The daughter of a former president has publicly mourned the loss of a dear friend from her college days, a pioneering athlete whose coming out reshaped professional sports and whose recent death has prompted an outpouring of grief across the nation.
Chelsea Clinton, 46, posted a tribute on May 13 on social media following the death of Jason Collins, her Stanford classmate and longtime friend who became the first openly gay active player in NBA history. Collins died on May 12, 2026 after an eight-month battle with Stage IV glioblastoma. He was 47.
“Heartbroken by the passing of my beloved friend Jason Collins,” Clinton wrote on May 13. “He was a trailblazer whose courage changed lives, and a kind, thoughtful friend who could always make me laugh. He will live in my heart forever.”
The former NBA center revealed his diagnosis after discovering a brain tumor in late summer 2025. In a personal essay published later that year, he disclosed he was fighting Stage IV glioblastoma, calling it “one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer.” Collins wrote that the disease “came on incredibly fast” and said he would pursue experimental treatments, including immunotherapy still being studied.
A Public Battle With Glioblastoma
Collins openly documented portions of his illness over eight months, using his visibility to raise awareness and support experimental medical research. His family confirmed his death, thanking supporters “for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months.”
Clinton’s connection to Collins stretched back nearly three decades to when the pair met as freshmen at Stanford University. Their bond remained strong through Collins’ professional basketball career and Clinton’s own public life, close enough that Clinton authored his endorsement when Time magazine named him one of its 100 most influential people of 2014.
A Friendship Forged at Stanford
Clinton recalled in that endorsement the moment Collins informed her of his decision to go public. “When Jason called to talk about his forthcoming Sports Illustrated cover story, ‘The Gay Athlete,’ I realized at some point that I wasn’t surprised we were having the conversation we were,” she wrote.
Her parents also embraced Collins. Bill Clinton publicly supported the center when he became the first openly gay active player in any major North American professional sport. The former president shared his own tribute, describing Collins as “far more than a trailblazer for the NBA” and “a great friend to Chelsea.” Both he and Hillary Clinton sent condolences to Collins’ husband, Brunson Green, his identical twin brother Jarron Collins, and the rest of the Collins family.
A Career That Changed the Game
Drafted 18th overall in 2001, Collins was selected ahead of future All-Stars, including Zach Randolph, Gerald Wallace, Tony Parker, and Gilbert Arenas. He played 13 years in the NBA as a physical defensive center, spending most of his career with the New Jersey Nets and helping that franchise reach back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003. He also played for the Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards, and Brooklyn Nets.
His most significant impact came off the court. Collins revealed his sexual orientation through a prominent Sports Illustrated feature that opened with the memorable statement: “I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m Black, and I’m gay.”
Tributes Pour In Across Sports and Politics
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Collins’ impact “extended far beyond basketball as he helped make the NBA, WNBA and larger sports community more inclusive and welcoming for future generations,” adding that Collins “will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life.”
Tennis legend Billie Jean King, for whose foundation Collins served as a founding advisory board member, called him “our dear friend” who “helped move sports and society forward with strength.” Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said simply, “We truly lost a giant today.”
Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd, who coached Collins in Brooklyn, wrote, “This one hurts. Jason Collins was a pioneer. He had courage as you’ve never seen.” The Brooklyn Nets called Collins “selfless, tough, and deeply respected by teammates, coaches, and staff alike,” saying those around him knew him “not just as a competitor, but as a genuinely kind, thoughtful person who brought people together.”
A moment of silence was held before an NBA playoff game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and San Antonio Spurs in his honor. Former teammates Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce also shared remembrances of the trailblazing center, as did actress and activist Cynthia Nixon, who called Collins “a true American hero.”
The LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame had named Collins a recipient of the Glenn Burke Award — an honor recognizing courage and authenticity in transforming sports — with an induction ceremony scheduled for June 25 in New York City during NYC Pride. Because he was too ill to attend a prior acceptance event, his twin brother Jarron accepted on his behalf, calling Jason “the bravest, strongest man I’ve ever known.”
Collins is survived by his husband, Brunson Green — a film producer best known for producing “The Help,” whom Collins married in May 2025 — his twin brother Jarron, and an extended family — along with a legacy that reshaped the conversation about identity in American professional sports.