Chelsea Clinton has broken her silence following the death of Jason Collins, her close friend since their college days together at Stanford University. The former NBA center, who became the league’s first openly gay active player, died on May 12, 2026, at age 47 after an eight-month battle with Stage IV glioblastoma.
On May 13, Clinton, 46, posted a tribute on social media that included a photograph from their younger years.
“Heartbroken by the passing of my beloved friend Jason Collins,” Clinton wrote. “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.”
A Friendship Forged at Stanford
Clinton and Collins met as freshmen at Stanford University nearly three decades ago. Their relationship lasted through Collins’ professional basketball career and Clinton’s life in the public eye.
When Time magazine named Collins one of its 100 most influential people of 2014, Clinton wrote his endorsement. The Clinton family’s support extended beyond Chelsea: Bill Clinton publicly backed Collins in 2013 when the center came out as an active player.
On May 13, the former president shared his own tribute, calling Collins “far more than a trailblazer for the NBA” and “a great friend to Chelsea.” He and Hillary Clinton sent condolences to Collins’ husband, Brunson Green, his identical twin brother Jarron Collins, and the rest of the Collins family.
Clinton recalled the moment Collins shared his decision with her. “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 in her 2014 Time endorsement.
A Career That Changed the Game
Selected 18th overall in the 2001 draft, ahead of future All-Stars including Zach Randolph, Gerald Wallace, Tony Parker, and Gilbert Arenas, Collins played 13 seasons in the NBA as a physical defensive center. The New Jersey Nets employed him for much of his career, with Collins helping the team reach back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003.
His professional journey also included stints with the Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards, and Brooklyn Nets.
But his most significant impact came off the court. In 2013, Collins revealed his sexual orientation through a prominent Sports Illustrated feature that began with the memorable statement: “I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m Black, and I’m gay.”
A Public Battle With Glioblastoma
In late summer 2025, Collins received a brain tumor diagnosis. He announced in September 2025 that he was undergoing treatment, then revealed in a personal essay in December 2025 that he faced Stage IV glioblastoma, which he described as “one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer.”
He wrote that the disease “came on incredibly fast” and pledged to fight it with experimental treatments, including immunotherapy still being studied. Collins used his platform throughout his illness to publicly document portions of his battle and raise awareness for experimental medical research.
His family confirmed his death in a statement on May 12, expressing gratitude “for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months.”
Tributes Pour In Across Sports and Politics
The basketball community and LGBTQ advocates mourned Collins’ passing with widespread tributes. 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.”
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.”
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.”
A moment of silence was held before Tuesday’s 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.”
Collins had also been named a recipient of the 2026 Glenn Burke Award by the LGBTQ Sports Hall of Fame — 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.