Collins may make his Spurs debut Friday night against the Heat, Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Collins has not played since August of 2020 in the NBA bubble, as a series of ankle and foot injuries have derailed the early portion of his career. It's been a long road back for the No. 10 overall pick in 2017, but after spending considerable time conditioning and playing in the G League, it looks like he's close to returning to NBA action. Coach Gregg Popovich stopped short of explicitly saying that Collins will play Friday, but with both Jock Landale and Jakob Poeltl in concussion protocols, it would make sense to bring the Gonzaga product back into the fold. Chances are, the Spurs will handle Collins' workload with extreme caution in the short term, but he could grow into an expanded role after the All-Star break.

Collins was recalled from the G League, but he'll remain out for Tuesday's game against the Warriors, Bruno Passos of SB Nation reports.

EDGE Analysis

Collins continues to look good in G League action, most recently putting up 15 points, 18 boards, three assists and two blocks in Thursday's win over the Sioux Falls Skyforce. The Spurs are listing him as out due to "Return to Competition Training," so it appears he still may have a final hurdle to clear before making his debut. Whenever Collins takes the floor for the Spurs, it will mark his first action since the Orlando bubble in August of 2020.

Collins (ankle) played 28 minutes in his most recent outing for the G League's Austin Spurs in Thursday's 119-97 win over the Sioux Falls Skyforce, finishing with 15 points (6-13 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 1-2 FT), 18 rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

EDGE Analysis

Collins was making his third appearance for the G League affiliate while he continues to build up his conditioning after he had been sidelined since late June while recovering from a fractured left ankle. The big man fractured the same ankle while playing for the Trail Blazers at the NBA's bubble in Orlando during the 2020 postseason, so he's more than 16 months removed from his last action at basketball's top level. With that in mind, the Spurs may want to see Collins appear in another game or two with Austin before incorporating him in the NBA rotation.

The Spurs assigned Collins to the G League's Austin Spurs on Monday, independent NBA journalist Matthew Tynan reports.

EDGE Analysis

Collins will get another stint in the G League to work on his conditioning before trying to make his NBA season debut. In his two previous contests with Austin, he averaged 15.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.0 assists in 22.5 minutes.

Collins (ankle) is out for Sunday's game against the 76ers due to return to competition reconditioning, Paul Garcia of ProjectSpurs.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Collins has appeared in two G League games, and the injury designation for his surgically-repaired ankle has been removed. However, he'll still be out Sunday due to conditioning issues. Ultimately, it seems like Collins will be making his season debut sooner than later.

Collins (ankle) was recalled from the G League on Saturday, Jeff Garcia of KENS 5 San Antonio reports.

EDGE Analysis

Collins has appeared in two G League games for the Austin Spurs. In 22.5 minutes, he's averaged 15.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.0 assists. Given that Collins is seemingly healthy, he could make his return in the NBA sooner than later.

Collins (ankle) will play one more game with the Austin Spurs before presumably joining San Antonio, Jeff Garcia of KENS 5 San Antonio reports.

EDGE Analysis

Collins hasn't appeared in an NBA game since 2019 due to a slew of injuries, but the big man appears to be nearing a return with San Antonio, assuming all goes well in the final game of his rehab assignment in the G League. It's unclear as to the role he'll have in the Spurs' rotation, assuming he is ultimately recalled.

Collins (ankle) has been assigned to the G League's Austin Spurs and will be available for Monday's game against Rio Grande Valley, Jeff Garcia of KENS 5 in San Antonio reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Spurs have provided very little in the way of updates on the big man, who has not played in an NBA game since August of 2020 in the Orlando bubble. A series of injuries -- most recently, surgery on his left ankle -- has derailed Collins' career, but it looks like he's finally moving in the right direction. Presumably, he'll play in multiple G League games before making his Spurs debut, which could conceivably come before the end of the month. The 2017 lottery pick signed a three-year, $22 million deal with the Spurs in free agency this past summer. In four seasons with Portland, Collins appeared in 66, 77, 11 and 0 games, respectively.

Collins said Tuesday that he's avoided any setbacks in his recovery from the left ankle surgery he underwent over the summer, but he remains without a definitive target date to make his season and Spurs debut, Tom Osborn of the San Antonio Express-News reports. "Just whenever I'm ready, whenever I'm feeling good," Collins said, when asked when he might be available to play. "I haven't played for so long, conditioning and getting the rhythm back is where I am right now."

EDGE Analysis

Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said shortly before the season that Collins likely wouldn't be cleared to play until after the holiday season, and that still appears to be the case more than two months later. Collins initially sustained a stress reaction of his left ankle while playing for Portland at the NBA bubble in Orlando in the summer of 2020 and underwent surgery that August, then required a follow-up procedure in late December of that year. He had been gearing up for a return late in the 2020-21 campaign, only to fracture the same ankle again in late June while rehabbing. Despite Collins' sketchy track record on the health front, the Spurs still recognized enough potential in the 2017 lottery pick to sign him to a three-year deal this summer. Even so, Collins will likely face significant limitations whenever he's ready to suit up for the Spurs, presumably sitting out one half of back-to-back sets while having a minute restriction in place.

Collins (foot) will not make his season debut before Christmas, Tom Osborn of the San Antonio Express-News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Collins re-fractured his foot in June. While his timetable is still relatively unclear, we at least know now that he won't be back before Christmas. Collins is avoidable in almost all redraft leagues, though it's hard to dissuade fantasy managers in very deep leagues from taking a last-round gamble.