Jason Collins Honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the 2026 ESPYs

Who Was Jason Collins?

Jason Collins was a basketball player in the NBA. He made history as the first openly gay player in the league. That means he was the first player to tell the world he was gay while still playing professionally.

He used his visibility to help other LGBTQ+ people feel seen in sports.

Important Point: Jason passed away in May 2026 at age 47 after fighting a very serious brain cancer called glioblastoma.

The Arthur Ashe Award for Courage

At the 2026 ESPY Awards (a big sports awards show), Jason received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage.

• The award is given to someone who made a difference off the field by standing up for their beliefs.
• It was given to him after his death (this is called "posthumously").
• The ceremony happened on Wednesday, July 15, at the David H. Koch Theater in New York City’s Lincoln Center.
• Robin Roberts, a TV host from GMA (Good Morning America), presented the award.

How the Night Unfolded

A video was shown at the ceremony featuring Jason’s husband, Brunson Green. Brunson spoke publicly for the first time about Jason’s death.

• Jason was diagnosed with stage IV glioblastoma in May 2026.
• Brunson remembered: “When he first got diagnosed he was scrolling Wikipedia about glioblastoma and [how] basically it’s a death sentence.”
• Jason wanted to fight the illness to help others learn from his experience.

Jason’s twin brother, Jarron Collins (age 47), accepted the award for him.

• Jarron said: “I wish my brother was here to accept this award but I find myself honored to accept this award on his behalf.”
• He promised to keep telling Jason’s story so more people could benefit from it.

Important Point: Jarron called the moment “profoundly bittersweet but deeply meaningful” and said Jason’s legacy of “visibility, strength and love will endure forever.”

Jason’s Illness Explained Simply

Glioblastoma is a very dangerous brain cancer.

• It grows inside the skull, which is a small, fixed space.
• It is very aggressive (spreads fast) and hard to treat because it is inside the brain.
• Jason described his tumor as having “tentacles” spreading under his brain “the width of a baseball.”
• His type was “wild type,” meaning it had many mutations that made it even deadlier.

Jason shared his diagnosis publicly in December 2025. He said:

• “What makes glioblastoma so dangerous is that it grows within a very finite, contained space — the skull.”
• He hoped sharing his journey would help people, just like coming out did.

Later reports showed Jason died of respiratory failure (his lungs stopped working), with other causes like a blood clot, fluid in the brain, and brain cancer contributing.

Jason’s Message About Being Yourself

Jason came out as gay in 2013. He said:

• He told close friends and family first and trusted them to keep his secret.
• “Your life is so much better when you just show up as your true self.”
• The 12 years after coming out were “the best of my life.”

He hoped that sharing his cancer fight would again help someone he never meets:

• “After I came out, someone I really respect told me that my choice to live openly could help someone who I might never meet.”
• “If I can do that again now, then that matters.”

Timeline of Key Events

1. 2013 – Jason comes out as the first active gay NBA player.
2. May 2025 – Jason marries Brunson Green.
3. December 2025 – Jason shares his stage IV glioblastoma diagnosis.
4. May 12, 2026 – Jason’s family announces his death at age 47.
5. June 2026 – News breaks that Jason will get the Arthur Ashe Award.
6. July 15, 2026 – Jarron accepts the award at the ESPYs.

Summary

Jason Collins was a trailblazing NBA player and the first openly gay active player in the league. After his death from glioblastoma in May 2026, he was honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the 2026 ESPYs. His husband and twin brother shared heartfelt tributes, and Jason’s own words show how living truthfully and openly can inspire others. His story of visibility, strength, and love continues through his family.

FAQ

Q: What is the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage?
A: It is an ESPY award given to a person who made a positive difference off the sports field by standing up for their beliefs.

Q: Why is Jason Collins important?
A: He was the first active NBA player to come out as gay, helping LGBTQ+ visibility in sports, and later shared his cancer battle to help others.

Q: What is glioblastoma?
A: It is a very aggressive and hard-to-treat brain cancer that grows inside the skull and can spread into brain areas that make you who you are.

Q: Who accepted the award for Jason?
A: His twin brother, Jarron Collins, accepted it on his behalf at the ceremony.