Jason Collins, the NBA’s first openly gay active male player, died at 47 after a battle with brain cancer, his family said on May 12, 2026. The family said he died after a “valiant fight with glioblastoma.” [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
Collins announced in 2013 in a Sports Illustrated essay that he was gay, becoming the first openly gay active player in the NBA and the first openly gay active male athlete in a major North American professional league. He wrote, “I’m a 34-year-old N.B.A. center. I’m Black and I’m gay,” and said, “Your life is so much better when you just show up as your true self.” [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 7, 8]
He played 13 NBA seasons for six franchises, including the New Jersey Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards. Collins was selected 18th overall by the Houston Rockets in the 2001 draft and later retired in 2014 after a 13-year career. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Collins’ impact reached beyond basketball and helped make the NBA, WNBA and the wider sports community more inclusive. President Barack Obama also congratulated Collins after his 2013 announcement, saying, “what you’ve done today will have a positive impact on someone you might not ever meet in your lifetime.” [1, 2, 9, 7, 12]
Reports said Collins received treatment that included medication, radiation and chemotherapy, and pursued innovative care in Singapore. He later returned home and attended NBA All-Star Weekend events in Los Angeles, according to several reports. [1, 2, 5, 9, 10, 11, 7]
His family announced his death on May 12, 2026, and memorial and funeral arrangements were not immediately detailed in the facts provided. [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
