Jason Collins of the NBA has died

[CuriousByNature]

I don't follow basketball, but I saw an announcement that Jason Collins passed away today from glioblastoma.  He was the first openly gay NBA player, and shared his diagnosis about 9 months ago.  He was 47 years old.  RIP.

[JayCeeKy]

From an ESPN article in December, 2025:

"Jason Collins played for six teams across his 13-year NBA career and was the first active, openly gay player in NBA history. He is currently undergoing treatment for Stage 4 glioblastoma. This is his story.

A few months ago, my family released a short statement saying I had a brain tumor. It was simple, but intentionally vague. They did that to protect my privacy while I was mentally unable to speak for myself and my loved ones were trying to understand what we were dealing with.

But now it's time for people to hear directly from me.

I have Stage 4 glioblastoma, one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer. It came on incredibly fast.

In May I married the love of my life, Brunson Green, at a ceremony in Austin, Texas, that couldn't have been more perfect. In August, we were supposed to go to the US Open, just as every year, but when the car came to take us to the airport, I was nowhere near ready. And for the first time in decades, we missed the flight because I couldn't stay focused to pack.

I had been having weird symptoms like this for a week or two, but unless something is really wrong, I'm going to push through. I'm an athlete.....-

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Another reminder that pro athletes are, like all of us, human and just as fragile and vulnerable. They may look and feel super human, but they’re just like us. I wish peace to Jason's husband, Brunson,  and to his entire family with perhaps some consolation that Memories are the last gift of love.