Jason Collins, the first openly cheerful player in the NBA and now a league ambassador, is undergoing treatment for a brain tumor, his family announced on Thursday.
Collins announced its homosexuality in 2013, becoming the first openly cheerful athlete to evolve in one of the four main North American sports leagues. He retired in 2014 after a 13 -year -old career, marked by passages to New Jersey, Memphis, Minnesota, Atlanta, Boston, Washington, before making a return with Nets after their transfer to Brooklyn.
His family sent a press release to the NBA on Thursday.
“Jason and his family welcome your support and your prayers and pray to you to respect their intimacy, because they are dedicated to the health and well-being of Jason,” the statement said.
Collins displayed averages of 3.6 points and 3.7 rebounds during his career. In his best season, he had 6.4 points and 6.1 rebounds on average with the Nets in 2004-2005.
