Brunson Green was his spouse, Jason Collins' biggest support system, who stayed by his side until he breathed his last.
Former NBA player, Jason Collins died at the age of 47 following a brave fight against a painful ailment. His family and the NBA announced his passing on May 12, 2026. Jason played 13 seasons as a centre for multiple franchises, including the New Jersey Nets, where he reached the NBA Finals in consecutive seasons in 2002 and 2003. He made history in 2013 when he came out as gay in a Sports Illustrated cover essay. Notably, he was the first active male athlete in any of North America's four major professional sports leagues to do so.
Jason's public revelation of his sexual orientation encouraged a lot of people to accept themselves for who they are and let the world know about it. Even after he retired from the NBA in 2014, he served as a global ambassador for inclusion and LGBTQ+ advocacy within the sports community. According to reports, he is survived by his husband, Brunson Green, his parents, and his twin brother, Jarron Collins. Here's everything we know about his better half, their love story and Brunson's support amid Jason's health battle.
According to PEOPLE, Brunson Green worked in the Hollywood film industry. Born in November 1967, he is 58 years old as of May 2026, which makes him 11 years older than his deceased partner, Jason Collins. Regarding his profession, Brunson is an American film producer based in Los Angeles, best known for producing The Help (2011). The movie was based on a book of the same name and was nominated for the prestigious Academy Awards. He partnered with his longtime friends, Tate Taylor and Kathryn Stockett (whom he grew up with in Jackson), to adapt her 2009 book for the screen.
According to PEOPLE, at the beginning of his career, Jason helped produce films across genres, including Chicken Party, Pretty Ugly People, Slappy the Clown, The Journeyman, and Fool's Gold. Brunson also leads the production company Harbinger Pictures. Thus, he is a talented individual in his own right and not someone who coasted on his partner's popularity. He was also a pillar of support for his husband, Jason Collins, during his fight against cancer.
Jason and Brunson first met at a housewarming party in June 2013, just two months after the former publicly came out as gay. However, the former NBA star was dating someone else at the time, so nothing romantic developed immediately. Three months later, in September 2013, they ran into each other again at another party in Los Angeles. This time, Jason was single, and the duo subtly expressed interest in each other. They vibed well; however, the timing wasn't right for them to start a relationship, as Brunson was supposed to leave for Europe the very next day.
To stay connected, Jason and Brunson quickly exchanged contact information. While the latter was overseas, the former admitted that he playfully did a "background check" by asking mutual friends if they knew him. It was probably because he wanted to get to know Brunson more before deciding to form a deeper bond with him. They finally began dating in June 2014, shortly after Collins retired from professional basketball. Sharing the initial meeting deets with the New York Times, Jason Collins stated:
"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."
After dating for about nine years, Jason and Brunson got engaged in Los Angeles during Lakers Pride Night in 2023. Two years later, the former NBA player and the Hollywood film producer walked down the aisle over the Memorial Day weekend in May 2025. The couple held an intimate, outdoor wedding ceremony in Austin, Texas, where they reside. Their star-studded guest list included actors, Octavia Spencer and Allison Janney. Jason Collins posted a picture of the couple's big day, featuring them in matching black suits, and captioned it, "So this happened." Sharing the joy of their newlywed life with ESPN, Jason stated:
"In May I married the love of my life, Brunson Green, at a ceremony in Austin, Texas, that couldn't have been more perfect."
Brunson Green was a constant pillar of support for his husband, Jason Collins, throughout his aggressive battle with stage 4 glioblastoma. Sadly, within four months of their marriage, the ex-NBA star received his devastating brain cancer diagnosis in September 2025. According to reports, his spouse remained heavily involved in his care and well-being as they navigated the illness together. Brunson stayed by Jason's side at the hospital and managed communication with the doctors when the fast-growing tumour left Jason unable to speak or process information.
Brunson slowed down his career and travelled with Jason to Singapore for the latter's experimental radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy trials. They reportedly even went to Indonesia to recharge amid intensive medical regimens. Tragically, after an eight-month battle with the disease, Jason Collins passed away peacefully at his home on May 12, 2026.
What are your thoughts on Brunson Green and Jason Collins' enduring love story? Let us know.
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