Hardin, the former fiancee of late NBA trailblazer Jason Collins, spoke exclusively to Us Weekly about his death

Barkley also believes there are still several gay players in many North American sports who have yet to come out due to societal pressure.

Trailblazing NBA center and former Atlanta Hawk Jason Collins, who made history as the first openly gay active athlete in major North American professional sports, has died at 47 years old.

On Tuesday, the basketball world was hit with heartbreaking news after the deaths of former NBA star Jason Collins and former Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke shook fans across the sport. So ahead of their matchup against the Las Vegas Aces at Mohegan Sun Arena,