Jason Collins, the first openly gay NBA player, dies at 47 from brain cancer - BERITAJA

Jason Collins, a longtime NBA halfway who became the first openly cheery antheral to play successful immoderate of America’s 4 starring master sports leagues, died Tuesday pursuing months of curen for glioblastoma. He was 47.

The NBA announced Collins’s decease successful a connection issued connected behalf of his family.

“Jason changed lives successful unexpected ways and was an inspiration to each who knew him and to those who admired him from afar,” the connection said. “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.”

In 2013, Collins made history done an effort successful Sports Illustrated. He had been mulling whether to spell nationalist since 2011, he said.

“I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay,” he wrote.

His determination was wide praised wrong and extracurricular of the NBA. Then-President Barack Obama called him to definitive his support, and Steve Nash, a two-time NBA MVP, posted his “maximum respect.”