Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Sports Desk • Basketball

Jason Collins

Jason Paul Collins (December 2, 1978 – May 12, 2026) was an American professional basketball player who spent 13 seasons in the NBA as a center.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Jason Collins was an American professional basketball player who spent 13 seasons in the NBA as a center. He became the first openly gay active athlete in a major North American men’s professional sports league in 2013.

Early life and college career

Collins was born in Northridge, California, and played college basketball at Stanford University. He earned third-team All-American honours in 2001.

NBA career

He was drafted by the Houston Rockets with the 18th overall pick in 2001 and played 13 seasons as a reserve centre and defender. His career included stints with the New Jersey Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards, and Brooklyn Nets.

Public coming out and legacy

In 2013, Collins publicly came out as gay, becoming the first openly gay active athlete in a major North American men’s professional sports league. His announcement was a widely noted moment in sports history and contributed to LGBTQ+ inclusion in professional athletics.

In short

  • Played 13 NBA seasons from 2001 to 2014.
  • Came out as gay in 2013, a historic first.
  • Drafted 18th overall in 2001 out of Stanford.
  • Died in 2026 at age 47 from brain cancer.
Canadian angle

His significance is mainly in North American sports history; Canadian readers may know him as part of the NBA’s broader social and cultural impact, especially around LGBTQ+ inclusion in professional sports.

Quick questions

Who was Jason Collins?
Jason Collins was an American professional basketball player and NBA centre best known for his 13-season career and for publicly coming out as gay in 2013.
What teams did Jason Collins play for?
He played for the New Jersey Nets, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets.
What is Jason Collins known for off the court?
He is known for publicly coming out as gay in 2013, becoming the first openly gay active athlete in a major North American men’s professional sports league.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Collins
    Supports: Birth, death, college, NBA draft, teams, position, retirement, and career overview.
  2. Biography.com — https://www.biography.com/athletes/a26837004/jason-paul-collins
    Supports: Public coming out in 2013, first openly gay active athlete in major North American men’s professional sports, and death in 2026.
  3. ESPN — https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/987/jason-collins
    Supports: Career position, birthdate, birthplace, college, draft information, and career statistics.
  4. Olympics.com — https://www.olympics.com/en/news/jason-collins-nba-first-openly-gay-player-dies-aged-47
    Supports: 13-year NBA career, teams played for, public coming out, and death at age 47.