The basketball world is mourning the loss of Jason Collins, a Stanford Hall of Famer and a pioneer for equality in sports. Collins, who was 47, passed away after a battle with glioblastoma.
A Champion On and Off the Court
Collins was diagnosed with a stage four glioblastoma in 2025. The Collins family released a statement: “We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma. Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.”
Renowned for his contributions both on and off the court, Collins made history in 2013. He became the first publicly gay athlete to play in any of the four major North American professional sports leagues, as he announced in Sports Illustrated. Following his retirement, he became an NBA ambassador and a champion for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports.
Stanford Remembers a Hall of Famer
Collins’ impact on Stanford basketball was immense, according to those who knew him. He finished his career as the school’s career leader in field goal percentage (.608), a record which still stands. In 2001, he earned several accolades, including being named a third-team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and honourable mention All-America by the Associated Press. He was also selected as the 2001 Pete Newell NABC Big Man of the Year.
- Collins is a member of the Stanford Hall of Fame, inducted alongside his brother Jarron in 2017.
- He was the 18th overall selection in the 2001 NBA Draft.
- Collins played 13 seasons for six NBA teams.
Tributes From Stanford Figures
Mike Montgomery, Former Head Coach, Stanford Men’s Basketball said: “It’s a sad day for all of us associated with Stanford basketball when we lose one of the program’s greats. We all have great memories of Jason and the kind of person he was. It’s hard to separate Jarron and Jason because they thought so alike, but even though he was an identical twin, Jason was unique in his own way. The impact he had on Stanford was immense, as he could match up against anyone in the country because he was big, smart, strong and skilled, all while being a very bright and nice person. I’ll miss him dearly, and my heart goes out to the Collins family, because Sara and I know what it’s like to lose a child.”
“I only had the opportunity to meet with Jason a few times, but he was always great to me. He enjoyed sharing his new hometown of Austin and displayed nothing but support for Stanford basketball. He was a social pioneer and exemplary model for what a Stanford man should be.”
Stanford sends its love and support to Jason’s husband, Brunson, brother, Jarron, and the entire Collins family.