Jarron Collins
A cerebral and durable NBA center who carved out a decade-long career before becoming a highly respected strategic coach.
Born 1978 (age 48)·American basketball player·Birthday: December 2·Generation X
Biography
Jarron Collins, alongside his twin brother Jason, entered the NBA as part of a celebrated Stanford draft class. Selected by the Utah Jazz in the second round, he quickly established himself not with flashy stats but with intelligent defense, solid screening, and a deep understanding of team systems. His 10-year tenure was marked by consistency and professionalism, primarily with the Jazz, where he became a trusted role player in Jerry Sloan's disciplined schemes. After his playing days, Collins' basketball IQ made for a seamless transition to coaching. He joined the Golden State Warriors' staff, contributing to their championship culture, and later moved to the New Orleans Pelicans, where he is valued for his player development skills and tactical preparation, proving his impact on the game extends far beyond the box score.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Jarron was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jarron Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Jarron's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 10 seasons in the NBA, appearing in 54 playoff games.
- Was a key rotation player for the Utah Jazz teams that made consecutive Western Conference Finals appearances in 2007 and 2008.
- Served as an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors during their 2022 NBA championship season.
Did You Know?
He and his twin brother Jason were both drafted in the 2001 NBA Draft, making them the first twins to both be first-round picks.
Collins majored in sociology at Stanford University.
He was a teammate of Stephen Curry early in Curry's career with the Warriors.
“My job was to set the tone with physicality and smart plays.”
