Jason Collins, NBA's First Openly Gay Player, Announces Serious Health News
Longtime NBA center Jason Collins, who made history as the first openly gay active male athlete in one of the four North American major pro sports leagues, announced some sad news on Thursday.
Collins, 46, who has served as an NBA ambassador since his playing days ended, is battling a brain tumor, the league said in a statement in conjunction with Collins' family.
"NBA Ambassador and 13-year NBA veteran Jason Collins is currently undergoing treatment for a brain tumor," the statement reads. "Jason and his family welcome your support and prayers and kindly ask for privacy as they dedicate their attention to Jason's health and well-being."
The league also acknowledged Collins' health battle on its official X/Twitter page, writing that its "thoughts are with our friend and colleague, Jason Collins, and his family."
Our thoughts are with our friend and colleague, Jason Collins, and his family. https://t.co/TkL5a2DOFI pic.twitter.com/bHcp9IzwyZ
— NBA (@NBA) September 11, 2025
Collins has been an inspiration to many
A first-round draft pick of the Houston Rockets out of Stanford in 2001, the 7-foot Collins began his career with the New Jersey Nets and helped the team achieve back-to-back NBA Finals appearances.
He went on to play for five different teams before his career ended with the Nets in 2014. In April 2013, Collins made history when he became the first active male athlete in the history of the four major North American sports leagues to come out as gay.
He did so in a lengthy Sports Illustrated piece that broke site records for most visitors in a single day.
"I'm a 34-year-old NBA center. I'm black. And I'm gay."
Jason Collins in his Sports Illustrated coming out piece.
Collins, whose twin brother Jarron also joined him at Stanford and played in the NBA, received widespread praise and acceptance for his announcement.
"It takes an enormous amount of energy to guard such a big secret," Collins said in the story. "I've endured years of misery and gone to enormous lengths to live a lie. I was certain that my world would fall apart if anyone knew. And yet when I acknowledged my sexuality I felt whole for the first time. I still had the same sense of humor, I still had the same mannerisms and my friends still had my back."
A free agent at the time the piece was published, Collins eventually signed with the Nets and appeared in 22 games during the 2013-14 season.
Off the court, he married his longtime partner, producer Brunson Green, earlier this year.