Retired NBA star Jason Collins, celebrated as the first active openly gay player in league history, has revealed that he is battling Stage 4 glioblastoma. In a deeply personal essay for ESPN, the 47-year-old shared details about his diagnosis, treatment, and the emotional journey that followed.
A Fast and Life-Changing Diagnosis
Collins explained that his family announced his brain tumour back in September but kept the details private while he processed the news. Now, he wants to tell his story in his own words.
“I have Stage 4 glioblastoma, one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer,” he wrote. “It came on incredibly fast.”
After experiencing unusual symptoms, medical scans confirmed the severity of what Collins calls a “multiform” glioblastoma. He has since undergone both chemotherapy and radiation, acknowledging that the fight ahead is intense — but one he refuses to back down from.
A Career Built on Strength and Courage
Collins spent 13 seasons in the NBA, beginning with the New Jersey Nets in 2001. His career included stints with Memphis, Minnesota, Atlanta, Boston, Washington and a return to the Nets after their move to Brooklyn.
Off the court, Collins made history in 2013 when he came out publicly in a Sports Illustrated cover story, becoming the first active male athlete in a major American sport to do so. His announcement was met with widespread support from players, fans and public figures around the world.
“The Best 12 Years of My Life”
Since retiring in 2014, Collins has built a life grounded in love and authenticity. In May 2025, he married film producer Brunson Green in Austin, Texas. “It couldn’t have been more perfect,” he wrote.
Reflecting on the years since he came out, Collins said, “The past 12 years since have been the best of my life.” He credits that happiness to showing up fully as himself — something he hopes will continue to inspire others facing their own battles.
Fighting Forward With Purpose
Collins draws parallels between his cancer diagnosis and his coming-out journey, describing both as moments where he felt he had to walk through a wall first so others might follow.
“We aren’t going to sit back and let this cancer kill me without giving it a hell of a fight,” he wrote. He hopes that by sharing his experience, he can offer strength to someone he may never meet — just as others once inspired him.
