Jason Collins, the NBA's first openly gay player, has died at 47 from Stage 4 glioblastoma. He had recently sought experimental treatments in Singapore before his passing.
Key points
Jason Collins was the NBA's first openly gay player.
He died at the age of 47 from Stage 4 glioblastoma.
Collins sought experimental cancer treatments in Singapore.
He was the No. 18 overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft.
Collins attended NBA All-Star weekend events shortly before his death.
Mentioned in this story
Jason Collins
glioblastoma
Jason Collins, the NBA's first openly gay player, has died at the age of 47.
Collins died of brain cancer, specifically Stage 4 glioblastoma, one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer, and Collins said in November 2025 that "it came on incredibly fast."
Per ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, Collins had gone to Singapore in the wintertime to receive experimental treatments that were not yet authorized in the United States. The treatment was proficient enough that Collins did head home and even attended NBA All-Star weekend events in Los Angeles.
Collins also went to a basketball game at Stanford, where he was an All-Pac 12 player in the 2000-01 season. He was the No. 18 overall pick out of Stanford in the 2001 NBA Draft.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) goes around Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) during Game 2 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Oklahoma City won 120-107.
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks yells out to the referees as they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
Q&A
What caused Jason Collins' death?
Jason Collins died from Stage 4 glioblastoma, a severe form of brain cancer.
How old was Jason Collins when he died?
Jason Collins was 47 years old at the time of his death.
What treatments did Jason Collins seek for his cancer?
Collins sought experimental treatments in Singapore that were not yet authorized in the United States.
What was Jason Collins' significance in the NBA?
Jason Collins was the NBA's first openly gay player, breaking barriers for LGBTQ+ representation in professional sports.
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Apr 27, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) in the first half during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Phoenix Suns forward (3) Dillon Brooks reacts after being called for a foul against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of their playoff series at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) walks off the floor after their 131-122 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder closing out the playoff series at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) plays for the rebound against Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, on April 10, 2026.
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) is introduced before their game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Mortgage Matchup Center on Nov. 10, 2025.
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (left) watches the action against the Los Angeles Lakers at Mortgage Matchup Center on Feb. 26, 2026, in Phoenix.
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) slam-dunks the ball against the Sacramento Kings in the first half at the Mortgage Matchup Center on Oct. 22, 2025, in Phoenix.
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) reacts during the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on Jan. 7, 2026, in Memphis.
Phoenix Suns assistant coach DeMarre Carroll (left) and forward Dillon Brooks (3) prepare for the game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on Oct. 27, 2025.
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) reacts after scoring against the Miami Heat during the third quarter at Kaseya Center in Miami, on Jan. 13, 2026.
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) and Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) battle for a loose ball in the first half at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, on Oct. 24, 2025.
Brooklyn Nets' Zeng Fanbo, Phoenix Suns' Dillon Brooks and Devin Booker react at Venetian Arena in Macau, China, on Oct. 10, 2025.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) is fouled by Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) in the first half at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on Nov. 29, 2025.
Phoenix Suns guard/forward Dillon Brooks (3) looks to pass the ball back inbounds against New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Saddiq Bey (41) during the first half at Smoothie King Center on Dec 27, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1), forward Dillon Brooks (3) and guard Jalen Green (4) pose for portrait during Media Day at PHX Arena on Sept. 24, 2025.
Suns guard Dillon Brooks (3) complains to an official during a game against the Pistons at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Jan. 29, 2026.
Phoenix Suns teammates Devin Booker, left, and Dillon Brooks chat on the sidelines during their game against the Miami Heat at Mortgage Matchup Center on Jan. 25, 2026.
Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after a three-point shot against the New York Knicks during the first half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on Jan. 9, 2026 in Phoenix. The Suns defeated the Knicks 112-107.
1 / 20
Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) goes around Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) during Game 2 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Oklahoma City won 120-107.
1 / 20
Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) goes around Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) during Game 2 of the first round NBA playoff series between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Oklahoma City won 120-107.
2 / 20
Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks yells out to the referees as they take on the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of their playoff series at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
3 / 20
Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Apr 27, 2026; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) in the first half during game four of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Mortgage Matchup Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
4 / 20
Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward (3) Dillon Brooks reacts after being called for a foul against the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 4 of their playoff series at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
5 / 20
Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) walks off the floor after their 131-122 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder closing out the playoff series at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on April 27, 2026.
6 / 20
Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) plays for the rebound against Los Angeles Lakers center Deandre Ayton (5) during the first half at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, on April 10, 2026.
7 / 20
Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) is introduced before their game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Mortgage Matchup Center on Nov. 10, 2025.
8 / 20
Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (left) watches the action against the Los Angeles Lakers at Mortgage Matchup Center on Feb. 26, 2026, in Phoenix.
9 / 20
Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) slam-dunks the ball against the Sacramento Kings in the first half at the Mortgage Matchup Center on Oct. 22, 2025, in Phoenix.
10 / 20
Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) reacts during the third quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on Jan. 7, 2026, in Memphis.
11 / 20
Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns assistant coach DeMarre Carroll (left) and forward Dillon Brooks (3) prepare for the game against the Utah Jazz at Delta Center on Oct. 27, 2025.
12 / 20
Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) reacts after scoring against the Miami Heat during the third quarter at Kaseya Center in Miami, on Jan. 13, 2026.
13 / 20
Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) and Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (2) battle for a loose ball in the first half at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles, on Oct. 24, 2025.
14 / 20
Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Brooklyn Nets' Zeng Fanbo, Phoenix Suns' Dillon Brooks and Devin Booker react at Venetian Arena in Macau, China, on Oct. 10, 2025.
15 / 20
Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) is fouled by Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks (3) in the first half at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, on Nov. 29, 2025.
16 / 20
Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns guard/forward Dillon Brooks (3) looks to pass the ball back inbounds against New Orleans Pelicans guard/forward Saddiq Bey (41) during the first half at Smoothie King Center on Dec 27, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana.
17 / 20
Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1), forward Dillon Brooks (3) and guard Jalen Green (4) pose for portrait during Media Day at PHX Arena on Sept. 24, 2025.
18 / 20
Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Suns guard Dillon Brooks (3) complains to an official during a game against the Pistons at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Jan. 29, 2026.
19 / 20
Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Phoenix Suns teammates Devin Booker, left, and Dillon Brooks chat on the sidelines during their game against the Miami Heat at Mortgage Matchup Center on Jan. 25, 2026.
20 / 20
Dillon Brooks, polarizing Phoenix Suns star, in photos
Dillon Brooks #3 of the Phoenix Suns reacts after a three-point shot against the New York Knicks during the first half of the NBA game at Mortgage Matchup Center on Jan. 9, 2026 in Phoenix. The Suns defeated the Knicks 112-107.
The cancer did return, however, and he died in Los Angeles at his home with family around him.
Collins is the twin brother of former Phoenix Suns forward Jarron Collins, who played for the Suns in the 2009-10 season. Jason Collins played in the NBA for 13 years, and played in the NBA Finals in back-to-back seasons (2001-02 and 2002-03) for the then-New Jersey Nets. He was a starter for the second of those teams.
Jason Collins came out as gay in the offseason after the 2012-13 NBA season, and played one season after that, when he returned to the Nets after being traded from the franchise in 2008.
Jason Collins averaged 3.6 points per game in his NBA career, along with 3.7 rebounds per game.
