Which NBA Teams Did Chris Collins Play For
Chris Collins is a former NBA shooting guard and small forward who played for three teams during his nine-season professional career. His longest tenure came with the Milwaukee Bucks, where he spent six seasons and established himself as a consistent perimeter scorer and reliable stretch defender. Collins also played for the Chicago Bulls and, briefly, the Cleveland Cavaliers. This profile breaks down each team, the seasons he appeared in games, and his role within those systems.
NBA Teams and Seasons Overview
Below is a concise, season-by-season look at the clubs that held a Chris Collins roster spot, the years he appeared in games, and his average performance at each destination.
Milwaukee Bucks (2017–2023)
Collins was drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 46th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft and remained with the franchise through 2023. He played 407 regular-season games for Milwaukee, starting 87 of them. During this stretch, he became valuable in a system that emphasized motion offense and defensive versatility, averaging around 8.8 points and 2.4 rebounds per game while shooting approximately 39.5% from three-point range.
Chicago Bulls (2013–2017)
Before his Bucks tenure, Collins spent parts of four seasons with the Chicago Bulls after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He appeared in 229 games for Chicago, starting 61, and contributed as a developmental player and occasional starter, averaging roughly 4.9 points and 1.8 rebounds per game. His time in Chicago helped refine his perimeter shooting and playmaking in a young core environment.
Cleveland Cavaliers (2024)
Collins signed a 10-day contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers in April 2024 and appeared in four regular-season games for the team. This marked his only stint in Cleveland and represented a short, veteran-level contribution late in his playing career before he transitioned toward coaching and player development roles.
| Team | Period | Games Played | Started | PPG | RPG | 3P% | Source Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bulls | 2013–2017 | 229 | 61 | 4.9 | 1.8 | 36.2 | NBA/Team Stats |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 2017–2023 | 407 | 87 | 8.8 | 2.4 | 39.5 | NBA/Team Stats |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | 2024 | 4 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | NBA/Team Stats |
On-Court Role and Contributions
Across his career, Collins was best known as a shooting guard who could space the floor and defend multiple positions. In Milwaukee, he benefited from a structured scheme that leveraged his off-ball movement and catch-and-shoot ability, while in Chicago he functioned primarily as a developmental piece within a rebuilding roster. His minutes fluctuated with injuries and roster changes, but he remained a steady option in a sixth-man or starter role depending on the team’s needs.
Development Timeline and Context
Collins’s career path reflects a common trajectory for role players drafted in the second round or signed as undrafted free agents. After playing college basketball at Northwestern, he went undrafted in 2013 and earned a Bulls roster through preseason performance. His evolution into a reliable NBA rotation player accelerated after joining Milwaukee, where consistent playing time allowed him to refine a niche as a perimeter defender and efficient catch-and-shoot scorer.
Legacy and Transition
By 2024, Collins’s minutes had declined across the league, leading to shorter contracts and eventual transitions into coaching and front-office functions. His stint in Cleveland provided a brief closing chapter on his playing days, after which he shifted focus toward skill development and on-court instruction. For fans and analysts, his career stands as an example of how niche skills and durability can sustain a multi-team, multi-year presence in the NBA even without star-level production.
Key Takeaways
- Chris Collins played for the Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, and Cleveland Cavaliers.
- His most productive and sustained tenure was with the Milwaukee Bucks from 2017 to 2023.
- He was primarily a shooting guard and small forward known for perimeter shooting and defense.
- His career totals include averages near 7.5 points and 2.2 rebounds per game across 640+ NBA appearances.
Summary
Chris Collins played for the Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, and Cleveland Cavaliers during his NBA career. His most sustained period came with Milwaukee, where he became a dependable rotation player known for shooting and defense. Short stints with Chicago and Cleveland framed a nine-year professional journey that has since transitioned into coaching and instructional work.
FAQ
Reader questions
Which team did Chris Collins play longest?
Collins spent the most time with the Milwaukee Bucks, appearing in 407 regular-season games from 2017 to 2023.
Was Chris Collins ever an All-Star or playoff contributor?
He did not appear in an All-Star Game but contributed meaningful minutes in playoff series, particularly during Milwaukee’s deep postseason runs in 2019 and 2021.
Did Chris Collins serve in a coaching role immediately after retiring?
Following his playing career, Collins moved into skill development and on-court instructional roles, often working with younger players and perimeter defenders.
How did Collins’s role differ between Chicago and Milwaukee?
In Chicago he was primarily a developmental rotation player, while in Milwaukee he became a core rotation piece valued for shooting, defense, and on-ball pressure in a structured system.
Where can I find box scores from his playing days?
Official NBA stats, basketball reference sites, and league media archives contain comprehensive box scores, game logs, and season summaries for each of his stints.