The Mavericks coach reflected on Jason Collins’ courage and legacy after the former NBA center died Tuesday following a battle with brain cancer.
Jason Collins died Tuesday at 47 years old after an eight-month battle with Stage 4 glioblastoma, one of the most aggressive and inoperable forms of brain cancer. The NBA lost one of its most important figures, and tributes from around the league arrived quickly.
Among them was an emotional message from Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd, who reflected on a friendship that stretched across more than two decades in the NBA.
“This one hurts,” Kidd wrote on X. “Jason Collins was a pioneer. He had courage like you’ve never seen. He was an incredible teammate. And having him in Brooklyn at the start of my coaching journey meant so much. Those who knew him were blessed to call him a friend. You are already missed my brother. Rest in power.”
Collins and Kidd first became teammates on the New Jersey Nets from 2001 to 2008, helping lead the franchise to back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003. Their relationship extended beyond their playing careers. When Kidd became head coach of the Brooklyn Nets in 2013, he strongly advocated for the organization to sign Collins midway through the 2013-14 season.
That season became historic for multiple reasons.
In April 2013, Collins published a first-person essay in Sports Illustrated with one of the most memorable opening lines in sports journalism history: “I’m a 34-year-old NBA center. I’m Black. And I’m gay.” The announcement made Collins the first openly gay active male athlete in one of America’s four major professional sports leagues.
Kidd witnessed much of that journey firsthand. As a first-year NBA head coach navigating one of the league’s largest markets, Kidd played a direct role in bringing Collins back into the NBA. His tribute Tuesday focused heavily on Collins’ courage, underscoring the admiration and respect he developed for his longtime teammate over the years.
Collins spent 13 seasons in the NBA and played for six franchises throughout his career. Though never a superstar statistically, he became one of the league’s most respected veterans and a key contributor on several playoff teams, including the Nets squads that reached consecutive NBA Finals.
He was diagnosed with glioblastoma during the summer of 2025 and reportedly pursued experimental treatment overseas before the cancer returned. Collins died peacefully at home, surrounded by family. He is survived by his husband, Brunson.