By TIM REYNOLDS<\/p>\n
Jason Collins, the NBA\u2019s first openly gay player who went on to become a pioneer for inclusion and an ambassador for the league, has died after an eight-month battle with an aggressive form of a brain tumor, his family announced Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Collins spent 13 years as a player in the league for six different franchises. He revealed in 2013 that he was gay, an announcement that came toward the end of his playing career.<\/p>\n
Collins had been diagnosed with Stage 4 glioblastoma, which has an extremely low survival rate. He was 47.<\/p>\n
\u201cJason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar,\u201d Collins\u2019 family said in a statement released through the NBA. \u201cWe are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Just last week, Collins received the inaugural Bill Walton Global Champion Award at the Green Sports Alliance Summit. He was too ill to attend and his twin brother, former NBA player Jarron Collins, accepted for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told my brother this before I came here: He\u2019s the bravest, strongest man I\u2019ve ever known,\u201d Jarron Collins said while accepting that award.<\/p>\n
Jason Collins averaged 3.6 points and 3.7 rebounds in his career. He helped the New Jersey Nets reach two NBA Finals and in his best season averaged 6.4 points and 6.1 rebounds for them in 2004-05.<\/p>\n