CHICAGO — When Zach Collins arrived in Chicago, uncertainty met opportunity. A fresh start in a new city, with a different core and a winning mission, could have gone either way. But the big man, who brought grit from San Antonio and experience from his Portland roots, has found his groove in a Bulls uniform — and he’s doing it while helping Chicago chase the postseason.
“It’s been great,” Collins told me, reflecting on his new chapter. “When I first got here, I didn’t know what the lineups and everything were gonna look like, but I felt like a fresh start wasn’t the worst thing in the world for me, so I looked at it as a positive thing, you know?”
He didn’t hide his appreciation for San Antonio and what Gregg Popovich’s system did for his career. But he’s embraced his role with the Bulls.
“Obviously I’m sad about leaving San Antonio because the people there are unbelievable and they did so much for my career,” Collins said. “But, being here I got a few games in, a couple guys got hurt and I was thrown in and I was playing starter position minutes for my first eight games and it feels great. In fact, I’m getting the opportunity here on a winning team and we’re getting into the postseason and it’s special.”
“We Play Fast, We Play Hard”
The Bulls have quietly built something. It might not scream “contender” just yet, but the pieces are aligning: youth, energy, and an identity forged through effort.
“I think this team is super resilient and I think we have an identity which is unique for a young team to have an identity like that,” Collins explained. “We play fast, we play hard. No matter if it’s a miss or a make, we get the ball out quick and we try to share the ball even though we have guys like Coby [White] and Josh [Giddey] who are unbelievable right now. We’re all trying to play that right way and that’s pretty unique for a young team.”
Since the All-Star break, that identity has been on full display.
“We’ve put out a pretty good performance since after the All-Star break and we put ourselves in a good position—it’s special.”
When asked if this Bulls team reminds him of any other locker room he’s been in?
“No. Not really. We’re a pretty unique team.”
Billy Donovan: The Communicator
When players talk about great coaches, they often don’t talk about X’s and O’s first — they talk about trust. Collins found that in Bulls head coach Billy Donovan.
“He keeps it real. He keeps an open mind of communication,” Collins said. “If something’s gonna change in the lineup or something and if he feels something’s gonna change, play style-wise that will benefit you or put you in a different spot, he’s gonna tell you face to face and he’s gonna be straight up about it. And I feel like in the NBA, that’s a rare thing. So I think that’s pretty cool that he does that.”
And while Donovan brings a straight-shooter approach, Collins can’t help but reflect on the uniqueness of playing under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio.
“There’s a lot of similarities I would say,” he said. “I would say honestly the biggest difference is with Pop, we did a lot of film sessions where we would learn about the world and what was going on in the world and Pop was teaching life as well as teaching basketball.”
The blending of basketball and life is something Collins sees echoed in stories about legendary coach Phil Jackson.
“Yeah, I heard some things about Phil and I’ve heard things from other players and it sounds very similar,” Collins said. “Usually every lesson with Pop tied into what we were going through on the court and appreciate what we were going through — the good times, bad times — and he put a lot of things in perspective and I definitely hear that about Phil as well.”
On Vučević, Play-In Pressure, and What’s Ahead
As Collins continues to integrate into the Bulls’ system, his frontcourt mate, Nikola Vučević, has made a lasting impression.
“Probably not,” Collins said when asked if he’s played with someone quite like Vooch. “I played with [Jusuf] Nurkić in Portland and he was also a very skilled big man but more of a brute. But Vooch is more of a footwork-footwork-footwork-touch and plays below the rim but he’s very crafty and super smart. He could be more selfish than he is but, he plays the right way and he’s definitely unique.”
And now, with Miami waiting in the NBA Play-In Tournament, Collins and the Bulls know they’re entering a war of will — one built on familiarity.
“Yeah I think so,” Collins said of whether past matchups against the Heat will impact this one. “When you play a team three or four times, both of you are going to know the team inside out and then it comes down to who’s gonna play harder, who’s gonna lock in more on the little things.”
“Playoff basketball is much more physical and I think that plays into both of our hands. They [Miami] were definitely a little more physical and locked in on trying to stop our stuff this past time so, we’re gonna get their best shot. Obviously since I’ve been here, we’ve beaten them three times and it’s hard to beat a team 3,4,5,6 times so we’ve got our work cut out for us.”
Final Word
Zach Collins didn’t arrive in Chicago with guarantees — only an opportunity. Now, as the Bulls inch closer to postseason basketball, the former Gonzaga standout is making his presence felt. With Donovan’s honesty, Vooch’s veteran presence, and a team that’s resilient, fast, and ready, Collins is embracing every minute of this new chapter.
“It feels great,” he said. “Getting the opportunity here on a winning team… it’s special.”
