Jason Collins, the first openly gay player in NBA history, has died at the age of 47 after battling stage 4 glioblastoma, a dangerous form of brain cancer. His family confirmed the news on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, through a statement released by the NBA. ESPN reported that Collins died peacefully at his home while surrounded by family members after the cancer returned in recent weeks. The former NBA centre had shared his diagnosis publicly only months earlier and had continued searching for treatment options while staying active around the basketball community.
Jason Collins battled stage 4 glioblastoma before his death
Jason Collins revealed in November that doctors had diagnosed him with stage 4 glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer. During an interview with ESPN, Collins explained that doctors initially warned he may only have weeks or a few months to live without treatment. In a first-person essay published by ESPN in December, Collins shared how seriously he took the diagnosis and how determined he was to learn more about the disease. Collins wrote:
“I started researching glioblastoma and all of my options. I wanted to know everything about what I was facing.”
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