Jason Collins spent 8 years playing for the Nets (7 of those years when the Nets were in New Jersey), but he was also the first publicly gay athlete to play in any of the 4 North American sports along with being one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2014. https://t.co/s5fqqBIedh

— Sharif Phillips-Keaton (@SharifKeaton) September 11, 2025

The Brooklyn Nets have had plenty of great players come through to represent the franchise since its inception and Nets fans have had some fan favorites that are celebrated across the league. One of the players that Brooklyn had on the roster, center Jason Collins, is going through a medical episode that the NBA and the Nets are supporting him through.

Collins’ family announced, via the NBA, on Thursday that “NBA ambassador and 13-year NBA veteran Jason Collins is currently undergoing treatment for a brain tumor. Jason and his family welcome your support and prayers and kindly ask for privacy as they dedicate their attention to Jason’s health and well-being.” Collins played in the NBA for 13 years and eight of those seasons playing for the Nets.

Collins did not have a prolific career during his time in the NBA as he averaged just 20.4 minutes per game, but he saw some of his best years during his time with the Nets. Collins, 46, averaged 4.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game while shooting 41.1% from the field and 64.7% from the free-throw line while being part of arguably the most successful era in the franchise’s history.

Collins’ impact transcends just being an NBA player as he publicly announced that he was gay after the 2012-13 season, making him the first publicly-gay player in one of the four major North American sports leagues. Not only that, but Collins was also named one of the top-100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine in April of 2014.

The hope is that Collins can receive the kind of treatment for his brain tumor that allows him to make a full recovery and get back to his life as an NBA ambassador and prominent figure in general. Collins had some of his best moments during his time with the Nets, including making history, but at this time, the most important task is for him to get healthy.