Overview
- Charles Barkley used an ESPN segment honoring Jason Collins to say the United States remains homophobic and that many gay pros stay closeted.
- Barkley called Collins courageous and a trailblazer who faced scrutiny and hate after publicly sharing that he was gay.
- Co-hosts Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson praised Collins’ impact, saying his openness showed others they did not have to live in the shadows.
- Collins died at 47 from glioblastoma, with his family confirming the brain cancer and his earlier disclosure that it had progressed to Stage 4.
- Collins wrote a 2013 Sports Illustrated essay coming out and then played for the Brooklyn Nets in 2014, becoming the first publicly gay athlete to appear in one of the four major U.S. pro leagues.