Zach Collins Bio
Zach Collins is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He plays the center and power forward positions and is listed at 6 feet 9 inches tall. He was drafted by the Sacramento Kings with the 10th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft and was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers on draft night. After four seasons in Portland, he spent four years with the San Antonio Spurs before joining the Bulls in 2025.
Collins began his basketball journey in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he developed into one of the top high school prospects in the country. A one-year college standout at Gonzaga, he entered the NBA early and has built a career defined by perseverance through injuries and steady contributions as a frontcourt player.
Early Life and Background
Zach Collins was born on November 19, 1997, in Las Vegas, Nevada, in the United States. He grew up in the Summerlin neighborhood and attended Bishop Gorman High School, one of the most prominent basketball programs in the state. From his earliest years, Collins showed the size and coordination that would eventually make him a highly recruited center prospect.
At Bishop Gorman, Collins helped lead the school to four consecutive state championships, providing a strong foundation for his future in the sport. For his first three seasons, he came off the bench and played alongside fellow seven-footers and McDonald’s All-Americans Stephen Zimmerman and Chase Jeter, learning from older teammates and gaining valuable experience. As he developed, Collins added shooting touch and passing to his size, showing the all-around game that scouts valued.
Path to Basketball
In the summer of 2015, Collins competed in the FIBA 3×3 Under-18 World Championships, teaming up with Jalek Felton, Payton Pritchard, and P. J. Washington. The team won the USA tournament and went on to represent the United States at the 2015 World Championship in Debrecen, Hungary, where they finished in eighth place. The experience of competing internationally sharpened Collins’ skills against high-level competition and prepared him for his senior year of high school.
Despite being rated as a four-star prospect, Collins was named to the 2016 McDonald’s All-American Game, becoming the first McDonald’s All-American to commit to Gonzaga directly out of high school. After taking official visits to several schools, he signed with the Zags in the early signing period as a key member of Gonzaga’s highest-ranked recruiting class in school history.
Zach Collins Career
College Career (2016–2017)
As a freshman at Gonzaga, Collins usually played off the bench as a center, working in rotation with fifth-year senior center Przemek Karnowski. During the 2016–17 season, he averaged 10 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks over 17.3 minutes per game. His productivity earned him Second-team All-WCC and WCC All-Freshman Team honors.
In the national semifinal game of the 2017 NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament, Collins delivered one of the most memorable performances of his career. He registered 14 points, 13 rebounds, and six blocks as the Bulldogs defeated South Carolina 77–73, sending Gonzaga to its first national championship game. The performance cemented his status as a top NBA prospect.
Portland Trail Blazers Era (2017–2021)
At the conclusion of his freshman season, Collins announced his intention to forgo his remaining college eligibility and enter the 2017 NBA draft. He was selected 10th overall by the Sacramento Kings and was traded on draft night to the Portland Trail Blazers, where he signed his first professional contract in July 2017. He quickly established himself as a young frontcourt contributor with size, shot-blocking ability, and outside shooting potential.
His early years in Portland were marked by injuries. In November 2019, the Trail Blazers announced that Collins had undergone successful surgery to repair his left labrum, sidelining him for about four months. On December 30, 2020, the team announced another surgery to repair a left medial malleolus stress fracture, causing him to miss the entire 2020–21 regular season. While recovering, he refractured his foot and underwent a second revision surgery in June 2021, keeping him out of the playoffs. Across his first four seasons, he appeared in only 154 games.
San Antonio Spurs Era (2021–2025)
On August 11, 2021, Collins signed a three-year, $22 million contract with the San Antonio Spurs. He made his Spurs debut on February 4, 2022, against the Houston Rockets, scoring 10 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Earlier in January 2022, he was briefly assigned to the Austin Spurs of the NBA G League while continuing his recovery.
On February 10, 2023, Collins scored 29 points and grabbed 11 rebounds during a 138–131 double-overtime loss against the Detroit Pistons. During the 2022–23 season, he averaged nearly 12 points, three assists, and shot 52 percent from the field and 37 percent from three. On October 22, 2023, he signed a two-year, $35 million contract extension with the Spurs. He played in 69 games during the 2023–24 season, averaging 11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, before suffering a dislocated right shoulder in the season finale against Detroit and undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum.
Chicago Bulls Era (2025–Present)
On February 3, 2025, Collins was traded to the Chicago Bulls in a three-team deal that also sent Tre Jones and a 2025 first-round pick to Chicago. In 28 appearances with eight starts for the Bulls, he averaged 8.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists during the remainder of the 2024–25 season.
On October 18, 2025, the Bulls announced that Collins would miss at least one month after suffering a non-displaced fracture in his left wrist. In 10 appearances prior to the injury, he averaged 9.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. On February 21, 2026, the Bulls announced that Collins would require season-ending right toe surgery.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Collins’ career came in the 2017 NCAA national semifinal, when his 14-point, 13-rebound, six-block performance pushed Gonzaga into the national championship game. In the NBA, his most productive single-game showing was a 29-point, 11-rebound effort against the Detroit Pistons in February 2023. His selection as a 2016 McDonald’s All-American marked him as the first player to make that game and commit directly to Gonzaga out of high school.
Zach Collins Family
Personal Life
Zach Collins was raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he attended Bishop Gorman High School and built the foundation of his basketball career. Publicly available details about his personal life, including his parents, marital status, spouse, and children, are not well documented in verified sources.
2025 Season Performance
Zach Collins split the 2024–25 season between the San Antonio Spurs and the Chicago Bulls after being traded on February 3, 2025. In 28 appearances with eight starts for Chicago, he averaged 8.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists, providing frontcourt depth and a stretch-shooting option for the Bulls.
Heading into the 2025–26 campaign, Collins was expected to play a larger role in Chicago’s rotation. On October 18, 2025, the Bulls announced that he would miss at least one month after suffering a non-displaced fracture in his left wrist, slowing his early momentum. Across 10 appearances before the injury, he averaged 9.7 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. On February 21, 2026, the Bulls announced that he would require season-ending right toe surgery.
With Collins under contract through 2027 on a deal that runs through the 2025–26 and 2026–27 seasons, his long-term outlook in Chicago will depend on his recovery and ability to stay on the floor. His combination of size, shooting, and frontcourt versatility continues to make him a valuable piece when healthy.
