The basketball world is mourning tonight, folks. Jason Collins, who made history in 2013 as the first openly gay player in NBA history, has passed away at 47 after a battle with Stage 4 glioblastoma.
Let me tell you something about Collins - this wasn't just a guy who played basketball. This was a man who changed the game in ways that had nothing to do with box scores. When he came out in April 2013 through that Sports Illustrated cover story, he didn't just open a door - he kicked it down for every athlete who came after him.
Collins played 13 seasons in the league. Seven franchises. The Nets, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Hawks, Celtics, Wizards. He was the 18th pick in the 2001 draft out of Stanford, where he shot an incredible 61% from the field. Not bad for a big man.
But here's what gets me - when Collins made his decision to come out, he knew the risks. He was at the tail end of his career. He could've just walked away quietly, collected his pension, and lived his life. Instead, he said: "I feel that I am good enough to play in the NBA and by the way, I'm gay."
That's courage, folks. That's what sports is all about.
He played that 2013-14 season with the Brooklyn Nets as an openly gay athlete, and you know what? The sky didn't fall. The game went on. And countless kids watching at home realized they could be themselves and chase their dreams.
When he was diagnosed with brain cancer last November, Collins faced it the same way he faced everything else in his life - with grace and determination. "As an athlete you learn not to panic in moments like this," he said, comparing his battle to "going up against prime Shaquille O'Neal."
