Doug Collins
Doug Collins
Paul Douglas "Doug" Collinsis an American retired basketball player. He was the first overall pick of the 1973 NBA draft and a three-time NBA All-Star. He has also been an NBA coach, coaching the Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Washington Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers. Currently, Collins serves as an analyst on the NBA on ESPN pre-game show NBA Countdown...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBasketball Player
Date of Birth28 July 1951
CityChristopher, IL
CountryUnited States of America
I've always said you have to go through a lot of heartache in life to feel joy.
The 76ers hold a special place in my heart and I am intrigued by the opportunity to return to Philadelphia, where I was part of a rebuilding program, joining the team the year after it went 9-73 and going to the NBA Finals just four years later.
We've got to get our fans back. We've got to start winning and get our fans excited about the 76ers again... We're selling hope. This is about hope. We have hope that we have a chance to be good.
When hired three years ago, I willingly accepted the challenge of leading the Bulls back to the type of team this city richly deserves. I'm proud of the fact that each year the team has taken another step toward an NBA championship, and played with intense pride and determination.
I remember when I went to try out for the Olympic team in 1972, Coach Iba told me he didn't care how many points I could score because if I couldn't guard anybody, I wasn't going to make the team. I knew to make the team I had to become a better defender. If you can play offense, you can defend. It just comes down to competitive will.
Boston is a very proud franchise. The NBA misses them when they are not in the mix. They, along with teams like the Knicks and 76ers are a big part of the heart, soul and history of the league.
When your teammate looks you in the eye and holds you accountable, that's the greatest kind of leadership there is
Work as hard as you can to become as good an individual player as you can to help your team win
The one thing about players today is that they're very sensitive, and very fragile. They didn't grow up with tough coaches.
To change a team you must change their comfort zone.
The great thing about basketball is you work as hard as you can to individually get better so that your team can win
As I look back on the day I signed my professional contract in 1973, I've never gone to sleep wondering if I could pay the bills or take care of my family. That's what basketball has done for me. It's given me the greatest of thrills from high school to college to the Olympics to coaching to broadcasting.
Don't ever have a rule that you won't enforce with your best player.
We're looking to what level of partnership we can get, and what a partner wants from us in exchange.