm thoughts to his twin, Jarron, and the rest of the family.

10027h ago

Ariella Layton3

May his memory be a blessing.

Olman Feelyus2

Oh that's really sad. RIP. A great human.

Snagz

@snagzwontdie.bsky.social

RIP, brave soul. For all you fought thru and damn cancer took your life - NBA should build a statue by the Hall of Fame. Trailblazer, and a true warrior fighting a brutal killer. apnews.com/article/jaso...

4667h ago

Kathy Mortensen 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ 🇺🇦🇺🇸 🖇 🐸 💙 🌵 🏊‍♀️ 🛶2

Oh. Damn cancer. Such courage . True warrior is a great description Snagz

Micah

@rincewind.run

man this fucking sucks, cancer is awful Jason Collins was the man

5117h ago

Chris Kluwe43

Oh jeez that sucks, I met him a couple times, really nice dude :/

theblandone.bsky.social3

Glioblastoma is just the effing worst. Hate this disease.

Zeroisanumber2

Every story I ever heard about this guy he was always a real gent.

John

@johnbull.wtf

They just cut away from Brandon Clarke and Jason Collins moment of silence for a Draft Kings commercial 😭😭😭😭 Adam Silver's NBA is disgusting

4135h ago

CanucksPropagandaMachine5

This funeral is brought to you by Bet 365. At Bet 365 we mourn the loss of insert name here. Insert name here was a trailblazer in insert sport here.

ipitythefooldrt.bsky.social4

Gambling ruins everything. I stopped watching the nba because of it. Gambling disproportionately affects minority communities/families. Shame on the minority spokesmen who cash that check to sell addiction to everyone (esp their own people). Looking at you Kevin, Jaime etc

Steve2

Disgusting people Bring Magic City night back

diggersurvives.bsky.social2

I know! So disrespectful. It pussed me off & I turned the channel.

Charlotte Clymer

@charlotteclymer.bsky.social

Jason Collins didn’t rest on his laurels as a groundbreaking athlete or wait for others to be leaders. He stepped up and turned his personal advocacy into a call for universal human rights. 1/2

3273h ago

The Athletic

@theathletic.com

Former veteran center Jason Collins has died at the age of 47, the NBA announced. Collins was the first active, openly gay player in league history and had a storied career including two NBA Finals appearances. www.nytimes.com/athletic/727...

2527h ago

Topher, chipper and chirping5

Damn. A sad basketball day.

grklawyer.bsky.social4

Heartbreaking to die so young, fuck cancer, RIP🙏

Bob

@definitelyjustbob.bsky.social

NBC really cut to a fucking Draft Kings ad during a moment of silence for Brandon Clarke and Jason Collins. Holy shit, that’s ghoulish.

2215h ago

Yashar Ali 🐘

@yasharali.bsky.social

Very sad news… Jason Collins, who made history as the first openly gay NBA player, has died. Collins, who was 47, had been diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma.