Jason Collins is Outsports’ Male Hero Of The Year

Jason Collins represents courage as he publicly battles brain cancer, educating others. He is an LGBTQ sports hero. The post Jason Collins is Outsports’ Male Hero Of The Year appeared first on Outsports.

Dec 23, 2025 - 19:00

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We all know the story of Jason Collins. This year, the 13-year NBA veteran shared another chapter in his story in hopes of inspiring others.

Collins made his historic announcement in 2013 that he was gay. When he signed with the Brooklyn Nets in 2014, he became the first and only player to ever come out while still playing professional sports.

This made Collins a profound barrier breaker in the truest sense of the word. His efforts in the LGBTQ community since his retirement in 2014, especially in the world of basketball and at Pride parades representing the NBA, showed his character and how much being a pioneer meant to him.

Being the first to do anything is always brave. Now Collins is attempting to inspire a whole different demographic, welcoming the world into his fight against brain cancer. This courage to share his fight publicly makes him the 2025 Outsports Male Hero of the Year.

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Jason Collins continues to be an inspiration, fighting his brain cancer publicly
Jason Collins has gone overseas to receive treatment for his brain cancer. His husband, Brunson Green, is by his side.

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Collins talked to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne on December 11 about his cancer and the fight he has ahead of him.

“I have Stage 4 glioblastoma, one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer,” Collins said. “It came on incredibly fast.

“What makes glioblastoma so dangerous is that it grows within a very finite, contained space — the skull — and it’s very aggressive and can expand. What makes it so difficult to treat in my case is that it’s surrounded by the brain and is encroaching upon the frontal lobe — which is what makes you, ‘you.'”

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A post shared by Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne)

Collins’ journey to finding a cure will be long and trying, but that’s never something that will deter him. His doctors gave him only 11 to 14 months to live if he accepted the standard of care in the United States, so he has chosen to pursue experimental medicine in Singapore for now.

Being told you have only a finite amount of time left on this planet is unfathomable. Collins didn’t have to share his condition with anyone, just like he didn’t have to come out as gay over a decade ago.

Both of these decisions show his mental makeup is a little different from the average person.

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Jason Collins had a huge impact on the life of gay high school basketball coach and athletic director Anthony Nicodemo.

Jason Collins has long tried to help other people

Collins is always about “we” instead of “me”. He has long worked in hopes of helping people and enacting positive change, even when given a dire situation. He talked about the similarities between his cancer turmoil and his coming out.

“After I came out, someone I really respect told me that my choice to live openly could help someone who I might never meet. I’ve held onto that for years. And if I can do that again now, then that matters.”

“I got to tell my own story, the way I wanted to. And now I can honestly say, the past 12 years since have been the best of my life. Your life is so much better when you just show up as your true self, unafraid to be your true self, in public or private. This is me. This is what I’m dealing with.“

Collins will be a hero forever. True trailblazers never pass on.