Zach Collins
A skilled and physical NBA big man who battled through significant injury setbacks to reinvent himself as a reliable stretch-forward and defensive anchor.
Born 1997 (age 29)·American basketball player·Birthday: November 19·Generation Z
Biography
Zach Collins's NBA journey is a testament to resilience. Drafted in the lottery out of Gonzaga, where he was a key reserve on a national runner-up team, his early promise with the Portland Trail Blazers was repeatedly interrupted by a brutal run of injuries, including multiple shoulder surgeries and a stress fracture in his foot. For years, his story was defined by potential trapped on the sidelines. A fresh start with the San Antonio Spurs in 2021 became his crucible. In their system, Collins slowly rebuilt his body and game, transforming from a traditional post player into a modern big who could space the floor with a three-point shot, make sharp passes, and defend with intelligence and grit. He earned a starting role and the trust of the coaching staff, finally showcasing the versatile skill set that made him a top prospect. His subsequent trade to the Chicago Bulls marked the next chapter for a player who had fought hard to become a durable and impactful NBA contributor.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Zach was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Zach Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
Zach's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
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 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played a pivotal role off the bench for the Gonzaga Bulldogs during their run to the NCAA Championship game in 2017.
- Selected with the 10th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Sacramento Kings (immediately traded to Portland).
- Signed a multi-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs in 2021 and became their starting center, averaging career-high numbers.
- Recorded a career-high 8 rebounds and 5 blocks in a single game for the Spurs, showcasing his defensive impact.
- Successfully returned to play over 70 games in multiple seasons after a series of early-career injuries that limited him to just 154 games in his first four years.
Did You Know?
He was a highly recruited high school player in Las Vegas, named Nevada's Gatorade Player of the Year in 2016.
Collins only started one game during his single season at Gonzaga but was a crucial sixth man.
He is known for having a pet parrot named Rico.
His father, Mike Collins, played college basketball at Texas A&M and professionally in Europe.
He wears jersey number 23 in honor of his childhood idol, LeBron James.
“The only stat that matters after surgery is the date they clear you to play.”
