Jason Collins, NBA’s First Openly Gay Player, Dies at 47

Jason Collins, the NBA’s first openly gay player, died at his Los Angeles home on May 15, 2026 after a stage 4 glioblastoma diagnosis in November 2025. Doctors gave him a six-week to three-month prognosis without treatment. He pursued experimental therapy in Singapore and halted treatment when the cancer returned. He is survived by husband Brunson Green, parents Portia and Paul Collins, and twin brother Jarron Collins.

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In April 2013 Collins authored a Sports Illustrated cover story announcing “I’m out,” becoming the first publicly gay athlete in the North American sports leagues. He later described concealing his identity as “a full-time job” and said living openly allowed him to focus on basketball and advocacy. His visibility sparked broader conversations about LGBTQ+ inclusion in professional sports and encouraged other athletes to speak openly.

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Collins played 13 seasons (2001-2014) for the Nets, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Hawks, Celtics, Wizards, and later returned to the Nets. Drafted 18th overall by the Houston Rockets, he set Stanford’s career field-goal percentage record (61 %) and finished third all-time in blocks for the university. He appeared in 761 NBA regular-season games and helped the Nets reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 2002 and 2003.

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NBA commissioner Adam Silver praised Collins for extending his influence beyond basketball and helping make the NBA, WNBA and the broader sports community more inclusive. The National Basketball Players Association called him a beacon of hope for the LGBTQ+ community. Stanford coach Mike Montgomery expressed sadness over Collins’s death and highlighted his impact on the program. The family thanked supporters for the “outpouring of love and prayers” and praised his medical care.

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Some commentators initially framed Collins’s coming out as a “distraction” for teams. Collins wrote in his 2013 Players’ Tribune essay that the “D-word” was used to question his athletic focus, reflecting broader societal discomfort with same-sex relationships in sports.

Jason Collins was dignity, not distraction

• “We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma,” — Collins family

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• “This was like, I feel that I am good enough to play in the NBA and by the way, I'm gay.” — Jason Collins, ESPN interview, November 2025

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• “His courage shattered barriers, making him a global beacon of hope for the LGBTQ+ community,” — National Basketball Players Association, statement

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Collins received the inaugural Bill Walton Global Champion Award posthumously at the Green Sports Alliance Summit. His work with NBA Cares and ongoing advocacy for LGBTQ+ inclusion remain focal points for the league’s diversity initiatives, ensuring his influence endures beyond his playing career.

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