Jason Collins, NBA’s first openly gay player, dies at 47 - BERITAJA

Jason Collins, the NBA’s first openly cheery subordinate who went connected to go a pioneer for inclusion and an ambassador for the league, has died aft an eight-month conflict pinch an fierce shape of a encephalon tumor, his family announced Tuesday.

Collins spent 13 years arsenic a subordinate successful the convention for six different franchises. He revealed successful 2013 that he was gay, an announcement that came toward the extremity of his playing career.

Collins had been diagnosed pinch Stage 4 glioblastoma, which has an highly debased endurance rate. He was 47.

“Jason changed lives successful unexpected ways and was an inspiration to each who knew him and to those who admired him from afar,” Collins’ family said successful a connection released done the NBA. “We are grateful for the outpouring of emotion and prayers complete the past 8 months and for the exceptional aesculapian attraction Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.”

Just past week, Collins received the inaugural Bill Walton Global Champion Award astatine the Green Sports Alliance Summit. He was excessively sick to be and his copy brother, erstwhile NBA subordinate Jarron Collins, accepted for him.

“I told my relative this earlier I came here: He’s the bravest, strongest man I’ve ever known,” Jarron Collins said while accepting that award.

Jason Collins averaged 3.6 points and 3.7 rebounds successful his career. He helped the New Jersey Nets scope 2 NBA Finals and successful his champion play averaged 6.4 points and 6.1 rebounds for them successful 2004-05.