Former NBA Player Jason Collins Had 2 Surgeries Just Weeks Before His Death: What We Know (Exclusive)

Former NBA player Jason Collins had two surgeries weeks before his shocking and untimely death at age 47.

According to a death certificate obtained by Us Weekly on Tuesday, May 19, Collins underwent a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt procedure on April 20. The medical device can be surgically implanted to relieve excess cerebrospinal fluid pressure on the brain usually caused by hydrocephalus, per the National Library of Medicine.

Nine days later, Collins underwent surgery for an inferior vena cava filter placement. The device can stop blood clots from going up into the lungs to prevent a life threatening pulmonary embolism, per John Hopkins.

Collins’ cause of death was due to respiratory failure. He also suffered from underlying conditions that contributed to his death, including pulmonary embolism, hydrocephalus and glioblastoma (brain cancer).

Earlier this month, Collins’ family announced that the basketball player died on May 12.

“We are heartbroken to share that Jason Collins, our beloved husband, son, brother and uncle, has died after a valiant fight with glioblastoma,” the family said in a statement to the NBA. “Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar.”

The statement continued, “We 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.”

Collins, the first openly gay player in the NBA, is survived by husband Brunson Green, whom he wed in May 2025.

Last year, Collins revealed he was diagnosed with stage IV brain cancer.

“A few months ago, my family released a short statement saying I had a brain tumor. It was simple, but intentionally vague,” he wrote in an essay for ESPN in December 2025. “They did that to protect my privacy while I was mentally unable to speak for myself, and my loved ones were trying to understand what we were dealing with. But now it’s time for people to hear directly from me. I have Stage 4 glioblastoma, one of the deadliest forms of brain cancer. It came on incredibly fast.”

Collins was best known for being a professional basketball player for 13 years. He played for multiple teams including the New Jersey Newts, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Washington Wizards and Brooklyn Nets. After retiring from the game in 2015, he continued to work with the NBA as a Cares Ambassador, which is the league’s social responsibility program.