Bulls center Zach Collins is physically imposing. He’s every bit of 6-11 with some solid passing skills to boot.
Collins’ blend of physical play and toughness is needed on a team with eight guards, especially with Nikola Vucevic dealing with a calf injury that’s being treated with caution and Jalen Smith dealing with the lingering effects of a concussion. Collins, who had 21 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists in the Bulls’ 122-117 loss to the Clippers on Wednesday, is the last healthy big man standing.
“I’ve been in and out of lineups all year, so now I get all the minutes I want,” Collins said. “Our team is not as good without those guys in the lineup, so it’s not just me. We all have to pick it up. There are a lot of points and rebounds left out there on the floor without [Vucevic], so we all have to pick up the slack.”
On the Spurs, Collins rarely was used in their rotation, averaging 11.8 minutes in 36 games. He didn’t let the lack of playing time discourage him. Collins said he would spend more time in the gym to stay prepared if his number was called.
The Bulls are Collins’ third NBA team, but this trade deadline was the first time he had been dealt in the middle of the season. With the All-Star break taking place so close to the trade deadline, it has been a whirlwind.
But Collins has been studying the Bulls’ playbook to get up to speed and become familiar with the team’s terminology. His former Spurs teammate Tre Jones — also acquired in the three-team Zach LaVine deal — helped ease Collins’ transition.
“To come over with a guy that I played with for four years now and gotten close to made the whole thing that much more comfortable,” Collins said. “We took the same car to the airport, same flights, the same time for media, for medical, for extra reps after practice, learning, learning plays and everything.”
With Collins likely being a fixture in the rotation because of injuries, he’ll also have to get acclimated with his teammates and their tendencies.
“To be thrown into this is awkward sometimes, trying to figure out guys’ personalities, most importantly on the court, trying to figure out how guys play,” Collins said. “It’s just reps that help first.”
The high mark of Collins’ career was the 2022-23 season, when he averaged career highs in points (11.6), rebounds (6.4) and minutes (22.9.) But beyond the numbers, Collins has a reputation for physical play, which is coveted by the Bulls. He’s also useful on the glass.
Collins, 27, said his style stems from his upbringing. His parents raised him to be tough, and his coaches always coached him with an edge. He also says watching old-school basketball instilled tenacity.
“I’ve always liked Zach as a player,” coach Billy Donovan said. “He just hasn’t been healthy early in his career. But [with] his physicality, his screening, his presence defensively in pick-and-rolls, it’s just good to see him back healthy.”
If the Bulls want to become a perennial playoff team, they’ll need players with Collins’ mindset.
“It’s part of my game and my skill set and why I’ve been able to help teams in the past,” Collins said. “You see the guys at the top every year, how physical they are, the top teams. No matter how the roster looks, how talented they are, there’s a level of toughness and physicality we have to bring to win tough games.”