Don Collins
Encyclopedia
Donald Collins (born November 28, 1958 in Toledo, Ohio
) is an American former professional basketball
player. Collins was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in the first round (18th pick) of the 1980 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft
. Collins played in 303 NBA games for four teams over six seasons, averaging just under 10 points per game for his career.
The 6-foot-6 Scott High School
standout was selected as the PAC 10
Player of the Year after averaging 23 ppg for Washington State University
in 1980. He starred in basketball's minor leagues, averaging more than 30 points per game in the United States Basketball League
(USBL).
A member of the Continental Basketball Association
's 50th Anniversary Team, Collins is regarded as one of the most prolific scorers in the history of minor league basketball.
Collins had two 63-point scoring games in the minor leagues, both in 1986: In the CBA
, as a member of the Baltimore Lightning, against the Detroit Spirits; and in the USBL, as a member of the Tampa Bay Flash, against the Jersey Jammers.
That same year, as a member of the Tampa Bay
Thrillers, Collins earned MVP honors at the CBA All-Star game. Collins and head coach Bill Musselman
led the Thrillers to three consecutive CBA titles.
Collins also spent several seasons playing professionally overseas in France
for Limoges and in Switzerland for Pully.
Collins now lives in Columbus, Ohio.
a new website about Don Collins
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
) is an American former professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player. Collins was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in the first round (18th pick) of the 1980 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft
1980 NBA Draft
The 1980 NBA Draft was the 34th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 10, 1980, before the 1980–81 season. In this draft, 23 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
. Collins played in 303 NBA games for four teams over six seasons, averaging just under 10 points per game for his career.
The 6-foot-6 Scott High School
Scott High School (Toledo, Ohio)
Jesup Wakeman Scott High School is a public high school located in the Old West End neighborhood of Toledo, Ohio. It is part of Toledo Public Schools. It was named for a former editor of The Toledo Blade from 1844 to 1847...
standout was selected as the PAC 10
Pacific Ten Conference
The Pacific-12 Conference is a college athletic conference that operates in the Western United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I; its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of NCAA Division I football competition...
Player of the Year after averaging 23 ppg for Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
in 1980. He starred in basketball's minor leagues, averaging more than 30 points per game in the United States Basketball League
United States Basketball League
The United States Basketball League , often abbreviated to the USBL, was a professional men's spring basketball league. The league was formed in 1985. The final champions are the Kansas Cagerz, who won the title game on July 1, 2007.-History:...
(USBL).
A member of the Continental Basketball Association
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
's 50th Anniversary Team, Collins is regarded as one of the most prolific scorers in the history of minor league basketball.
Collins had two 63-point scoring games in the minor leagues, both in 1986: In the CBA
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
, as a member of the Baltimore Lightning, against the Detroit Spirits; and in the USBL, as a member of the Tampa Bay Flash, against the Jersey Jammers.
That same year, as a member of the Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
Thrillers, Collins earned MVP honors at the CBA All-Star game. Collins and head coach Bill Musselman
Bill Musselman
William Clifford Musselman was an American basketball coach in the NCAA, the ABA, the WBA, the CBA, and the NBA. He was a fiercely intense coach who once was quoted as saying "defeat is worse than death, because you have to live with defeat."-Early life:Musselman was the second of five children....
led the Thrillers to three consecutive CBA titles.
Collins also spent several seasons playing professionally overseas in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
for Limoges and in Switzerland for Pully.
Collins now lives in Columbus, Ohio.
a new website about Don Collins