Spurs, Zach Collins reach two-year, $35M extension

San Antonio Spurs center Zach Collins has agreed to a two-year, $35 million contract extension, according to Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports, as reported by ESPN on Sunday.

Collins’ contract extension, which runs through the 2025-26 season, marks a remarkable comeback for the player who missed nearly two full NBA seasons due to ankle injuries.

At the age of 25, Collins is finally showcasing the good health needed to fulfill the potential he showed in his early years with the Portland Trail Blazers. After playing just 11 games in the 2019-20 season and missing the entire 2020-21 season due to multiple ankle surgeries, Collins signed with the Spurs in the 2021 offseason. He made his San Antonio debut in February 2022 and played the entirety of last season, displaying the versatility that made him the 10th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft.

The contract extension for Collins, who currently has one year left on his contract, reinforces San Antonio’s commitment to building a supporting cast around their top pick, Victor Wembanyama. Collins joins guards Devin Vassell and Tre Jones in securing offseason extensions with the Spurs.

In his first four NBA seasons, Collins played in only 154 games due to injuries. However, he has shown promise in the preseason, averaging 14.2 points. In the 2022-23 season, he played in 63 games for the Spurs, averaging 11.6 points and 6.4 rebounds.