Jason Kidd Grieves Death of Jason Collins, First Openly Gay NBA Player
Summary
Jason Collins, the first openly gay player in a major American professional sports league, has died at 47 from a severe brain cancer called glioblastoma. Many people in the basketball community, including former teammate and coach Jason Kidd, expressed their sadness and honored Collins' courage and impact.Key Facts
- Jason Collins died from stage 4 glioblastoma, a deadly brain cancer, at age 47.
- He publicly shared his cancer diagnosis in December through an ESPN essay.
- Collins was the first active openly gay athlete in a major U.S. sports league when signed by the Brooklyn Nets in 2014.
- He came out as gay in April 2013 in a Sports Illustrated cover story.
- Collins played 13 seasons in the NBA for several teams, including the Nets, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Hawks, Celtics, and Wizards.
- Former teammate and coach Jason Kidd expressed grief and praised Collins as a pioneer and courageous person.
- The NBA and its commissioner Adam Silver released statements honoring Collins and sending condolences to his family.
- The San Antonio Spurs held a moment of silence for Collins and recently deceased player Brandon Clarke before a game.
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