I remember first noticing Zach Collins during his lone season at Gonzaga, thinking this kid had the kind of modern big man skills that could translate beautifully to the NBA. Standing at 6'11" with legitimate three-point range and defensive versatility, he represented exactly what teams were looking for in today's game. His journey from a promising freshman on a dominant Bulldogs team to his current role with the San Antonio Spurs has been anything but straightforward, marked by both flashes of brilliance and frustrating injury setbacks. What strikes me about Collins' career trajectory is how it mirrors the challenges many young big men face when transitioning to the professional level - the physical demands, the mental adjustments, and the patience required to find their footing.
When Portland selected Collins 10th overall in the 2017 draft, I thought they'd landed a steal. His rookie numbers didn't jump off the page - 4.4 points and 3.3 rebounds in just 15.8 minutes per game - but anyone watching closely could see the potential. He had this smooth shooting stroke for a player his size, hitting 31% from deep as a rookie while showing impressive defensive instincts. The following season, his role expanded slightly, and he responded by increasing his scoring to 6.6 points per game while maintaining solid efficiency. What impressed me most during those early years was his basketball IQ - he rarely seemed out of position defensively and made smart decisions with the ball. Unfortunately, just as he appeared poised for a breakout, the injury bug struck, with shoulder surgery costing him the entire 2019-20 season.
The trade to San Antonio in 2021 represented a fresh start, though injuries continued to plague his first season with the Spurs. When I watched him finally get healthy last season, I saw a player who had clearly worked on his body and game during those long rehabilitation periods. His numbers with the Spurs - 7.8 points and 5.5 rebounds in 17.9 minutes per game - don't fully capture his impact. He's developed into a more physical presence in the paint while maintaining that outside shooting touch that makes him so valuable in today's spacing-oriented offenses. What's particularly interesting about Collins' situation in San Antonio is how it contrasts with players in other leagues who are fighting for minutes, like Mallilin at Blackwater, where rotation spots and playing time represent crucial development opportunities for emerging talents.
Looking at Collins' advanced stats reveals why coaches keep giving him opportunities despite the injury history. His player efficiency rating of 15.2 last season, while not elite, shows he's contributing positively when on the floor. His true shooting percentage of 58.3% is solid for a big man who takes a fair number of outside shots, and his block rate of 3.8% per 36 minutes demonstrates his continued rim protection value. Where I'd like to see improvement is in his rebounding - at 6'11", he should be grabbing more than 9.2 rebounds per 36 minutes. That's an area where additional strength and better positioning could yield significant dividends.
What fascinates me about Collins' future is how perfectly he fits the modern NBA archetype when healthy. He can space the floor, protect the rim, and make smart passes from the high post - that's exactly the skill set teams covet in their big men today. At just 25 years old, he's entering what should be his physical prime, assuming he can stay on the court. The Spurs organization has a well-deserved reputation for player development, and I'm optimistic they can help Collins reach the potential we all saw during his Gonzaga days. He's shown flashes of being a legitimate starting-caliber center, particularly in games where he's logged 25+ minutes and put up numbers like 18 points and 8 rebounds.
The key for Collins, in my view, is consistency and health. We've seen what he can do in stretches - the 28-point explosion against Houston last season or the 15-rebound performance against Memphis - but putting together those kinds of efforts night after night is what separates rotational players from starters. I'm particularly bullish on his fit alongside San Antonio's young core, especially with a playmaker like Dejounte Murray feeding him the ball. Collins has shown he can finish around the rim and knock down open threes when given quality looks.
As someone who's followed his career since college, I believe Collins still has starter potential if he can put his injury woes behind him. The tools are all there - the size, the skill, the basketball intelligence. What he needs now is what every young player craves: consistent minutes and role clarity. Unlike situations where players like Mallilin can expect to get his minutes at Blackwater, Collins faces more competition in the NBA, but his talent level suggests he can carve out a significant role. If he can stay healthy for a full season, I wouldn't be surprised to see him average something like 12 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists while providing versatile defense. That might not make him an All-Star, but it would make him an extremely valuable piece for a Spurs team building toward the future. The journey hasn't been smooth, but sometimes those rocky paths build the resilience needed for long-term success in this league.
