Portland Trail Blazers: 5 reasons Zach Collins was a good pick

Portland Trail Blazers, Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Portland Trail Blazers, Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

1. He’s only 19

At just 19, Zach Collins became an NBA rookie after being drafted in the lottery by a playoff-level team. But like all young adults, Collins will go through his growing pains. That’s to be expected. He will have to grow both on and off the court, and it’s his work ethic and maturity that will set him apart from the rest of this peers.

That being said — the possibilities are endless. At just 19 years of age, Collins OOZES potential. He already has a solid foundation. Now it’s all about building the right habits to be successful.

We all like to throw the word “upside” around when we talk about NBA prospects, but Collins actually has it. He’s moldable. He’s confident. He has room to grow. And, most importantly, he has time.

He doesn’t have to have everything figured out anytime soon, nor should anyone expect him to have everything figured out. He just needs to continue putting himself in the best possible position to succeed, striving to be productive every single day while being patient with his development.

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If he can do all of that early on, then his ceiling — that being a versatile, two-way seven-footer able to score anywhere on the court and defend at a high level — comes within reach.