The news broke early this morning: Jason Collins, the first openly gay active player in the history of North America’s National Basketball Association, has died at the age of 47. While the cause of death has not been officially confirmed, tributes have already begun to pour in from across the Atlantic, with British sporting figures and LGBTQ+ campaigners remembering him as a trailblazer whose courage transcended the game.
Collins, who played for six NBA teams over 13 seasons, came out in a 2013 Sports Illustrated article. At the time, he was a journeyman centre known more for his gritty defence than his scoring. But that single act of honesty changed the landscape of professional sports. In Britain, where football, rugby and cricket have long struggled with homophobia, Collins’ announcement was a beacon. It showed that a man could be both a professional athlete and openly gay. It gave hope to young players hiding in the shadows of locker rooms.
“He didn’t just play basketball, he paved a road for others to walk,” said Clare Balding, the British sports presenter and LGBTQ+ advocate. “For so many young athletes in this country, Jason was proof that you could be yourself and still be respected.”
British basketball, though a minority sport here, felt his impact keenly. The British Basketball League issued a statement calling Collins “a giant of the game whose bravery will never be forgotten.” Former Great Britain international and current coach, John Amaechi, who came out as gay after his own NBA career, tweeted: “My heart is broken. Jason carried a weight that no one should have to bear alone. He did it with grace. Rest in power.”
But Collins’ influence was not confined to the court. He became a symbol of the fight against prejudice in all sports. His jersey from that historic season hangs in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In Britain, his story was taught in schools as part of diversity programmes. The Premier League, which has faced criticism over its record on LGBTQ+ inclusion, cited Collins when launching its Rainbow Laces campaign in 2013.
His death comes at a time when the battle for equality in sport is far from over. Just last month, a survey by the LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall found that one in three LGBTQ+ fans in Britain still do not feel safe attending live sporting events. Collins’ legacy is a reminder of how much progress has been made, and how much more is needed.
“Jason made it possible for me to play the sport I love without hiding,” said Ryan Atkin, the first openly gay referee in English professional football. “I never met him, but he changed my life. We have lost a hero.”
Collins retired from the NBA in 2014, but he remained an activist. He spoke at schools, universities and corporate events. He endorsed candidates who championed equality. He married his partner, Matt, in 2014. The couple had no children.
In a 2019 interview with the Guardian, Collins spoke about the loneliness of being a pioneer. “You are always aware that you are representing more than yourself. One mistake, one bad game, and people will use it to judge everyone like you. But you keep going because the next kid deserves better.”
Today, British sport mourns. The flags at the London Stadium, Wembley and Twickenham should be lowered. At sports grounds across the country, fans will observe a silence. For a man who played his trade thousands of miles away, in a sport that is not our own, Jason Collins became one of ours. Because courage has no borders.
He is survived by his twin brother, Jarron, also a former NBA player, and their mother, Waltavia. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
