Jason, the first openly gay NBA player, died at the age of 47 in May 2026
Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Jarron Collins accepted the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage on behalf of his late twin brother, Jason Collins, at the 2026 ESPYs
- Jason was the first openly gay NBA player and passed away in May at age 47 from glioblastoma
- Jarron pledged to continue sharing Jason’s story and legacy, calling him a trailblazer and an inspiration to many
Jarron Collins paid tribute to his late twin brother, Jason Collins, while accepting the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage on his behalf at the 2026 ESPYs.
Jason, the first openly gay NBA player, died in May from glioblastoma at the age of 47. Jarron accepted the posthumous award with an emotional speech on Wednesday, July 15 inside the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City.
“I miss my brother,” Jarron, 47, began. “I wish he was here standing to accept this award. But I find myself honored to be here to accept this award on his behalf.”
He added that if Jason was alive, “He would want to thank some people for their love and support throughout his life,” including his husband, film producer Brunson Green, who appeared emotional in the audience. Jarron thanked Jason’s teammates, coaches, and friends in the NBA, and “everyone else who uplifted him in his journey after coming out and his battle with glioblastoma.”
Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty
Jarron noted his brother’s admiration for tennis legend Arthur Ashe, the award’s namesake, who he called “a pioneer in this world.”
“These past few months I told my brother repeatedly, he was the bravest and strongest man I’ve ever known,” Jarron said. “He lived his life with authenticity, with grace, and strength and joy. The courage he showed and the way he moved in this world truly made him a trailblazer, an inspiration to so many others, and his impact will be remembered.”
“I’m grateful every time people I don’t even know come up to me and say how much of a powerful impact my brother’s decision to come out impacted their life in a powerful way,” Jarron said of his brother, who came out in a 2013 Sports Illustrated essay.
“When Jason was diagnosed with glioblastoma, he was willing to share his experience, his treatments and his plan with the hope that if not for him, then for others,” he added of Jason’s cancer treatment journey before his death. “I pledge to make sure that tonight is not the end of my brother’s legacy.”
Credit: Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic
“It’s just the beginning,” he continued the speech. “There are so many more people who could benefit from hearing his story and it’s our responsibility to keep telling it and carry on what he started.
Jarron shared that he and his late twin were frequently mistaken for one another growing up.
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“Now, that scenario has a whole different significance to me,” he added. “I’ve never been more proud of Jason than in this moment right now. What a true accomplishment. Thank you for recognizing my brother, thank you all.”
Jason, who was from Northridge, Calif., began his NBA career in 2001 when he was drafted by the Houston Rockets. He made his NBA debut with the New Jersey Nets, playing in the NBA Finals at the end of his first season. Jason later played with the Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards.
Jarron previously played for the Utah Jazz, the Phoenix Suns, the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Portland Trail Blazers. Following his retirement from the court, he began coaching, most recently serving as the assistant coach of the New Orleans Pelicans from 2021 until April.
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