Former NBA center Jason Collins, the league’s first openly gay player, is undergoing treatment for a brain tumor.
The NBA revealed the news on behalf of Collins’ family on Thursday.
“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’ family said in a statement shared by the NBA.
Collins played with six teams during his 13-year career, including a stop with the Boston Celtics in 2012-13. The 7-footer averaged 1.6 rebounds in 32 games.
A 2001 first-round pick, Collins registered 3.6 points and 4.4 rebounds over 735 games. Collins began his NBA career by making back-to-back NBA Finals appearances with the New Jersey Nets.
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“Sending our love and support to @jasoncollins98 and his family,” the Nets wrote on social media.
Collins became the first openly gay man to play in any of the four major North American sports leagues when coming out in 2013. His No. 98 jersey, worn to honor the memory of Matthew Shepard, became a top seller when Collins returned to the Nets during the 2013-14 season.
Collins has served as an NBA ambassador and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. The 46-year-old married film producer Brunson Green earlier this year.
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His alma mater, Stanford University, released a statement from associate head coach Eric Revino, who coached Collins and his twin brother, Jarron, in college from 1997 to 2001.
“Jason is truly a pillar of the Stanford basketball, and he has been an inspiration in his life after playing as well,” Revino said. “As today’s statement from the NBA notes, we should respect Jason and Jarron’s privacy during this time, while keeping him in our thoughts and prayers. Hold onto your favorite Jason story, and think about what you’ll share with him when he wins this battle.”