Former Brooklyn Nets player Jason Collins is suffering from Stage 4 glioblastoma. It is one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer. Collins, who married the love of his life and started a new chapter in May, recently updated ESPN after his family released a short statement saying he had a brain tumor earlier this year. As he prepares to fight the illness, he finds solace from one unexpected source: former opponent Shaquille O’Neal.

“As an athlete, you learn not to panic in moments like this,” Collins told Ramona Shelburne. “These are the cards I’ve been dealt. To me, it’s like, ‘Shut up and go play against Shaq.’ You want the challenge? This is the challenge. And there is no bigger challenge in basketball than going up against prime Shaquille O’Neal, and I’ve done that.”

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