Jason Collins’ Estate Planning and Legacy After Cancer Battle

Jason Collins, the trailblazing former NBA center who became the league’s first openly gay player, quietly put his affairs in order months before revealing he had cancer.

According to court documents, Collins signed a will in October 2025, laying out how his estate should be handled. The filings show he left behind personal property valued at more than $1.8 million, with the possibility of additional assets held separately in private trusts.

Collins didn’t just sign a formal document and walk away. The records state he left a written note in a safe-deposit box, giving his executor specific instructions on who should receive his jewelry, watches, silverware, clothing, cars, and other personal effects — the intimate details of a life lived in public, but settled in private.

He named his aunt, Teri, as executor of the will. If she’s unable to serve, the responsibility would pass to his husband, William Green, and his brother, former NBA player and coach Jarron Collins, who are listed as alternates.

The beneficiaries reflect the tight circle around him. The documents list his parents, his brother, a cousin, his husband, and his aunt as recipients of his estate. Two charities also appear: Glisten and Point Foundation, both of which support LGBTQ+ students. Even in planning for his death, Collins directed part of his legacy toward the community he helped represent on the biggest basketball stage.

Collins died on May 12, 2026, after a battle with brain cancer, leaving behind not only a legal roadmap for his assets, but a lasting imprint on the sport and the people who saw themselves in his courage.