(Photo Credits: Kathy Hutchins from Shutterstock)

Jason Collins, the first openly gay active player in NBA history, passed away at the age of 47 following an eight-month battle with stage 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. His family confirmed the news on Tuesday and released a statement through the NBA, saying Collins died peacefully after what they described as a “valiant fight” against the disease.

“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 from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.”

Collins revealed in late 2025 that he had been diagnosed with glioblastoma and had undergone treatments, including experimental therapy in Singapore. In essays and interviews during his illness, he spoke candidly about wanting to face cancer with the same honesty that defined his historic coming out more than a decade earlier.

The former center made sports history on April 29, 2013, when he publicly came out as gay in a first-person essay published by Sports Illustrated. His essay famously opened with the words: “I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay.”

At the time, Collins was still an active NBA player, making him the first openly gay active male athlete in one of North America’s four major professional sports leagues. His announcement was widely praised by fellow athletes, politicians, and LGBTQ+ advocates, including former President Barack Obama and late NBA commissioner David Stern.

Born in Los Angeles on December 2, 1978, Collins played 13 seasons in the NBA after being selected 18th overall in the 2001 NBA Draft. Over the course of his career, he suited up for teams including the New Jersey Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards, and Brooklyn Nets. He was known less for flashy statistics and more for his defense, leadership, and physical play in the paint.

Collins’ impact extended far beyond basketball. His decision to come out publicly became a landmark moment for LGBTQ+ visibility in professional sports and helped pave the way for future athletes to live openly. In 2014, he became the first openly gay athlete to play in one of the four major North American men’s professional sports leagues when he returned to the Nets after signing a 10-day contract.

Following his retirement later that year, Collins remained active as an advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion and anti-bullying initiatives. He also honored murdered gay student Matthew Shepard by wearing jersey number 98, referencing the year Shepard was killed in a notorious anti-gay hate crime.

Tributes from across the basketball world quickly poured in following news of his death. Former teammates, NBA executives, LGBTQ+ organizations, and fans praised Collins for his courage, kindness, and groundbreaking legacy. Former teammate Jason Kidd called him a “pioneer,” while others described him as someone who permanently changed the culture of professional sports.

Collins is survived by his parents and twin brother, former NBA player and assistant coach Jarron Collins, and his husband, film producer Brunson Green, whom he married in May 2025 in Austin, Texas, after dating for over a decade.

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