When Jason Collins publicly came out in 2013, he changed the conversation around LGBTQ+ representation in professional sports forever. But what many people don’t know is that the same year he chose to live authentically on the court, he was about to meet the person who would stand by his side for the next 13 years.
Collins, the first openly gay NBA player, died in May 2026 at 47 after battling stage IV glioblastoma. His family released a statement expressing their heartbreak:“Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar.”Throughout his final months fighting brain cancer, one person remained steadfast—his husband, Brunson Green, the film producer Collins met at a serendipitous moment neither could have predicted.
The two first crossed paths at a housewarming party in June 2013, though the timing wasn’t quite right.“We first met at a housewarming party last June, but I was dating someone else at the time,”Collins told The New York Times in June 2014.“Fast-forward to September, I’m single again, and I see him at a party in L.A. So we exchange information because he was leaving for Europe the next day. But while he was gone, I was asking everyone: Have you heard of this guy? The background check.”It’s the kind of rom-com moment that feels too perfect to be real, yet here it was unfolding in real life.
Green, who spent decades working in film production on projects including 2011’s The Help, brought stability and love to Collins’life as the athlete navigated both his groundbreaking career and the intensely personal journey of living openly. The couple dated for a decade before tying the knot in May 2025—less than a year before Collins’diagnosis. Even as he faced his toughest battle, Collins found moments of joy. In November 2025, while undergoing treatment, he posted from a getaway:“Even when fighting brain cancer, you have to recharge and @thesanchaya is the perfect getaway to do that. Very relaxing birthday weekend for @brunsong&me.”That simple caption speaks volumes about what Green meant to him during the fight.
Collins’legacy extends far beyond his groundbreaking decision to come out in an industry that wasn’t always welcoming. In a December 2025 essay for ESPN, he reflected on his choice:“When I chose to come out, there was no scandal or anything. This was like, I feel that I am good enough to play in the NBA and by the way, I’m gay. Just so everyone knows cards on the table, this is where I am.”That same fearless authenticity defined his relationship with Green—a partnership built on honesty, support, and unwavering commitment through life’s most difficult chapters.
About the Author
Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.