Former NBA player Jason Collins has died at the age of 47 after battling Stage 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, for the past eight months. His family confirmed the news on Tuesday through a statement released by the National Basketball Association.

Collins made history in 2013 when he became the first openly gay active player in the NBA. His announcement was widely praised across the sports world and helped create a more inclusive environment in professional basketball.

In their statement, Collins’ family said, “Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to everyone who knew him. We are grateful for the love and support shown during his illness and for the care provided by his doctors and nurses.”

Collins played 13 seasons in the NBA and represented six teams during his career, including the Brooklyn Nets, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves and Washington Wizards. He averaged 3.6 points and 3.7 rebounds during his NBA career.

One of the best periods of his career came with the Nets, where he helped the team reach two NBA Finals. In the 2004-05 season, Collins averaged 6.4 points and 6.1 rebounds.

Last week, Collins was honored with the inaugural Bill Walton Global Champion Award at the Green Sports Alliance Summit. Due to his illness, he could not attend the ceremony. His twin brother and former NBA player Jarron Collins accepted the award on his behalf and called him “the bravest and strongest man” he had ever known.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver paid tribute to Collins, saying his impact went far beyond basketball. He praised Collins for helping make sports more welcoming and inclusive for future generations.

Former teammate and coach Jason Kidd also shared an emotional tribute, describing Collins as a courageous pioneer and an incredible teammate.

Collins publicly revealed his sexuality in a first-person article published by Sports Illustrated in April 2013. At the time, he was a free agent and later returned to play 22 games with Brooklyn during the following season.

During his later NBA years, Collins wore jersey number 98 as a tribute to Matthew Shepard, whose death became an important symbol in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.

Tributes continued to pour in from across the basketball world and civil rights organizations after news of his death became public. A moment of silence was also held before the NBA playoff game between the Timberwolves and the Spurs in honor of Collins.

Before entering the NBA, Collins was a standout player at Stanford University. He was selected 18th overall in the 2001 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets.

Jason Collins will be remembered not only for his basketball career but also for breaking barriers and inspiring millions around the world.