Jason Collins ’97 passed away at the age of 47 from brain cancer on May 12. Collins was the first openly gay National Basketball Association (NBA) player, and he was the most successful basketball player in the school’s history. His McDonald’s All-American jersey and two California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State banners still hang in Taper gym reading his last name.
When Collins and his brother, Jarron ’97, came to the school as freshman in 1994, they made waves in the basketball program, which had a record of just 5-20 at the time. The pair helped cultivate the program that today has won five state championships and 17 mission league championships. At seven-feet tall, Collins and his brother led the team to consecutive Division III CIF state championships in 1996 and 1997. Collins was named All-Southern Section in 1995 and still holds a state record of 1,500 career rebounds.
Greg Hilliard was the former Head of the Boys Basketball Program at the school from 1985 to 2014 and coached Collins for all four years of his high school career. Hilliard said he remembers the time when Collins was first asked for an autograph in high school.
“In 1995 to 1996 , we were playing in the Slam Dunk to the Beach Tournament in Delaware full of the best teams in the country,” Hilliard said. “The promoter really emphasized the stars of each team to fill the massive arena. As we walked in, we were mobbed by young autograph seekers, and they were only interested in the twins. So, the bewildered young men facing this brand new experience were uneasy and embarrassed. They patiently signed all the autographs while their teammates plotted a lesson in humility. They all grabbed some paper and a pen and got in line. ‘Jason and Jarron, could we please have your autograph?’ We laughed for days about our famous teammates. Little did we know.”
In 1997, Collins and his brother headed to Stanford University. While playing for the Cardinals, Collins was named a third-team All-American by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), earned an honorable mention All-American accolades by the Associated Press in 2001 and was selected as the Pete Newell National Association of Basketball Coaches “Big Man of the Year”. During his senior year, Stanford University won the Pac-10 championship and reached the Elite Eight in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament. He was inducted into the Stanford Hall of Fame in 2017, and he continues to hold the school’s record for leader in field goal percentage at 0.608.
Eric Reveno is the James C. Gaither Associate Head Men’s Basketball Coach and General Manager at Stanford University where he coached Collins for his entire collegiate career. Reveno said he remembers Collins’s commitment and work at Stanford University that led him to his success in the NBA.
“Jason Collins decided early in his college basketball career that he was going to make himself unstoppable,” Reveno said. “By his senior year at Stanford, if we got him the ball in the low block, one defender could not stop him. Teams had to foul him, double him or hope. But his career did not start that way. Jason redshirted as a freshman in college and played only seven games as a sophomore before badly dislocating his wrist. Through it all, he kept working. That was who Jason was. He brought energy, toughness, accountability and joy to our team every day. He celebrated teammates with his huge smile and laugh, and he was willing to challenge teammates when needed. What separated him was the work he did when nobody was watching. That work helped him become a first-round NBA draft pick and build a long professional career. Looking back, I imagine the same toughness and selflessness that made Jason such a great teammate and player also helped him become a trailblazer by coming out as a gay man while still an active NBA player. Jason was special and he will be deeply missed.”
Collins was the 18th overall selection, picked by the New Jersey Nets in the 2001 NBA Draft. From 2002 to 2013, he played for the Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards before returning to play for the Nets, but this time in Brooklyn. In his career, he won two consecutive Eastern Conference Championships with the Nets in 2002 and 2003.
NBA President of Social Responsibility and Player Programs Kathy Behrens said she remembers Collins’ involvement and advocacy for inclusion with the NBA after his professional basketball career.
“Following his 13-year playing career in the NBA, Jason served as an NBA Cares Ambassador, traveling the world on behalf of the league to inspire and uplift communities through the game,” Behrens said. “He was a beloved member of the NBA family and a dedicated supporter of our NBA Pride employee resource team, participating with us in so many events, including the annual NYC Pride March. It was especially meaningful to have Jason with us for events over All-Star Weekend in February when we were in his hometown. He was determined to be at every event he could be, and his presence, as it always did, made a tremendous difference. Jason was a true champion for the league’s broader efforts to promote the values of equality, respect and inclusion, and we will miss him greatly.”
Collins came out as gay in the opening words of his Sports Illustrated cover story reading “I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m black. And I’m gay,” in April 2013. Collins was not only the first openly gay active player in the NBA, but he was also the first openly gay male athlete in any major professional sports league in North America, including Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, National Football League and National Hockey League. After coming out, Collins wore the number 98 for the Brooklyn Nets to honor Matthew Shepard, a victim of an anti-gay hate crime in 1998.
Following his retirement from the NBA in 2014, Collins has continued to advocate for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community (LGBTQ). He was also a NBA Cares Ambassador, where he advocated to promote the league’s community, youth and inclusivity.
Former Harvard-Westlake basketball teammate Jason Segel ’98 said Collins made a meaningful impact on him.
“I loved Jason and was proud of who he was as a human being,” Segel said. “I feel very lucky to have known him. Our time together holds some of the happiest memories of my life.”
The Chronicle sends its support and love to the entire Collins family and friends.
