He was 47.“Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar," Collins' family said in a statement released through the NBA. "We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses He was too ill to attend and his twin brother, former NBA player Jarron Collins, accepted the award on his behalf.“I told my brother this before I came here: He’s the bravest, strongest man I’ve ever known,” Jarron Collins said.Jason Collins averaged 3.6 points and 3.7 rebounds in his career