Jason Collins<\/strong> was honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the 2026 ESPY Awards.<\/p>\n The late athlete posthumously received the accolade from GMA<\/em>\u2018s Robin Roberts<\/strong> during the Wednesday, July 15, ceremony at David H. Koch Theater in New York City\u2019s Lincoln Center. As the NBA\u2019s first openly gay player, Collins was recognized for his impact on LGBTQ+ visibility in professional sports.<\/p>\n A video package featured Collins\u2019 husband, Brunson Green<\/strong>, breaking his silence on the NBA pioneer\u2019s death from stage IV glioblastoma diagnosis in May 2026.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen he first got diagnosed he was scrolling Wikipedia about glioblastoma and [how] basically it\u2019s a death sentence,\u201d Green recalled. \u201cHe wanted to fight it and see how long he could sustain his life because it might actually help other people.\u201d<\/p>\n Jason\u2019s twin brother, Jarron Collins<\/strong>, accepted the award on his behalf. As he spoke, Brunson was shown in tears as he looked on from the audience.<\/p>\n \u201cI wish my brother was here to accept this award but I find myself honored to accept this award on his behalf,\u201d Jarron, 47, said.<\/p>\n He went on, \u201cWhen Jason was diagnosed with glioblastoma, he was willing to share his experience, his treatment and his plans with the hope that if not for him, then for others. I pledge to make sure that tonight is not the end of my brother\u2019s legacy \u2014 it\u2019s just the beginning. There are so many more people who can benefit from hearing his story and it\u2019s our responsibility to keep telling it and carry on what he started.\u201d<\/p>\n News broke in June that Jason would become the latest recipient of the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage, which is given to an individual who has made a difference off the field by standing up for their beliefs. In a statement at the time, Jarron, 47, said, \u201cIt is profoundly bittersweet but deeply meaningful to accept the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage on my brother\u2019s behalf, celebrating a legacy of visibility, strength and love that will endure forever.\u201d<\/p>\n The ESPYs honor comes two months after Jason\u2019s family announced his death<\/a> in a May 12 statement to the NBA. He was 47.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n \u201cJason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar,\u201d the statement continued. \u201cWe are grateful for the outpouring of love and prayers over the past eight months and for the exceptional medical care Jason received from his doctors and nurses. Our family will miss him dearly.\u201d<\/p>\n Later that month, Us<\/em> exclusively revealed that Jason died of respiratory failure<\/a>. According to his death certificate, several underlying conditions contributed, including a blood clot, the buildup of fluid in his brain and brain cancer.<\/p>\n
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