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Jason Collins, NBA’s first openly gay player, dies at 47 of brain tumor

On Tuesday, the NBA announced that Jason Collins, the league's first openly gay player, died at age 47 following a battle with brain cancer.
Collins became a historic figure in 2013 when he announced he was gay in a Sports Illustrated cover story, becoming the first active athlete in a major North American sports league to do so.
During his 13-year career, Collins played for six franchises and later served as an NBA Cares Ambassador; he traveled to Singapore this past winter for experimental stage 4 glioblastoma treatment.
His family said in a statement released by the NBA, "We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma."
NBA Commissioner Silver noted Collins' influence extended "far beyond basketball" as his twin brother, Jarron Collins, accepted the inaugural Bill Walton Global Champion Award on his behalf last week.

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The Globe & Mail

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Jason Collins, NBA’s first openly gay player, dies at 47 of brain tumour

Collins spent 13 years as a player in the league for six different franchises

40 minutes ago·Canada

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Reuters

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Jason Collins, NBA player and LGBTQ trailblazer, dies at 47

1 hour ago·United Kingdom

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US Magazine

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Jason Collins, 1st Openly Gay NBA Player, Dead at 47 Following a Battle With Brain Cancer

Former NBA star Jason Collins has died following a battle with brain cancer. He was 47. “We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma,” Collins’ family told the NBA in a Tuesday, May 12, statement, confirming the former athlete’s death. Collins — the first openly gay player in the NBA — will be remembered for not only his athleticism on the court but…

1 hour ago·United States

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BBC News

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Jason Collins: NBA's first openly-gay player dies aged 47

Collins shared late last year that he had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.

1 hour ago·United Kingdom

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CNN

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Jason Collins, NBA’s first openly gay player, dies at 47 of brain tumor

Jason Collins, the NBA’s first openly gay player who went on to become a pioneer for inclusion and an ambassador for the league, has died after an eight-month battle with an aggressive form of a brain tumor, his family announced Tuesday.

1 hour ago·Atlanta, United States

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