Charles Barkley hopes the death of Jason Collins, the first openly gay player in NBA history, can serve as a wake-up call for some sports fans.
“When he came out, man, I thought it was amazing to put himself under the microscope and the scrutiny and the hatred and the vitriol that was going to happen,” Barkley, 63, said of Collins on ESPN’s Inside the NBA on Wednesday, May 13. “But man, I hate the way this story ended. Because he was a shining example [of], ‘Do you, man.’ Obviously anybody out there who is struggling with their sexuality, do you. Gay people have the right to do what they want to do. It’s nobody else’s business at all.”
Collins’ death was announced by his family on Tuesday, May 12, after the basketball trailblazer was diagnosed with stage IV brain cancer in November 2025. He was 47 years old.
Collins came out as gay in a Sports Illustrated cover story in May 2013, near the tail end of his 13-year career in the NBA.
“For him to come out, it was great,” Barkley added on Wednesday. “Obviously, a lot of times, especially in the Black community, when you’re gay, you get treated awful. And that sucks, too. But I was proud of him for coming out. When I got that news yesterday, it just sucked.”
Barkley later pushed back when cohost Kenny Smith suggested it wouldn’t feel “as big” if a professional athlete came out now, thanks in large part to Collins leading the way.
“In fairness now, if another guy did it, it would still be a big deal because we live in a homophobic society,” Barkley said. “And that’s unfortunate.”
Barkley added, “First of all, anybody who thinks we ain’t got a bunch of gay players in all sports, they’re just stupid. But there is such animosity toward the gay community. And that’s what’s really unfortunate.”
Collins also received praise from Inside the NBA cohost Shaquille O’Neal.
“We only live one lifetime,” O’Neal, 54, said. “You must always speak your truth. And he spoke his truth. I have no problem with that. Overall, he was a great human being.”
O’Neal’s sentiment was echoed by Inside the NBA anchor Ernie Johnson, who said he would routinely run into Collins at events in his post-playing days.
“The guy was just nice,” Johnson, 69, raved. “He was just a gentleman. A guy firm in his beliefs. And a guy who really, through his words and through his actions, has told us all: ‘You don’t have to live in the shadows.’”
