Jason Collins, the NBA veteran who made history in 2013 as the league’s first active player to come out as gay, passed away today after a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. He was 47 years old.
Collins, known for his physical inside presence and steady rebounding, played 13 seasons in the NBA for six different teams. He was selected 18th overall by the Houston Rockets in the 2001 NBA Draft after a standout college career at Stanford, where he still holds the record for career field goal percentage. Alongside his twin brother Jarron, Collins was inducted into the Stanford Hall of Fame in 2017.
His family released a statement through NBA Communications, saying: “We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma. Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received. Our family will miss him dearly.”
Collins’ best season came with the New Jersey Nets in 2004-05, when he averaged 6.4 points and 6.1 rebounds over 80 games. He later returned to the Nets (then the Brooklyn Nets) in 2013-14 on a 10-day contract, marking the final stop of his playing career. Shortly after that signing, Collins graced the cover of Sports Illustrated and wrote a first-person article publicly opening up about his sexuality for the first time.
Following his retirement in 2014, Collins became an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ causes and served as an NBA Cares ambassador. He announced his cancer diagnosis in 2025, telling ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne that what he initially thought was brain fog turned out to be glioblastoma. The tumor made simple tasks like packing for a trip nearly impossible.
According to the Mayo Clinic, glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive malignant brain tumor in adults, classified as a grade four tumor that spreads quickly and is difficult to remove completely.
Jason Collins is survived by his husband, Brunson Green; his parents, Portia and Paul; and his brother, Jarron. His legacy as a trailblazer and beloved teammate will be remembered far beyond the basketball court.
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