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| Zach Collins | |
|---|---|
| Name | Zach Collins |
| Caption | Collins with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2018 |
| Number | 33 |
| Position | Center / Power forward |
| Weight lb | 255 |
| League | National Basketball Association |
| Team | San Antonio Spurs |
| Birth date | 19 November 1997 |
| Birth place | Hillsboro, Oregon |
| College | Gonzaga (2016–2017) |
| Draft year | 2017 |
| Draft pick | 10 |
| Draft team | Sacramento Kings |
| Career start | 2017 |
| Years1 | 2017–2021 |
| Team1 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| Years2 | 2021–2023 |
| Team2 | San Antonio Spurs |
| Years3 | 2023–present |
| Team3 | Utah Jazz |
Zach Collins (born November 19, 1997) is an American professional basketball player who plays as a center and power forward in the National Basketball Association (NBA). A product of Gonzaga University and the 2017 NBA draft, he has played for the Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, and Utah Jazz. Known for his 7-foot frame, rim protection, and perimeter shooting, he has combined interior defense with floor spacing throughout his career.
Born in Hillsboro, Oregon, Collins attended Notre Dame Preparatory High School and later transferred to Eagle Point High School and Silverdale High School. As a highly ranked recruit he participated in the McDonald's All-American Boys Game, the Jordan Brand Classic, and the Nike Hoop Summit. Collins played for Amateur Athletic Union programs including Team Scoop 16U and received attention from programs such as Gonzaga, Duke, Arizona, and UCLA during his recruitment.
Collins committed to Gonzaga University and joined the Bulldogs under head coach Mark Few for the 2016–17 season. As a freshman alongside teammates like Przemek Karnowski, Josh Perkins, and Killian Tillie, he started and averaged solid numbers while contributing in the West Coast Conference and the NCAA Tournament. He earned selections to conference freshman teams and drew comparisons to multi-positional centers such as LaMarcus Aldridge and Al Horford for his shooting touch and mobility. After one collegiate season he declared for the 2017 NBA draft.
Collins was selected tenth overall in the 2017 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings and immediately traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in a draft-night deal. Early in his rookie season he saw minutes behind established players like Jusuf Nurkić and Mason Plumlee and was assigned to the NBA G League affiliate Wisconsin Herd for development. Collins' career with the Trail Blazers included playoff appearances in the 2018 NBA Playoffs and contributing as a rim protector and perimeter shooter on teams led by Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum. A major setback occurred when he underwent shoulder surgery and later sustained a tear to his anterior cruciate ligament, impacting his availability during subsequent seasons.
In 2021 Collins was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in a multi-team deal and began a new phase under head coach Gregg Popovich. With the Spurs he developed his perimeter game and saw increased roles alongside players such as Dejounte Murray and Keldon Johnson. In 2023 Collins was traded to the Utah Jazz, joining a roster with Lauri Markkanen and Collin Sexton as the Jazz retooled their frontcourt.
Collins has represented the United States in international competition at junior levels and participated in USA Basketball developmental programs and camps. He trained at USAB events and was on preliminary rosters for age-group tournaments, competing alongside peers from programs like Duke and Kentucky in exhibition settings.
Collins is a 7-foot, left-handed big man noted for rim protection, shot-blocking, and three-point shooting, allowing him to play both center and power forward in modern spacing systems. Scouts compared his skill set to stretch five prototypes such as Brook Lopez and Kevin Durant-style spacing in concept, emphasizing catch-and-shoot ability, pick-and-pop execution, defensive rotations with interior timing akin to Rudy Gobert, and passing out of double teams similar to Nikola Jokić in certain play types. His weaknesses have included lateral quickness against small-ball lineups and recovery speed following injuries.
Collins is from a family active in athletics in Oregon and has been involved in community initiatives in the Portland area, including youth basketball clinics and charity appearances with the Portland Trail Blazers organization. He has maintained close ties with the Gonzaga program and coaches like Mark Few, and has expressed interests outside basketball including music and entrepreneurship.
Across his NBA career Collins has recorded averages reflecting rim protection and floor spacing, including notable blocks per game and three-point percentage seasons while playing for the Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs. Collegiately he earned West Coast Conference freshman honors and was on watch lists during the 2016–17 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Professional milestones include being the tenth overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft, participating in multiple NBA playoff series, and recording career-high scoring and rebounding games during regular-season play.
Category:1997 births Category:Living people Category:American men's basketball players Category:Centers (basketball)