Zach Collins Bio
Zach Collins is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The 6-foot-9 center played college basketball for the Gonzaga Bulldogs where he helped lead the program to its first national championship game appearance. Collins was selected 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 injury-plagued seasons in Portland, he signed with the San Antonio Spurs in August 2021 and played four seasons there before being traded to the Chicago Bulls in February 2025.
Early Life and Background
Zach Collins was born on November 19, 1997, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He attended Bishop Gorman High School in Summerlin, Nevada, where he established himself as one of the top high school prospects in the country. During his first three seasons at Bishop Gorman, Collins came off the bench and played alongside fellow seven-footers Stephen Zimmerman and Chase Jeter.
Collins had a standout senior year at Bishop Gorman, averaging 17.3 points, 14 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 6.4 blocked shots per game. He earned most valuable player honors in Nevada’s Southwest League and was named the Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year. He also broke Nevada’s single-season record for most rebounds and blocked shots during his senior season while helping lead his school to its fourth consecutive state championship.
In the summer of 2015, Collins competed in the FIBA 3×3 Under-18 World Championships, where he teamed up with Jalek Felton, Payton Pritchard and P.J. Washington to win the USA tournament. 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 from high school.
Path to Professional Basketball
Collins committed to Gonzaga in March 2015 during his junior year of high school, choosing the Zags over schools including California, San Diego State, Utah and New Mexico. He signed with Gonzaga as part of the program’s highest-ranked recruiting class in school history.
As a freshman at Gonzaga during the 2016-17 season, Collins typically played off the bench as a center, working in rotation with fifth-year senior Przemek Karnowski. He averaged 10 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.8 blocks over 17.3 minutes per game. His most memorable performance came in the national semifinal game of the 2017 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament, where he recorded 14 points, 13 rebounds and six blocks to help the Bulldogs defeat South Carolina 77-73 and advance to their first-ever national championship game. Following the season, Collins announced his intention to enter the 2017 NBA draft after just one year of college.
Zach Collins Career
Portland Trail Blazers (2017-2021)
Collins was drafted 10th overall by the Sacramento Kings in 2017 and subsequently traded to the Portland Trail Blazers on draft night. He signed with the Trail Blazers on July 3, 2017, and began his NBA career as a backup center. His first four seasons in Portland were severely impacted by injuries. On November 5, 2019, he underwent successful surgery to repair his left labrum and was expected to miss about four months. He returned to action but then suffered a left medial malleolus stress fracture that required surgery on December 30, 2020, causing him to miss the entire 2020-21 season.
While recovering from his previous injury, Collins refractured his foot and underwent a second revision surgery to repair the left medial malleolus stress fracture on June 29, 2021. He did not appear in the playoffs as a result of the injury. In his first four seasons with the Trail Blazers, Collins played in only 154 games due to the various injuries.
San Antonio Spurs (2021-2025)
On August 11, 2021, Collins signed a three-year, $22 million contract with the San Antonio Spurs as a free agent. He was assigned to the Austin Spurs of the NBA G League on January 16, 2022, while recovering from his ankle injury and was recalled on January 31. Collins made his Spurs debut on February 4 against the Houston Rockets, scoring 10 points and grabbing seven rebounds.
During the 2022-23 season, Collins showed significant improvement. On February 10, 2023, he scored a season-high 29 points and grabbed 11 rebounds during a 138-131 double-overtime loss against the Detroit Pistons. For the season, he averaged nearly 12 points per game, three assists per game while shooting 52% from the field and 37% from three-point range.
On October 22, 2023, Collins signed a two-year, $35 million contract extension with the Spurs. He played in 69 games during the 2023-24 season, starting 29 of them, and averaged 11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists. However, in the season finale on April 14, 2024, against the Detroit Pistons, Collins suffered a dislocated right shoulder. An MRI revealed a torn labrum requiring surgery to repair the injury.
Chicago Bulls (2025-Present)
On February 3, 2025, Collins was traded to the Chicago Bulls in a three-team deal, alongside Tre Jones and a 2025 first-round pick. In 28 appearances for the Bulls that season, he averaged 8.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists while starting eight games. On October 18, 2025, it was 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.
Zach Collins Career Highlights
Zach Collins has accumulated solid NBA experience across three franchises despite battling injuries throughout his career. His professional journey includes memorable performances at every level, from his standout college career to key moments with each NBA team.
Gonzaga Bulldogs Highlights
Collins played one season for the Gonzaga Bulldogs in 2016-17, making an immediate impact as a freshman. He was named to the Second-team All-West Coast Conference and the WCC All-Freshman Team. His national semifinal performance against South Carolina, where he recorded a double-double with six blocks, helped Gonzaga reach its first national championship game in school history. He earned McDonald’s All-American honors in 2016, becoming the first player to go directly from a high school McDonald’s All-American selection to Gonzaga.
NBA Highlights
Collins’ best NBA season came with the San Antonio Spurs during the 2022-23 campaign when he averaged nearly 12 points per game while shooting over 50% from the field. His 29-point performance against the Detroit Pistons in February 2023 stands as one of his best professional games. The $35 million contract extension he signed with the Spurs in October 2023 reflected the team’s confidence in his abilities. With the Chicago Bulls, Collins has continued to provide frontcourt depth while working to return from injury setbacks.
Zach Collins Family
Personal Life
Collins maintains an active presence on social media with his verified accounts on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). His jersey number with the Chicago Bulls is 12. Beyond basketball, Collins has been involved in various community initiatives during his NBA career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025-26 season presented significant challenges for Zach Collins with the Chicago Bulls. After joining the team in February 2025 and showing promise in 28 games, Collins suffered a non-displaced fracture in his left wrist during the preseason in October 2025. The injury forced him to miss extended time early in the campaign. In limited action before the injury, Collins showed he could contribute with averages of 9.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game over 10 appearances.
Unfortunately, the injury bug continued to plague Collins’ career when the Bulls announced on February 21, 2026, that he would require season-ending surgery on his right toe. This latest setback ended his second season with the Bulls prematurely. Despite the injuries, Collins displayed determination in his recovery efforts and remained a valued member of the Bulls roster. His contract runs through the 2026-27 season, giving him an opportunity to return and establish himself as a consistent contributor for the franchise.