Overview
- Collins, whose death was announced Tuesday by his family through the NBA, died at home surrounded by loved ones, according to ESPN.
- He revealed a diagnosis of Stage 4 glioblastoma in December 2025 and pursued experimental therapy in Singapore that briefly improved his condition before the cancer returned.
- A 13-season center drafted 18th in 2001, he played for the Nets and five other teams and appeared in 22 games for Brooklyn in 2014 before retiring.
- He came out in a 2013 Sports Illustrated essay, becoming the first active openly gay player in the NBA and a landmark figure across North America’s major leagues.
- NBA commissioner Adam Silver praised his leadership and work as an NBA Cares ambassador, while family members said he is survived by his husband, Brunson Green, and his twin brother, Jarron.