Carolyn Moos-Hardin, who was once engaged to the late NBA pioneer Jason Collins, has shared her thoughts following his recent passing due to brain cancer.
In an exclusive statement to Us Weekly, Moos-Hardin, 47, reflected on the value of life and health, stating, “How precious life is and how precious health is — I wish for longevity for all. I pray for peace and may the ways we leave a positive impact on people’s lives be eternal.” She extended her sympathies to Collins’ family and close friends, encouraging everyone to “Embrace the present, give with our presence and realize time is our biggest gift.”
Collins and Moos-Hardin, who met as student-athletes at Stanford, were in a relationship for eight years and became engaged.
In 2013, Collins made history by coming out as the first openly gay NBA player in a cover story for Sports Illustrated.
His family announced his passing on Tuesday, May 12, five months after he disclosed his stage IV glioblastoma diagnosis. Collins was 47 years old.
The family expressed their gratitude for the love and prayers received over the last eight months, acknowledging the exceptional medical care he received. “Jason changed lives in unexpected ways and was an inspiration to all who knew him and to those who admired him from afar,” their statement read. “Our family will miss him dearly.”
Collins was married to Brunson Green, whom he began dating shortly after publicly coming out. They were married in May 2025.
Moos-Hardin also married in May 2025 and celebrated the birth of her daughter, Chaysa, in December 2025.
Collins’ passing elicited a significant response from the NBA community, including from league commissioner Adam Silver.
In a statement, Silver, 64, praised Collins for his contributions beyond basketball, noting how he helped create a more inclusive environment within the NBA and the broader sports community. “He exemplified outstanding leadership and professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career and in his dedicated work as an NBA Cares Ambassador.”
Silver further remarked, “Jason will be remembered not only for breaking barriers, but also for the kindness and humanity that defined his life and touched so many others. On behalf of the NBA, I send my heartfelt condolences to Jason’s husband, Brunson, and his family, friends, and colleagues across our leagues.”
NBA icon Charles Barkley shared his thoughts on Collins’ legacy and impact on Wednesday, May 13, during ESPN’s Inside the NBA.
Reflecting on Collins’ decision to come out publicly, Barkley, 63, expressed admiration for his courage in facing potential scrutiny and negativity. “When he came out, man, I thought it was amazing to put himself under the microscope and the scrutiny and the hatred and the vitriol that was going to happen,” Barkley said. He lamented the loss, noting, “But man, I hate the way this story ended. Because he was a shining example [of], ‘Do you, man.’ Obviously anybody out there who is struggling with their sexuality, do you. Gay people have the right to do what they want to do. It’s nobody else’s business at all.”
Barkley added, “For him to come out, it was great. Obviously, a lot of times, especially in the Black community, when you’re gay, you get treated awful. And that sucks, too. But I was proud of him for coming out. When I got that news yesterday, it just sucked.”
