Jason Collins, the pioneering NBA veteran who became the first openly gay active player in any major North American professional sport, died May 12, 2026, at age 47 after battling Stage IV glioblastoma for eight months. The following day, his longtime friend Chelsea Clinton shared her grief publicly.
Clinton, 46, shared a heartfelt message on social media May 13 alongside a throwback photograph of herself and Collins, whose friendship began during their freshman year at Stanford University nearly 30 years ago.
“Heartbroken by the passing of my beloved friend Jason Collins,” Clinton wrote. “He was a trailblazer whose courage changed lives, and a kind, thoughtful friend who could always make me laugh. He will live in my heart forever.”
A Friendship Forged at Stanford
The two met as freshmen at Stanford, and their friendship endured through Collins’ rise as a professional basketball player and Clinton’s own public life. When Collins was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2014, Clinton wrote his endorsement.
That friendship extended to her parents as well. Bill Clinton publicly supported Collins in 2013. On May 13, the former president shared his own tribute, calling Collins “far more than a trailblazer for the NBA” and “a great friend to Chelsea.” He and Hillary Clinton sent condolences to Collins’ husband, Brunson Green, his identical twin brother Jarron Collins, and the rest of the Collins family.
A Career That Changed the Game
Selected 18th overall in the 2001 draft, ahead of future All-Stars including Zach Randolph, Gerald Wallace, Tony Parker, and Gilbert Arenas, Collins carved out a 13-year NBA career as a physical defensive center. He played primarily for the New Jersey Nets, helping the franchise reach back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003. Over the course of his career, he also suited up for the Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards, and Brooklyn Nets.
Yet his greatest contribution extended beyond athletic competition. Collins made headlines in 2013 by revealing his sexual orientation through a prominent Sports Illustrated feature that began with the memorable statement: “I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m Black, and I’m gay.”
Clinton recalled the moment Collins shared his decision with her. “When Jason called to talk about his forthcoming Sports Illustrated cover story, ‘The Gay Athlete,’ I realized at some point that I wasn’t surprised we were having the conversation we were,” she wrote in her 2014 Time endorsement.
A Public Battle With Glioblastoma
Collins learned he had a brain tumor in late summer 2025 and disclosed in September 2025 that he was beginning treatment. In a personal essay published in December 2025, he revealed his diagnosis of Stage IV glioblastoma, which he described as “one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer.” He wrote that the disease “came on incredibly fast” and pledged to fight it with experimental treatments, including immunotherapy still being studied.
Collins publicly documented portions of his illness during his eight-month battle, using his platform to raise awareness and support experimental medical research. His family confirmed his death in a statement on May 12, expressing gratitude “for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months.”
Tributes Pour In Across Sports and Politics
The sports and political worlds responded with an outpouring of remembrances. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Collins’ impact “extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations,” adding that Collins “will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life.” Tennis legend Billie Jean King, for whose foundation Collins served as a founding advisory board member, called him “our dear friend” who “helped move sports and society forward with strength.” Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said simply, “We truly lost a giant today.”
Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, who coached Collins in Brooklyn, wrote, “This one hurts. Jason Collins was a pioneer. He had courage as you’ve never seen.” The Brooklyn Nets called Collins “selfless, tough, and deeply respected by teammates, coaches, and staff alike,” noting those around him knew him “not just as a competitor, but as a genuinely kind, thoughtful person who brought people together.” A moment of silence was held before Tuesday’s NBA playoff game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs in his honor. Former teammates Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce also shared remembrances, as did actress and activist Cynthia Nixon, who called Collins “a true American hero.”
Collins had been named a recipient of the 2026 Glenn Burke Award by the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame — an honor recognizing courage and authenticity in transforming sports — with an induction ceremony scheduled for June 25 in New York City during NYC Pride. Because he was too ill to attend a prior acceptance event, his twin brother Jarron accepted on his behalf, calling Jason “the bravest, strongest man I’ve ever known.”
Collins is survived by his husband, Brunson Green — a film producer best known for producing “The Help,” whom Collins married in May 2025 — his twin brother Jarron, and an extended family — along with a legacy that reshaped the conversation about identity in American professional sports.
