Jason Collins

In a world often slow to embrace change, Jason Collins stepped onto a global stage and became a beacon of courage. As a seasoned NBA player, he made history by becoming the first openly gay male athlete to play in any major North American professional sport. His journey wasn't just about basketball—it was about breaking barriers and inspiring a wave of acceptance that continues to resonate today. Jason Collins' public coming out shattered a long-standing barrier in professional sports, sparking widespread conversation and support. Beyond the headlines, Collins was a highly valued NBA center, known for his defensive prowess, leadership, and basketball intelligence rather than flashy statistics. His courageous decision to live authentically, symbolized by his jersey number, had a profound cultural impact, extending far beyond the basketball court.

Source: Wikipedia

AI Summary

Jason Collins' public coming out shattered a long-standing barrier in professional sports, sparking widespread conversation and support.
Beyond the headlines, Collins was a highly valued NBA center, known for his defensive prowess, leadership, and basketball intelligence rather than flashy statistics.
His courageous decision to live authentically, symbolized by his jersey number, had a profound cultural impact, extending far beyond the basketball court.

A Twin Start in Los Angeles

Jason Paul Collins was born in the Northridge neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, on December 2, 1978. He arrived just eight minutes before his identical twin brother, Jarron—a sibling connection that would follow them through their basketball careers, from high school to the NBA.

High School Hoops and Records

The Collins brothers became high school legends at Harvard-Westlake School, leading their team to an incredible 123-10 combined record and two California Interscholastic Federation state titles. Jason, in particular, dominated the paint, setting a California career rebounding record with an astonishing 1,500 boards. Fun fact: actor Jason Segel was actually a backup on their team!

Stanford Standout

Their journey continued to Stanford University, where both Jason and Jarron played for the Cardinal in the competitive Pacific-10 Conference. Jason's collegiate career was marked by consistent excellence, culminating in a first-team All-Pac-10 selection and a third-team All-American honor from the National Association of Basketball Coaches in 2001.

Collins left his mark on the Stanford record books, finishing his college career with the highest field goal percentage in school history, at an impressive .608. He also ranked third all-time in blocked shots, a clear sign of the defensive tenacity he would bring to the professional ranks.

From Draft Pick to NBA Finals

Jason was drafted 18th overall by the Houston Rockets in the 2001 NBA Draft, but his rights were quickly traded to the New Jersey Nets. As a rookie, he immediately stepped into a significant role, helping the Nets reach their first-ever NBA Finals in 2002. It was during this high-profile series that Collins playfully admitted he wasn't quite the 7 feet he'd been listed since college, measuring in at a still formidable 6 feet 10¼ inches at the NBA Combine.

The following season, Collins solidified his position as the Nets' starting center, once again powering them to the NBA Finals. Though never a high-volume scorer, his defensive presence and consistent effort were invaluable. His contributions were recognized with a five-year, $25 million contract extension prior to the 2004–05 season.

A Well-Traveled Defender

Collins' NBA career saw him become a valuable journeyman, known for his defensive grit and leadership rather than flashy statistics. He made stops with the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves, always bringing a steadying presence to the locker room and the court.

His defensive prowess truly shone during his time with the Atlanta Hawks. In the 2010–11 playoffs, Collins was tasked with slowing down the dominant Dwight Howard, and he did so remarkably. Even opposing coach Stan Van Gundy praised Collins' performance, calling it 'the best defense on Howard all year.'

After stints with the Boston Celtics, where he continued to anchor defenses, Collins was traded to the Washington Wizards in February 2013, concluding the 2012-13 season there.

A Pivotal Announcement

On April 29, 2013, after the NBA season had ended, Jason Collins made an announcement that would send ripples through the sports world and beyond. In a powerful first-person story published on the cover of Sports Illustrated, he publicly came out as gay.

This brave revelation made him the first active male athlete in any of the four major North American professional team sports—NBA, NFL, MLB, or NHL—to publicly identify as gay. His article spoke to a desire for authenticity and privacy, while also explaining the symbolic meaning behind his jersey number choice.

The Weight of History

Following his announcement, Collins entered free agency, hoping to continue his playing career. However, despite his experience and skill, he wasn't invited to any team's training camp that summer. He continued to train, waiting for an opportunity that carried unprecedented significance.

Making History on the Court

That opportunity arrived on February 23, 2014, when Collins signed a 10-day contract to rejoin the Nets, who had since moved to Brooklyn. He played that very night against the Lakers, becoming the first openly gay athlete to compete in a major American professional sports league.

Collins chose to wear jersey number 98—a profoundly symbolic choice. It was in honor of Matthew Shepard, whose brutal 1998 murder as a hate crime became a turning point for LGBTQ+ rights. Collins described it as 'a statement to myself, my family and my friends' about tolerance and acceptance.

The impact was immediate: Collins' jersey quickly became the top seller on the NBA's online store. The NBA announced that proceeds from these sales, as well as from auctions of his game-worn jerseys, would benefit the Matthew Shepard Foundation and GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network).

His initial 10-day contract was followed by a second, and then a deal for the rest of the season. Jason Collins had not only made history but proved he still belonged on the court. On November 19, 2014, after 13 impactful seasons, he announced his retirement from professional basketball.

More Than Just Statistics

While Collins' career averages of 3.6 points and 3.7 rebounds might seem modest, they don't tell the full story. He was a player whose value was often found beyond the box score, highly regarded by the basketball analytics community for his defensive impact. He was a master of defending the post, setting screens, and boxing out opponents.

Collins was celebrated for his precision in executing defensive strategies, his keen ability to read opponents, and his clear communication on the court. Coaches and teammates consistently praised his professionalism and intelligence, recognizing him as a true team leader.

Life Beyond the Court

Before his public coming out, Collins was engaged to former WNBA center Carolyn Moos, a relationship that lasted eight years before he called off the wedding in 2009. His path to living authentically was a personal journey, carefully considered.

A Wave of Support

His announcement was met with an outpouring of support from across the globe, including from President Barack Obama, former President Bill Clinton, NBA Commissioner David Stern, and fellow NBA stars like Kobe Bryant. Even corporate sponsor Nike offered immediate praise. The Sports Illustrated story itself drew a record 3.7 million visitors to the magazine's website on its release day, underscoring the immense public interest.

While some, like ESPN analyst Chris Broussard, questioned the compatibility of his lifestyle with Christianity, Collins responded with grace, emphasizing tolerance and acceptance. Many, including former tennis legend Martina Navratilova, hailed him as a 'game-changer' for LGBTQ+ acceptance, particularly in the historically challenging arena of professional team sports.

New Chapters

Since June 2014, Jason Collins has been in a relationship with film producer Brunson Green, and the couple married in May 2025. This new chapter in his personal life further illustrates a commitment to living openly and joyfully.

However, his journey has also brought recent health challenges. In September 2025, the NBA released a statement announcing Collins' ongoing treatment for a brain tumor. Later, in December, Collins revealed he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 glioblastoma, facing this new battle with characteristic resolve.

Article

Jason Collins

Jason Paul Collins (born December 2, 1978) is an American former professional basketball player who was a center for 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Stanford Cardinal, earning third-team All-American honors in 2001. Collins was selected by the Houston Rockets as the 18th overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft. He went on to play for the New Jersey Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets.

After the 2012–13 NBA season concluded, Collins publicly came out as gay. He became a free agent and did not play again until February 2014, when he signed with the Nets and became the first publicly gay athlete to play in any of the four major North American pro sports leagues. In April 2014, Collins was featured on the cover of Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World".

Early life

Jason Collins

Collins was born in Los Angeles, California, in the Northridge neighborhood. He was born eight minutes ahead of his twin brother, Jarron, who also became an NBA player.

Both brothers graduated from Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles. He and Jarron won two California Interscholastic Federation state titles during their four-year careers with a combined record of 123–10. Collins broke the California career rebounding record with 1,500. Collins was backed up by Jason Segel, who USA Today opined might have ended up being the most famous player from the team.

College career

Jason Collins

Collins played at Stanford University with brother Jarron for the Cardinal in the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10). In 2001, Collins was named to All-Pac-10 first team, and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) voted him to their third-team All-American team.

He finished his college career ranked first in Stanford history for field goal percentage (.608) and third in blocked shots (89).

Professional career

New Jersey Nets (2001–2008)

As a rookie along with Richard Jefferson, Collins played a significant role in the New Jersey Nets' first-ever NBA Finals berth in (/wiki/2002NBAFinals) against the Los Angeles Lakers. During this Finals appearance, Collins acknowledged that he is not really 7 feet tall as he has been listed since his junior year of college. He was measured 6 ft 10¼ in at the 2001 NBA combine.

In the 2002–03 NBA season Collins took over the starting center role for the Nets and helped the franchise back to the NBA Finals. During that season, Collins averaged 5.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. Prior to the 2004–05 season, he signed a $25 million contract extension with New Jersey for five more years.

Memphis Grizzlies (2008)

On February 4, 2008, Collins was traded along with cash considerations to the Memphis Grizzlies for Stromile Swift.

Minnesota Timberwolves (2008–2009)

On June 26, 2008, Collins was dealt to the Minnesota Timberwolves in an eight-player deal involving Kevin Love and O. J. Mayo.

Atlanta Hawks (2009–2012)

Collins signed with the Atlanta Hawks on September 2, 2009. Collins re-signed with the Hawks in the 2010 offseason. In 2010–11, the fifth-seeded Hawks defeated the fourth-seeded Orlando Magic as Collins slowed the Magic's dominant center, Dwight Howard. After Game 4 in the series, then-Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy called Collins' play "the best defense on [Howard] all year".

Boston Celtics (2012–2013)

Collins (right) and Celtics' teammate Jared Sullinger (left) defend Detroit's Greg Monroe

On July 31, 2012, Collins signed a contract with the Boston Celtics.

Washington Wizards (2013)

On February 21, 2013, Collins and Leandro Barbosa were traded to the Washington Wizards in exchange for Jordan Crawford.

On April 29, 2013, after the season had already concluded, Collins publicly came out as gay, becoming the first active male athlete from one of the four major North American professional team sports to publicly do so. Collins became a free agent in July 2013, and stated that he intended to pursue another contract. He was not invited by any team to training camp, but he worked out at his home waiting for an opportunity.

Return to the Nets (2014)

On February 23, 2014, Collins signed a 10-day contract to rejoin the Nets, who had since moved to Brooklyn. Nets coach Jason Kidd, who became good friends with Collins while teammates in New Jersey from 2001 to 2008, was an advocate of signing Collins. Collins played 11 minutes that night against the Lakers at the Staples Center, becoming the first publicly gay athlete to play in any of the four major North American professional sports leagues. Collins wore jersey number 46 (the only number the team had available at the time) in his first game of the season, but planned to wear No. 98—the same number he wore with Boston and Washington—going forward. Collins chose to wear No. 98 in honor of Matthew Shepard, whose 1998 murder was widely reported as a hate crime and ultimately led to the passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Collins' jersey rose to the top spot for sales in the NBA's online shop, and the NBA announced that proceeds from the sales, as well as proceeds from auctions of Collins' autographed game-worn jerseys, would benefit the Matthew Shepard Foundation, and the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN).

Collins huddles with the Nets before playing the Washington Wizards in 2014

On March 5, 2014, Collins signed a second 10-day contract with the Nets. On March 15, 2014, Collins signed with the Nets for the rest of the season.

On November 19, 2014, Collins announced his retirement from professional basketball after 13 seasons in the NBA.

Player profile

Jason Collins

Collins had low career averages in the NBA of 3.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, 0.5 blocks, and 41 percent shooting from the field, and never averaged more than seven points or seven rebounds in a season. However, the basketball analytics community valued his defense through measurements not typically found in a boxscore. Collins was a physical player defending the post, boxed out well, and excelled at setting screens. He was precise in executing coaches' defensive strategies, and he read the opponents' movements well and communicated on defense. He also had a reputation for being a team leader, and earned consistent praise for his professionalism and intelligence on the court.

Personal life

Jason Collins

Collins was in an eight-year relationship with former WNBA center Carolyn Moos, and the two were engaged to be married, but Collins called off the wedding in 2009.

Since June 2014, Collins has been in a relationship with film producer Brunson Green. The pair married in May 2025.

On September 11, 2025, the NBA released a statement on behalf of Collins family announcing his ongoing treatment for a brain tumor. On December 11, Collins revealed he was diagnosed with Stage 4 gliobastoma.

Coming out

In the cover story of the May 6, 2013 issue of Sports Illustrated, a first person story by Collins with journalist Franz Lidz, and posted on the magazine's website on April 29, 2013, he came out as gay, becoming the first active male athlete from one of the four major North American professional team sports to publicly do so. He wrote that he wished to maintain his privacy in regard to specific details of his personal life, and that he is not in a relationship. Collins also said a "notorious antigay hate crime", the murder of Matthew Shepard in 1998, led him to choose "98" for his jersey number, in Shepard's honor. Collins called the number "a statement to myself, my family and my friends."

Following his announcement, Collins has received high praise and support for deciding to publicly reveal that he is gay. Fellow NBA star Kobe Bryant praised his decision, as did others from around the league, including NBA commissioner David Stern. President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, former president Bill Clinton, and Collins' corporate sponsor Nike were also among those offering their praise and support for Collins. However, ESPN basketball analyst Chris Broussard stated that he did not believe that Collins can "live an openly homosexual lifestyle" and be a Christian, but thought that Collins "displayed bravery with his announcement". Collins, a Christian, responded by saying "This is all about tolerance and acceptance and America is the best country in the world because we're all entitled to our opinions and beliefs but we don't have to agree. And obviously I don't agree with his statement." The Guardian called it significant for LGBTQ acceptance "as professional sports had long been seen as the final frontier." Given the interest in major league team sports in the United States, The Christian Science Monitor wrote that Collins' announcement was "likely to put wind in the sails of this trend" of acceptance of gay rights in U.S. public opinion. Former tennis player Martina Navratilova, who came out as a lesbian in 1981, called Collins a "game-changer" for team sports, which she referred to as one of the last areas where homophobia remained.

On the day it was released, the Sports Illustrated story drew a record 3.7 million visitors to the magazine's website, SI.com.

The New York Times called his 2014 signing with Brooklyn "perhaps basketball’s most celebrated and scrutinized 10-day contract." His No. 98 jersey became the top seller on the NBA's online store.

NBA career statistics

Jason Collins

<table><thead><tr><th> GP</th><th>Games played</th><th> GS </th><th>Games started</th><th> MPG </th><th>Minutes per game</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td> FG% </td><td>Field goal percentage</td><td> 3P% </td><td>3-point field goal percentage</td><td> FT% </td><td>Free throw percentage</td></tr><tr><td> RPG </td><td>Rebounds per game</td><td> APG </td><td>Assists per game</td><td> SPG </td><td>Steals per game</td></tr><tr><td> BPG </td><td>Blocks per game</td><td> PPG </td><td>Points per game</td><td> Bold </td><td>Career high</td></tr></tbody></table>

Regular season

<table><thead><tr><th>Year</th><th>Team</th><th>GP</th><th>GS</th><th>MPG</th><th>FG%</th><th>3P%</th><th>FT%</th><th>RPG</th><th>APG</th><th>SPG</th><th>BPG</th><th>PPG</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>2001–02</td><td>New Jersey</td><td>77</td><td>9</td><td>18.3</td><td>.421</td><td>.500</td><td>.701</td><td>3.9</td><td>1.1</td><td>.4</td><td>.6</td><td>4.5</td></tr><tr><td>2002–03</td><td>New Jersey</td><td>81</td><td>66</td><td>23.5</td><td>.414</td><td>.000</td><td>.763</td><td>4.5</td><td>1.1</td><td>.6</td><td>.5</td><td>5.7</td></tr><tr><td>2003–04</td><td>New Jersey</td><td>78</td><td>78</td><td>28.5</td><td>.424</td><td>.000</td><td>.739</td><td>5.1</td><td>2.0</td><td>.9</td><td>.7</td><td>5.9</td></tr><tr><td>2004–05</td><td>New Jersey</td><td>80</td><td>80</td><td>31.8</td><td>.412</td><td>.333</td><td>.656</td><td>6.1</td><td>1.3</td><td>.9</td><td>.9</td><td>6.4</td></tr><tr><td>2005–06</td><td>New Jersey</td><td>71</td><td>70</td><td>26.7</td><td>.397</td><td>.250</td><td>.512</td><td>4.8</td><td>1.0</td><td>.6</td><td>.6</td><td>3.6</td></tr><tr><td>2006–07</td><td>New Jersey</td><td>80</td><td>78</td><td>23.1</td><td>.364</td><td>.000</td><td>.465</td><td>4.0</td><td>.6</td><td>.5</td><td>.5</td><td>2.1</td></tr><tr><td>2007–08</td><td>New Jersey</td><td>43</td><td>23</td><td>15.9</td><td>.426</td><td>—</td><td>.389</td><td>2.1</td><td>.4</td><td>.3</td><td>.2</td><td>1.4</td></tr><tr><td>2007–08</td><td>Memphis</td><td>31</td><td>3</td><td>15.7</td><td>.508</td><td>.000</td><td>.526</td><td>2.9</td><td>.2</td><td>.4</td><td>.5</td><td>2.6</td></tr><tr><td>2008–09</td><td>Minnesota</td><td>31</td><td>22</td><td>13.6</td><td>.314</td><td>—</td><td>.464</td><td>2.3</td><td>.4</td><td>.3</td><td>.4</td><td>1.8</td></tr><tr><td>2009–10</td><td>Atlanta</td><td>24</td><td>0</td><td>4.8</td><td>.348</td><td>.000</td><td>.000</td><td>.6</td><td>.2</td><td>.1</td><td>.1</td><td>.7</td></tr><tr><td>2010–11</td><td>Atlanta</td><td>49</td><td>28</td><td>12.1</td><td>.479</td><td>1.000</td><td>.659</td><td>2.1</td><td>.4</td><td>.2</td><td>.2</td><td>2.0</td></tr><tr><td>2011–12</td><td>Atlanta</td><td>30</td><td>10</td><td>10.3</td><td>.400</td><td>—</td><td>.467</td><td>1.6</td><td>.3</td><td>.1</td><td>.1</td><td>1.3</td></tr><tr><td>2012–13</td><td>Boston</td><td>32</td><td>7</td><td>10.3</td><td>.348</td><td>—</td><td>.700</td><td>1.6</td><td>.2</td><td>.3</td><td>.2</td><td>1.2</td></tr><tr><td>2012–13</td><td>Washington</td><td>6</td><td>2</td><td>9.0</td><td>.167</td><td>—</td><td>1.000</td><td>1.3</td><td>.3</td><td>.3</td><td>.7</td><td>.7</td></tr><tr><td>2013–14</td><td>Brooklyn</td><td>22</td><td>1</td><td>7.8</td><td>.458</td><td>.000</td><td>.750</td><td>0.9</td><td>.2</td><td>.4</td><td>.0</td><td>1.1</td></tr><tr><td>Career</td><td>735</td><td>477</td><td>20.4</td><td>.411</td><td>.206</td><td>.647</td><td>3.7</td><td>.9</td><td>.5</td><td>.5</td><td>3.6</td></tr></tbody></table>

Playoffs

Awards

Jason Collins

On August 2, 2013, Collins was among the first class of inductees into the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame.