Trending Now - Trailblazing NBA Player Jason Collins Passes Away at 47

WHO:

Boston.com - Jason Collins, NBA’s first openly gay player

CBS News US - Jason Collins, a pioneer for inclusion and ambassador for the league

NBC News - Jason Collins, the first openly gay man to play in any of America’s four leading professional sports leagues

TMZ - NBA commissioner Adam Silver

WHAT:

Boston.com - Collins died at the age of 47 from a brain tumor.

CBS News US - Collins' family announced his death.

Fox News Sports - Collins made history as the first active openly gay player in major American sports.

NBC News - Collins died following months of treatment for glioblastoma.

NY Post - Collins announced in November that he had Stage 4 glioblastoma.

WHERE:

NBC News - Collins was associated with the NBA, a major professional sports league in the United States.

WHEN:

NY Post - Collins' family revealed the news of his passing on a Tuesday.

WHY:

Boston.com - Collins had been diagnosed with Stage 4 glioblastoma, which has an extremely low survival rate.

HOW:

NBC News - Collins underwent months of treatment for glioblastoma before his death.

(UPDATED May 13, 2026 01:33 UTC)

Jason Collins, the NBA’s first openly gay player and a significant figure for inclusion in sports, has passed away at the age of 47 after a battle with Stage 4 glioblastoma. His family announced the news on a Tuesday, revealing that Collins had undergone months of treatment for the aggressive brain tumor. Collins made history not only as a pioneer in the NBA but also as the first openly gay man to play in any of America's four major professional sports leagues.