Jason Collins, the 13-year NBA veteran who reshaped professional sports history when he became the league’s first openly gay player, has publicly revealed the full extent of his health crisis: a diagnosis of Stage 4 glioblastoma, one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer.

Collins, who now serves as an NBA ambassador, shared the details this week in a deeply personal interview, explaining that the initial September statement from his family announcing treatment for a brain tumor was "intentionally vague" to protect his privacy during a time of immense struggle. Now, he is speaking out to share the gravity of his illness and his determination to fight it.

The diagnosis followed a sudden onset of symptoms, including profound memory loss and difficulty with focus, which culminated in a CT scan that revealed a fast-growing, baseball-sized tumor in his brain. Collins described the glioblastoma as "multiforme," a highly aggressive form that grows rapidly within the confines of the skull and is tragically difficult to treat, especially due to its proximity to his frontal lobe.

The prognosis for glioblastoma is grim, with Collins confirming the average life expectancy for the standard course of treatment is only 11-to-14 months. However, the former New Jersey Nets center is drawing on the resilience that marked his career, comparing the challenge to facing the toughest opponents on the court.

"We aren't going to sit back and let this cancer kill me without giving it a hell of a fight," Collins stated.

His decision to go public and pursue innovative therapies, including targeted chemotherapy at a clinic in Singapore, mirrors the courageous step he took in 2013. By becoming the first active male athlete in a major U.S. professional sports league to come out as gay, Collins put himself on a highly visible frontier. He sees himself in a similar position now, hoping his journey toward experimental treatment might pave the way for others.

Collins is currently undergoing radiation and targeted chemotherapy aimed at slowing the tumor's progress while he awaits the development of personalized immunotherapy. The fight, supported by his husband, Brunson Green, and family, is characterized by hope and a refusal to accept the statistical probabilities of the disease.

The battle against glioblastoma is not only a personal one for Collins but also a continuation of his public life as an advocate. By being transparent about his struggle, the former NBA star once again uses his platform to offer visibility and support for those facing their own profound challenges.