Jason Collins, the NBA’s first openly gay player and a widely respected ambassador for inclusion in sport, has died aged 47, his family announced on Tuesday. Collins had been diagnosed last year with Stage 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer with a very low survival rate.
Collins spent 13 seasons in the NBA, playing for six franchises, including the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets and the Atlanta Hawks. He revealed he was gay in 2013 near the end of his playing career, becoming a pioneering figure for LGBTQ+ visibility in professional team sports.
Across his career Collins averaged 3.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. He helped the Nets reach two NBA Finals and recorded his best statistical season in 2004-05, averaging 6.4 points and 6.1 rebounds.
In a statement released through the NBA, Collins’ family said: “Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar. 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.” The family confirmed he died on Tuesday, May 13, 2026.
Last week Collins was named the inaugural recipient of the Bill Walton Global Champion Award at the Green Sports Alliance Summit. He was too unwell to attend; his twin brother and former NBA player Jarron Collins accepted the honour on his behalf, calling Jason “the bravest, strongest man I’ve ever known.”
NBA commissioner Adam Silver paid tribute to Collins’ wider influence, saying his impact extended beyond the court as he helped make the NBA, WNBA and the larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming. Silver added that Collins “exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism” during his playing career and his work as an NBA Cares Ambassador, and sent condolences to Collins’ husband, Brunson, and the family, friends and colleagues across the leagues.
Collins’ decision to speak openly about his sexuality in 2013 resonated across sports and society, prompting conversations about acceptance and representation. Teammates, rivals and advocacy groups have remembered him as a quiet but powerful figure whose presence helped change attitudes in locker rooms and beyond.
The family thanked supporters and the medical teams involved in his care. Further details about memorial arrangements were not immediately released.