Last Updated on October 7, 2026 by Candida Lucia
Zach Collins comes from a close-knit Las Vegas family that played a major role in turning him into an NBA player. Born on November 19, 1997, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Collins is the son of Michael “Mike” Collins and Heather Collins. Basketball was already part of the family before Zach was born, as his father played college basketball at New Mexico State before an injury ended his career.
Collins grew up alongside his sister, Taylor Collins, while his parents provided different but equally important forms of support. Mike coached Zach from childhood and helped develop his basketball skills, while Heather encouraged him throughout his journey and emphasized compassion and personal development. Collins has been linked romantically to Angelica Payne in the past, although his current relationship status has not been reliably confirmed publicly.
Who Is Zach Collins’s Girlfriend?
Zach Collins was previously publicly linked to Angelica Payne, whom reports identified as his longtime girlfriend during the early stages of his basketball career.
Collins and Payne reportedly knew each other from their time at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas. Payne was associated with the school’s cheerleading program before later attending UCLA, while Collins moved on to Gonzaga for his only season of college basketball.
During Collins’s Gonzaga career and around the time of the 2017 NBA Draft, several reports identified Angelica as his girlfriend and noted that she had supported him during his basketball journey.
However, there has been little reliable recent reporting about the couple. Collins has generally kept his romantic life private during his NBA career, and major sports publications have not provided recent confirmation that he and Angelica remain together.
As of now, it would therefore be inaccurate to confidently identify Angelica Payne as Zach Collins’s current girlfriend. She is best described as a woman he was publicly linked to earlier in his career.
Does Zach Collins Have Children?
There is no reliable public information indicating that Zach Collins has children.
His official NBA profiles, team biographies and major interviews discussing his family have not identified him as a father, and Collins has not publicly announced having a son or daughter.
As of now, Zach Collins is not publicly known to have any children.
Who Are Zach Collins’s Parents?
Zach Collins’s parents are Michael “Mike” Collins and Heather Collins. Both played important roles in their son’s upbringing in Las Vegas and remained closely involved as he progressed from youth basketball to Bishop Gorman, Gonzaga and eventually the NBA.
Mike’s own basketball background allowed him to become one of Zach’s earliest coaches, while Heather provided emotional support and encouraged qualities that extended beyond basketball.
Who Is Zach Collins’s Father, Michael “Mike” Collins?
Michael “Mike” Collins is Zach Collins’s father and one of the most influential figures in his basketball development.
Standing around 6-foot-8, Mike was a basketball player himself and attended New Mexico State University. His playing career was cut short when he suffered a serious ankle injury during his freshman season.
Although his own competitive basketball career ended early, Mike eventually passed his knowledge of the game to his son.
When Zach was young, Mike did not immediately pressure him to concentrate exclusively on basketball. Zach experimented with several activities, including baseball and karate, and his father supported whatever sport interested him.
Once it became clear that Zach was becoming serious about basketball, however, Mike became heavily involved in his development.
How Mike Collins Coached Zach Collins
Mike began coaching Zach when he was approximately four years old. He taught his son fundamentals such as rebounding, defense, post play and shooting while gradually expanding Zach’s skill set as he grew taller.
His approach also included important lessons about teamwork. Zach has recalled that his father repeatedly taught him that one player could not win games alone and that becoming a good teammate was just as important as individual statistics.
Mike eventually became an assistant basketball coach at Bishop Gorman High School, where he specialized in working with post players. That allowed him to continue helping Zach while his son developed into one of Nevada’s best high school prospects.
The father-son relationship was not always easy on the basketball court. Zach was highly competitive as a child and sometimes struggled to control his emotions during games.
Mike responded with firm rules designed to help his son develop emotional discipline. At times he even benched Zach despite knowing that doing so could hurt the team’s chances of winning.
Collins later credited those lessons with helping him manage his emotions more effectively as a professional basketball player.
What Does Zach Collins’s Father Do?
Outside basketball, Mike Collins had a long career working for the City of Las Vegas. He eventually served in sports and recreation roles and spent approximately three decades working for the city before retiring.
His combination of basketball experience, coaching knowledge and professional work in recreation meant that sports remained a significant part of the Collins household.
Who Is Zach Collins’s Mother, Heather Collins?
Heather Collins is Zach Collins’s mother. Although she has generally received less media attention than Mike because of his direct involvement in coaching Zach, Collins has repeatedly emphasized how important his mother’s support was to his success.
Heather worked as a special education teacher in the Clark County School District in Nevada. She spent approximately 25 years working in special education before retiring.
Her professional life reflected the caring personality that Zach and Mike have both associated with her.
Zach has said that his mother always believed he was capable of continuing his basketball career and reaching the NBA, even before such a future appeared certain.
Mike has also said that Zach inherited his more compassionate side from Heather, describing his son’s willingness to quietly help other people as a reflection of his mother.
How Heather Collins Supported Zach’s Basketball Career
Heather was present throughout Zach’s rise from youth basketball in Las Vegas to becoming a nationally recruited player at Bishop Gorman.
When Zach was selected in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft, Heather spoke about having long believed that her son possessed the determination necessary to succeed.
She remembered Zach loving basketball from the time he was young enough to hold a ball and watched his interest eventually turn into a professional career.
While Mike often provided the technical basketball instruction, Heather offered emotional stability and encouragement, creating a balance that Zach has credited with helping him develop both on and off the court.
Who Are Zach Collins’s Siblings?
Zach Collins has one publicly documented sibling, a sister named Taylor Collins.
The San Antonio Spurs’ official team yearbook identifies Zach as the son of Heather and Michael Collins and lists Taylor as his sister.
Unlike her NBA-playing brother, Taylor has maintained a relatively private life, and little verified information about her education, occupation or personal relationships has been published by major sports outlets.
Who Is Zach Collins’s Sister, Taylor Collins?
Taylor Collins is Zach Collins’s sister and grew up with him in the Las Vegas area.
While Mike, Heather and Zach have appeared regularly in stories about Collins’s basketball development, Taylor has generally remained outside the public spotlight.
Because she is not a prominent public sports figure, reliable information about her private life is limited. Her inclusion in official team biographies, however, confirms her place within Zach’s immediate family.
Zach Collins’s Basketball Family Background
Basketball played an important role in Zach Collins’s household primarily because of his father’s experience with the sport.
Mike’s college basketball career at New Mexico State ended prematurely because of injury, but he remained connected to the game through coaching. Years later, Zach was able to accomplish what his father had once pursued by reaching professional basketball.
That experience meant Mike understood both the opportunities and challenges associated with high-level competition.
Instead of forcing basketball on his son, he initially allowed Zach to experiment with different sports. Once Zach chose basketball, Mike helped him understand the fundamentals required to play as a big man while also encouraging him to develop perimeter shooting skills.
Those lessons proved valuable as the modern NBA increasingly demanded versatility from centers and power forwards.
How Zach Collins’s Parents Helped Him Reach the NBA
Zach Collins did not initially appear destined to become an NBA lottery pick. As a younger player, he had to grow into his tall frame and spent considerable time developing behind other talented players.
At Bishop Gorman, Collins competed alongside elite prospects and was not always the team’s biggest star during his early seasons. His parents continued supporting his development rather than becoming discouraged by his role.
By his senior season, Collins had emerged as one of the country’s top high school centers. He averaged approximately 17 points and 14 rebounds per game, earned Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year honors and became a McDonald’s All-American.
He then chose Gonzaga, becoming one of the most highly regarded recruits in program history.
Even at Gonzaga, Collins came off the bench for much of his freshman season. Rather than complaining about his role, he followed the team-first mentality his father had taught him and maximized his minutes.
His performance during Gonzaga’s run to the 2017 NCAA national championship game dramatically increased his NBA Draft stock.
Collins was selected with the 10th overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft and subsequently began his professional career with the Portland Trail Blazers.
Zach Collins’s Family and His Las Vegas Roots
Las Vegas remains central to Zach Collins’s family story. He was born and raised in the city, attended local schools and became a high school basketball star at Bishop Gorman.
Mike and Heather also built their professional lives in the Las Vegas area, with Mike working for the city and Heather teaching within the Clark County School District.
After being drafted into the NBA, Collins returned to his parents’ home in Las Vegas while preparing for NBA Summer League competition.
The ability to train at Bishop Gorman with his father and people who had known him before he became an NBA player demonstrated how closely Collins remained connected to his hometown and family.
Frequently Asked Questions About Zach Collins’s Family
Who are Zach Collins’s parents?
Zach Collins’s parents are Michael “Mike” Collins and Heather Collins. Mike played college basketball at New Mexico State and later coached Zach, while Heather spent approximately 25 years working as a special education teacher.
Who is Zach Collins’s father?
Zach Collins’s father is Michael “Mike” Collins. He played basketball at New Mexico State before an ankle injury ended his playing career and later became one of Zach’s youth and high school coaches.
Who is Zach Collins’s mother?
Zach Collins’s mother is Heather Collins. She worked as a special education teacher for the Clark County School District and was one of Zach’s strongest supporters throughout his basketball development.
Does Zach Collins have siblings?
Yes. Zach Collins has one publicly documented sister named Taylor Collins.
Who is Zach Collins’s sister?
Zach Collins’s sister is Taylor Collins. She has maintained a private life, and relatively little verified information about her has been made publicly available.
Who is Zach Collins’s girlfriend?
Zach Collins was previously linked to Angelica Payne, whom older reports identified as his girlfriend during his Gonzaga and early NBA years. However, there has been no reliable recent confirmation that they remain together. As of now, Collins has not publicly confirmed a current girlfriend.
Is Zach Collins married?
There is no reliable public information confirming that Zach Collins is married as of now.
Does Zach Collins have children?
There are no publicly confirmed children associated with Zach Collins. As of now, he is not publicly known to be a father.
Did Zach Collins’s father play basketball?
Yes. Michael Collins played college basketball for New Mexico State. His career ended after an ankle injury during his freshman season, but he later used his basketball experience to help coach Zach.
Where is Zach Collins’s family from?
Zach Collins was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. His parents also established their careers in the Las Vegas area, and the city remains closely connected to the family’s story.
Candida Lucia is a sports journalist and NBA writer specializing in tactical game analysis, player development, and league coverage. With an eye for on-court execution and team dynamics, she delivers detailed breakdowns of strategy, roster updates, and key performance trends. Passionate about bringing readers closer to the game, Candida offers engaging insights on every aspect of the NBA season, from regular-season battles to the Finals.
