“Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar,” his family said

NEED TO KNOW

• Jason Collins, the first openly gay athlete in a major North American sports league, has died after he was diagnosed with Stage 4 gioblastoma
• After retiring, Collins became a global ambassador for basketball and worked to make sports more inclusive
• Collins is remembered for his leadership, kindness and impact on the NBA and LGBTQ+ representation in sports

Jason Collins, the NBA’s first openly gay player, died of brain cancer, his family said on Tuesday, May 12. He was 47.

In September 2025, the NBA and Collins’ family said he was undergoing treatment for a brain tumor. Three months later, Collins shared in an ESPN essay that he was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma, “one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer.”

Collins’ family said he died after a “valiant fight” with glioblastoma in a statement released by the NBA.

“Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar,” his family continued. “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, a native of Northridge, Calif., began his NBA career in 2001 when he was drafted by the Houston Rockets. He made his NBA debut with the New Jersey Nets, playing in the NBA Finals at the end of his first season. Collins later played with the Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards.

Collins came out in a 2013 Sports Illustrated essay. In February 2014, he signed with the now-Brooklyn Nets and became the first openly gay player in any of the four major professional North American sports leagues. He announced his retirement from basketball in November 2014.

“When I did come out publicly, it was interesting, it was very rare, but I got back-to-back calls from Oprah Winfrey and President Barack Obama,” Collins recalled in a November 2025 interview with ESPN. “President Obama said, ‘Congratulations —what you’ve done today will have a positive impact on someone you might not ever meet in your lifetime.’ ”

“I think that’s a really cool thing and I want to do that again as far as having an opportunity to help someone that I might not ever meet in my lifetime,” Collins said.

After retiring, Collins became a global ambassador for basketball. He was honored with the first Bill Walton Global Champion Award at the Green Sports Alliance Summit last week, but he was too ill to attend. His twin brother, Jarron Collins, who also played in the NBA, accepted on Collins’ behalf.

“Jason Collins’ impact and influence extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations,” NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares Ambassador.”

“Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others,” Silver continued. “On behalf of the NBA, I send my heartfelt condolences to Jason’s husband, Brunson, and his family, friends and colleagues across our leagues.”

In addition to Jarron, Collins is survived by his husband, Brunson Green, and his parents, Portia and Paul Collins.