Jason Collins, NBA's first openly gay player, dead at 47

Jason Collins, a longtime NBA relation subordinate who became wide known successful 2013 arsenic the archetypal openly cheery progressive subordinate successful a large American sports league, died Tuesday astatine property 47.

Collins passed distant pursuing an eight-month conflict with Stage 4 glioblastoma, an assertive signifier of encephalon crab helium had been warring since past August.

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The ex-center’s decease comes arsenic the NBA is besides mourning Memphis Grizzlies guardant Brandon Clarke, 29, with the losses unfolding wrong a abbreviated span.

Brooklyn Nets halfway Jason Collins conducts a vigor interrogation pursuing a 108-102 triumph against the Los Angeles Lakers astatine Staples Center successful Los Angeles, Calif., connected Feb. 23, 2014. (Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports)

Brooklyn Nets halfway Jason Collins warms up earlier a crippled against the Milwaukee Bucks astatine BMO Harris Bradley Center successful Milwaukee, Wis., connected March 1, 2014. (Benny Sieu/USA TODAY Sports)

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released a connection connected Tuesday regarding the loss:

"Jason Collins’ interaction and power extended acold beyond hoops arsenic helium helped marque the NBA, WNBA and larger sports assemblage much inclusive and welcoming for aboriginal generations. He exemplified outstanding enactment and professionalism passim his 13-year NBA vocation and successful his dedicated enactment arsenic an NBA Cares Ambassador.

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"Jason volition beryllium remembered not lone for breaking barriers, but besides for the kindness and humanity that defined his beingness and touched truthful galore others. On behalf of the NBA, I nonstop my heartfelt condolences to Jason’s husband, Brunson, and his family, friends and colleagues crossed our leagues."

Jason Collins of the Brooklyn Nets plays against the New York Knicks astatine Madison Square Garden successful New York City connected April 2, 2014. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Collins built a agelong NBA vocation arsenic a role-playing center. The 7-footer retired of Stanford averaged 3.6 points and 3.7 rebounds crossed 13 seasons and was chiefly utilized successful antiaircraft and carnal matchups.

Collins saw rotational minutes for the New Jersey Nets during their back-to-back NBA Finals appearances successful 2002 and 2003.

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In 2013, Collins drew nationalist attraction erstwhile helium came retired successful a first-person effort for Sports Illustrated, becoming the archetypal progressive NBA subordinate to bash so. He returned to play 1 last play with the Brooklyn Nets successful 2014 earlier aboriginal serving arsenic an NBA Cares Ambassador.

Collins is survived by his husband, movie shaper Brunson Green, and his duplicate brother, Jarron, who followed a akin way done Stanford and the NBA.

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