STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford men’s basketball mourns the passing of Jason Collins, a trail blazer for equality, advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion and hall of fame basketball player on the Farm. Collins was 47 years old.
Collins was diagnosed with a stage four glioblastoma in 2025, as he wrote in December on ESPN. The Collins family shared the following 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 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 in 2013. He became an NBA ambassador following his retirement and a champion for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports.
Collins finished his career as the school’s career leader in field goal percentage (.608), a record which still stands. He was named a third-team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and earned honorable mention All-America accolades by the Associated Press in 2001. He was also selected as the 2001 Pete Newell NABC Big Man of the Year.
Collins became the second Stanford basketball player in school history to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated, and is a member of the Stanford Hall of Fame, inducted alongside his brother Jarron in 2017. The 18th overall selection in the 2001 NBA Draft, Collins played 13 seasons for six NBA teams.
Stanford sends its love and support to Jason’s husband, Brunson, brother, Jarron, and the entire Collins family.
Quotes from the Stanford program
“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.”
– Mike Montgomery, Former Head Coach, Stanford Men’s Basketball
“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 graduate should be. His journey was cut short, but his impact was incredibly strong and eternal. May he rest in peace.”
– Kyle Smith, Anne and Tony Joseph Director of Men’s Basketball
“I loved coaching Jason Collins. He was incredibly talented and tough, with a great big laugh. He was also a fabulous teammate, someone who thought deeply about the world and how he could leave it a better place. And, he did that in a way that inspired people around the world. My deepest condolences to his husband, Brunson, and to his entire family. His impact and legacy will continue to shine brightly.”
– Eric Reveno, James C. Gaither Associate Head Men’s Basketball Coach/General Manager
