The sports world is mourning the death of Jason Collins, the former NBA center who made history as the first openly gay active player in one of America’s four major professional sports leagues. Collins died Tuesday at the age of 47 following a battle with Stage 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Collins spent 13 seasons in the NBA, playing for teams including the New Jersey Nets, Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards, Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, and Minnesota Timberwolves. Known more for his defense, rebounding, and leadership than flashy scoring, Collins built a reputation as a respected veteran teammate during his career. He also helped lead the Nets to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in the early 2000s.
But Collins’ impact went far beyond basketball.
In April 2013, Collins stunned the sports world when he publicly came out as gay in a first-person essay published by Sports Illustrated. At the time, openly gay male athletes in major American team sports were virtually unheard of, and many believed locker room culture would never accept it. Collins changed that conversation overnight.
“I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay,” Collins famously wrote, in words that would become one of the defining moments in modern sports history.
The announcement drew praise from across the country, including from then-President Barack Obama, fellow athletes, celebrities, and LGBTQ advocates. Many credited Collins with helping pave the way for future openly gay athletes in professional sports.
Collins later revealed he chose to wear jersey number 98 in honor of Matthew Shepard, whose 1998 murder became a turning point in LGBTQ rights activism.
In late 2025, Collins publicly disclosed that he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 glioblastoma after initially keeping details of his illness private. He described how the symptoms came on suddenly, eventually leading doctors to discover an inoperable brain tumor. Despite the grim diagnosis, Collins continued advocating publicly and remained active in awareness efforts while undergoing treatment.
Just days before his death, Collins was honored with the inaugural Bill Walton Global Champion Award at the Green Sports Alliance Summit, though his illness prevented him from attending in person. His twin brother, former NBA player Jarron Collins, accepted the award on his behalf.
Collins married longtime partner Brunson Green in 2025. Friends, fans, former teammates, and LGBTQ organizations have flooded social media with tributes celebrating Collins not just for his courage, but for the doors he opened for others.
For many, Jason Collins will be remembered as more than a basketball player. He became a symbol of visibility, resilience, and change in a sports culture that once made people l
