“He had courage like you’ve never seen,” Kidd wrote on social media.
Hall of Fame point guard Jason Kidd and the Brooklyn Nets community are mourning Jason Collins, the longtime Nets center who passed away on Tuesday after battling brain cancer.
The 47-year-old Collins announced last fall that he’d been diagnosed with Stage 4 glioblastoma.
A 2001 first-round pick acquired in a draft-night trade with the Houston Rockets, Collins played parts of eight seasons with the Nets. He made league history in 2014 as the first openly gay player to appear in an NBA game.
“Those who were around Jason every day knew him not just as a competitor, but as a genuinely kind, thoughtful person who brought people together,” the Nets wrote on social media. “His impact extended far beyond the court, and his courage and authenticity helped move the game — and the world — forward.”
Collins and Jason Kidd were teammates for seven seasons, and reunited again in February 2014. At the time, Kidd was the Nets’ head coach, and the team desperately needed big man depth.
The Nets signed Collins to a 10-day contract less than a year after he came out as gay in a Sports Illustrated interview. Collins quickly earned a second 10-day contract and remained in Brooklyn through season’s end.
“Jason Collins was a pioneer,” Kidd wrote on Twitter/X. “He had courage like you’ve never seen.”
Nets radio announcer Chris Carrino added, “Kind. Smart. Tough. Courageous. A wonderful human being. RIP, Twin.”
ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk, who previously covered the Nets and Knicks, recalled Collins being considered a long-term, unathletic backup upon entering the league.
“He overcame that with his smarts, brawn, work ethic, selflessness,” Youngmisuk wrote. “He was the teammate every good team needs.”
Collins averaged 3.6 points and 3.7 rebounds over 13 seasons, though he didn’t need long to establish himself as an imposing defensive presence. He averaged at least 2.9 defensive win shares for four straight seasons beginning in 2002.
“Those who knew him were blessed to call him a friend,” Kidd said. “You are already missed my brother. Rest in power.”
In addition to the Nets, Collins played for five other teams, including a three-year stint with the Atlanta Hawks. He retired in 2014 and transitioned into an ambassador role with the NBA.
Roundtable Sports sends its condolences to Collins’ loved ones.
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