Overview
- The ESPY tribute, held Wednesday, July 15, featured Jarron Collins accepting the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage on behalf of his late twin and pledging to carry on Jason’s legacy.
- A video package shown at the ceremony included remarks from Jason’s husband, Brunson Green, who spoke publicly about Jason’s reaction to his December 2025 glioblastoma diagnosis.
- Jason Collins had gone public with a stage IV glioblastoma diagnosis in December 2025 and used his platform to share details of his prognosis and treatment in hopes of helping others.
- His family announced his death on May 12, 2026 at age 47, and exclusive reporting later said his death certificate lists respiratory failure as the cause with contributing conditions including a blood clot, buildup of fluid in the brain, and brain cancer.
- Collins’s 2013 decision to come out as the first active openly gay man in major U.S. men’s professional sports and his 13-season NBA career helped expand LGBTQ+ visibility in athletics and are likely to shape ongoing advocacy and public attention to glioblastoma treatment and support.