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13-year NBA veteran Jason Collins dies at 47
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13-year NBA veteran Jason Collins dies at 47

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Matt Wadleigh  |  Last updated May 12, 2026 7:03 PM ET
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Jason Collins, who spent 13 years in the NBA, has died at the age of 47.

Collins suffered from Stage 4 glioblastoma, and the family sent out a statement, saying they are “heartbroken.”

“We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma. Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar.  

"We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses.  Our family will miss him dearly.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver also released a statement and sent his condolences to the Collins family and mentioning that Collins’ “impact and influence extended far beyond basketball.”

Collins spoke about his battle with brain cancer in December 2025, saying it was a “very aggressive” form and adding that the tumor came on “incredibly fast.”

In 2013, Collins made history when he became the first active, openly gay player in the four professional sports leagues.

Collins was the No. 18 overall pick by the Houston Rockets in the 2001 NBA Draft, and he played college basketball at Stanford.

Collins played the first six seasons of his career with the New Jersey Nets before being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2007-08 season.

Collins also played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks (3 seasons), Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards before finishing his career with the Nets in 2013-14.

The news of Collins’ passing comes on the same day that Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke died at the age of 29.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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