Jason Collins, the first openly gay player in major North American professional team sports, has died at 47. The cause of death has not been confirmed, but tributes have poured in from across the Atlantic, where British sport has particularly embraced his legacy of courage and authenticity.
Collins, a 7-foot centre, played 13 seasons in the NBA, including stints with the New Jersey Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards, and Brooklyn Nets. His career averages of 3.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game belie the seismic impact of his decision to come out publicly in 2013.
At the time, Collins was the only active male athlete in a major US sport to be openly gay. His announcement, published in Sports Illustrated, was a watershed moment for LGBTQ+ representation in athletics. “I’m a 34-year-old NBA centre. I’m black. And I’m gay,” he wrote. That statement reverberated globally, but it found particular resonance in the United Kingdom, where football, rugby, and cricket have long grappled with similar barriers.
In the years since, Collins became a respected advocate for inclusion, working with organisations such as the Human Rights Campaign and speaking at universities and corporate events. He also served as a mentor to younger athletes navigating their own identities. British sports figures, including footballer Thomas Hitzlsperger and rugby star Keegan Hirst, have cited Collins as an inspiration. Hitzlsperger, who came out after retiring, called Collins a “trailblazer who made it easier for the rest of us.”
The legacy of Jason Collins is not measured in points or rebounds but in the doors he opened. For every LGBTQ+ athlete in the UK who has felt the weight of silence, his example was a counterweight. British sport, for all its progress, remains a domain where masculinity is often rigidly defined. Collins’ courage, broadcast in one of the most macho arenas on earth, showed that authenticity could coexist with athletic excellence.
His death comes at a time when LGBTQ+ rights are under renewed scrutiny in various parts of the world. In the UK, legislation like the Gender Recognition Act and debates around conversion therapy continue to polarise. Collins’ life stands as a reminder of the human cost of discrimination and the power of visible role models.
The NBA released a statement calling him a “leader whose impact extended far beyond the court.” The Brooklyn Nets, where he played his final season, said: “Jason was a pioneer who changed the game for the better. He will be deeply missed.” British media, from the BBC to The Guardian, have led tributes, emphasising his role in advancing equality.
Collins is survived by his mother, father, and twin brother, Jarron, also a former NBA player. Funeral arrangements are pending. As the world of sport mourns, the example of Jason Collins endures: a testament to the fact that the most profound changes often begin with a single act of truth.
In a time of climate crisis and geopolitical tension, his story reminds us that individual courage can catalyse cultural shifts. The biosphere of human rights may be fragile, but it is sustained by people like Collins, who refuse to live a lie. His legacy is not just in the rafters of arenas but in the quiet courage of every young athlete who now feels able to be themselves.
