Jason Collins Biography, Husband, Stats, Coach, Marriage, Family, Net Worth

Jason Paul Collins (born December 2, 1978) is an American former professional basketball player who played 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a center and power forward. He was selected 18th overall by the Houston Rockets in the 2001 NBA draft after a standout college career at Stanford University, where he earned All-American honors. Collins became a journeyman big man known for his toughness, screen-setting, rebounding, and defensive presence rather than scoring.

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He played for eight NBA teams: the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets (twice), Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards, and Brooklyn Nets again. On April 29, 2013, Collins publicly came out as gay in a landmark Sports Illustrated cover story, becoming the first active male athlete in one of the four major North American professional team sports (NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL) to do so. He returned to the NBA in February 2014 with the Brooklyn Nets, making history as the first openly gay player to appear in a regular-season game in those leagues. Collins retired in November 2014. He has since become a prominent advocate for LGBTQ+ inclusion in sports, mental health awareness, and equality.

Here is a quick overview of key facts about Jason Collins:

Biography

Jason Collins was born on December 2, 1978, in Los Angeles, California, eight minutes before his identical twin brother Jarron Collins, who also played in the NBA. Both brothers attended Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles, where they won two California Interscholastic Federation state championships and posted a combined high-school record of 123–10. Jason broke the California high-school career rebounding record with 1,500 boards. He went on to play college basketball at Stanford University (1997–2001), where he was a standout center and earned All-Pac-10 first-team honors in 2000–01. He finished his Stanford career ranked first in school history in field-goal percentage (.608) and third in blocked shots (89).

Collins was selected 18th overall by the Houston Rockets in the 2001 NBA draft but was quickly traded to the New Jersey Nets, where he spent the first seven seasons of his career. He became a reliable role player, known for his physical defense, screen-setting, and rebounding. Over his 13-year NBA career, Collins played for eight teams, averaging 3.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 0.5 blocks per game in the regular season. He was never a high scorer but was valued for his defensive IQ, on-the-floor communication, and professionalism.

On April 29, 2013, Collins made history by publicly coming out as gay in a Sports Illustrated cover story, becoming the first active male athlete in the NBA, NFL, MLB, or NHL to do so. He had previously been engaged to former WNBA player Carolyn Moos (they called off their wedding in 2009). Collins returned to the NBA in February 2014, signing with the Brooklyn Nets, and played 22 games that season, making him the first openly gay player to appear in a regular-season game in one of the four major North American pro leagues. He retired in November 2014.

Since retiring, Collins has worked as an NBA and ESPN analyst, a consultant for inclusion initiatives, and a speaker on LGBTQ+ issues, mental health, and diversity in sports. He has been honored by organizations such as the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame (inducted in 2013) and has remained a visible advocate for equality.

Husband

Jason Collins married film producer Brunson Green in May 2025 in a private ceremony. The couple had been in a relationship since June 2014. Green, who has produced films such as The Help (2011) and Lee Daniels’ The Butler (2013), has been a supportive partner throughout Collins’s post-playing career and advocacy work. Their marriage made headlines as a milestone for the visibility of gay athletes in long-term, committed relationships. As of early 2026, Collins and Green live together in Los Angeles and continue to support each other publicly and privately.

Stats

Jason Collins played 13 seasons (2001–2014) in the NBA and appeared in 735 regular-season games. Below are his career regular-season and playoff averages:

Regular Season Career Averages

Playoff Career Averages

Collins was never a high-volume scorer but was respected for his defense, screen-setting, and basketball IQ.

Coach

Jason Collins never played for or under a single defining “coach” in the way some players are closely associated with one mentor. However, several coaches played important roles in his career:

• Stanford University – Under head coach Mike Montgomery, Collins developed into an All-American center.
• New Jersey Nets – Coaches Byron Scott and Lawrence Frank relied on him as a defensive anchor and starter during the Nets’ Finals runs in 2002 and 2003.
• Atlanta Hawks – Larry Drew valued Collins’s veteran presence and defense against bigs like Dwight Howard.
• Brooklyn Nets – Jason Kidd, a former teammate from the New Jersey Nets, personally advocated for Collins’s return in 2014, making him the first openly gay player to appear in an NBA regular-season game.

Collins has not pursued a formal coaching career after retirement but has worked as an analyst and consultant, often speaking on leadership, inclusion, and team dynamics.

Marriage

Jason Collins married film producer Brunson Green in May 2025 in a private ceremony. The couple had been together since June 2014, a relationship that began shortly after Collins came out publicly in 2013. Green, known for producing films such as The Help (2011) and Lee Daniels’ The Butler (2013), has been a steady presence in Collins’s post-playing life.

Their marriage was widely covered as a positive milestone for visibility and representation of long-term gay relationships among former professional athletes. As of early 2026, Collins and Green reside in Los Angeles and continue to support each other’s careers and advocacy efforts.

Family

Jason Collins comes from a close-knit family with a strong basketball background:

• Twin Brother – Jarron Collins, who also played 10 seasons in the NBA (2001–2011) as a center for teams including the Utah Jazz and New Orleans Hornets. The brothers played against each other multiple times and remain very close.
• Parents – Jason and Jarron were born to parents in Los Angeles. Their father was supportive of their basketball careers.
• Husband – Brunson Green (married May 2025), a film producer.
• Extended Family – Collins has spoken about the importance of family support after coming out, including his parents and brother standing by him during his public announcement and career transition.

Collins does not have children and has not publicly discussed plans to start a family.

Net Worth

Jason Collins’s net worth is estimated at $12–18 million as of 2025–2026. His wealth comes primarily from his 13-year NBA career (2001–2014), during which he earned roughly $40–50 million in salary across multiple contracts. His largest deals were with the New Jersey Nets (a five-year, $25 million extension signed in 2004) and later veteran minimum and mid-level contracts with Atlanta, Boston, Washington, and Brooklyn.

After retirement, Collins has earned income through media work (as an ESPN and NBA TV analyst), speaking engagements, consulting on inclusion and diversity, and appearances in documentaries and interviews. He has also benefited from endorsements and sponsorships related to his historic coming out. Collins has been active in philanthropy, including work with the Matthew Shepard Foundation and GLSEN, but no major new business ventures or financial updates have been publicly reported as of early 2026.