Former NBA participant Jason Collins died on Could 12, 2026, at age 47 after battling stage 4 glioblastoma. Greatest recognized for changing into the primary brazenly homosexual lively participant in a significant North American skilled sports activities league, Jason made historical past each on and off the courtroom throughout his 13-year basketball profession.
“We’re heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant combat with glioblastoma,” his household stated in a press release launched by the NBA. “Jason modified lives in surprising methods and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those that admired him from afar. We’re grateful for the outpouring of affection and prayers over the previous eight months and for the distinctive medical care Jason obtained from his docs and nurses. Our household will miss him dearly.”
Study extra about his life, together with his profession and well being, beneath.
He Performed 13 Seasons within the NBA
Jason made a reputation for himself at Stanford College, serving to flip the Cardinal into one of many prime groups in faculty basketball. After being chosen within the first spherical of the 2001 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets, he spent 13 seasons within the league enjoying for groups together with the New Jersey Nets, Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, and Washington Wizards.
After information of his loss of life broke, NBA commissioner Adam Silver stated Jason’s “impression and affect prolonged far past basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA and bigger sports activities group extra inclusive and welcoming for future generations. He exemplified excellent management and professionalism all through his 13-year NBA profession and in his devoted work as an NBA Cares ambassador.”
He added, “Jason can be remembered not just for breaking boundaries, but in addition for the kindness and humanity that outlined his life and touched so many others.”
He Made Historical past because the NBA’s First Overtly Homosexual Lively Participant
In 2013, Jason made historical past when he publicly got here out as homosexual whereas nonetheless an lively NBA participant, changing into the primary brazenly homosexual athlete in a significant North American males’s skilled sports activities league. He revealed the information in a Sports activities Illustrated cowl story that opened with the phrases, “I’m a 34-year-old NBA middle. I’m black. And I’m homosexual.” On the time, he was a free agent and later signed with the Brooklyn Nets for the rest of the season.
“After I selected to come back out, there was no scandal or something,” Jason later instructed ESPN. “This was like, I really feel that I’m ok to play within the NBA and by the best way, I’m homosexual. Simply so everybody is aware of, playing cards on the desk, that is the place I’m.” On the time, he was a free agent earlier than later signing with the Brooklyn Nets for the rest of the season. “Fortunately the Nets have been the one group that gave me a tryout,” he added.
Earlier than publicly popping out, he had been engaged to former WNBA participant Carolyn Moos. The pair ended their engagement in 2009. Within the August 2013 difficulty of Cosmopolitan, Carolyn opened up concerning the breakup, writing, “A month earlier than I used to be set to marry the person I cherished, he referred to as off the marriage. I had no concept why. He and I had been collectively for eight years. We had deliberate to have youngsters, construct a household.”
“Almost 4 years later, I bought my reply.”
He Had a Twin Brother Who Additionally Performed within the NBA
Jason’s similar twin brother, Jarron Collins, additionally performed within the NBA after the 2 starred collectively at Stanford College and Harvard-Westlake Faculty in Los Angeles.
Born simply eight minutes aside, the brothers have been chosen within the 2001 NBA Draft and each went on to have lengthy skilled basketball careers. Jarron later grew to become an NBA coach, profitable championships as an assistant with the Golden State Warriors earlier than becoming a member of the New Orleans Pelicans’ workers.
Shortly earlier than Jason’s loss of life, Jarron accepted the inaugural Invoice Walton World Champion Award on his brother’s behalf.
He Married Movie Producer Brunson Inexperienced in 2025
After greater than a decade collectively, the previous NBA star married Oscar-nominated producer Brunson Inexperienced in Could 2025 throughout a ceremony in Austin, Texas. Brunson is greatest recognized for producing movies together with The Assist, which earned him an Academy Award nomination.
The couple first met shortly after Jason publicly got here out in 2013 and remained collectively till he died.
He Died at 47 After Battling Mind Most cancers
Jason died on Could 12, 2026, at age 47 after battling stage 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive type of mind most cancers. He revealed his prognosis in December 2025, explaining that docs found a tumor after he started experiencing fatigue and complications.
He underwent surgical procedure, radiation, and chemotherapy whereas persevering with to talk brazenly about his well being journey, per The Athletic.
