The NBA lost a pioneer. Jason Collins, the first openly gay NBA player, has died at 47 following a battle with stage 4 glioblastoma. The league announced his passing on May 12, 2026, sending shockwaves through the sports world.
Collins revealed his diagnosis in December 2025, describing an aggressive brain tumor that spread across both hemispheres in a butterfly pattern. Standard chemotherapy proved ineffective against his form of the disease. He traveled to Singapore for experimental treatments not yet available in the United States, but the cancer ultimately returned.
First openly gay NBA player Collins spent 13 seasons with six teams, including the New Jersey Nets, Boston Celtics, and Washington Wizards. But his most significant moment arrived off the court. On April 29, 2013, he published a first-person essay in Sports Illustrated with words that changed everything.
“I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m Black. And I’m gay,” he wrote.
The announcement made him the first openly gay active male athlete in any of the four major North American professional sports leagues . Support poured in from Kobe Bryant, President Barack Obama, and Oprah Winfrey . In February 2014, the Brooklyn Nets signed him, cementing his place on the court as his authentic self .
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver honored Jason Collins dead with an emotional statement. “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”.
Collins married film producer Brunson Green in May 2025, just months before his symptoms began . He is survived by his husband, his parents, and his twin brother Jarron, a former NBA player and coach .
The San Antonio Spurs held a moment of silence for Collins before their playoff game . His family confirmed he died peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones. “Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him,” they said.
