Don Collins, CSP Limoges’ “The Cobra” : career, honours and statistics

Published on June 24, 2026 6 min. reading

There are some players you never forget, even forty years on. Don Collins is one of them. An American who had played in the NBA, he arrived in Limoges in 1987 and went on to win it all: three French league titles, three MVP awards and a historic European Cup. Nicknamed ‘The Cobra’ for his ability to strike at the crucial moment, he remains one of the most memorable foreign players in the history of French basketball. Here’s why.

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Don Collins’ career : from Washington State to Limoges legend

Don Collins is not just some American passing through to cash a cheque. He is a true goalscorer, trained in the US college elite, who played in the NBA and found his moment of glory in France. A look back at his career in four acts.

Washington State : a record-breaker who still leaves a lasting impression

It all began at Washington State University, where Collins played from 1976 to 1980. And he was no mere bit-part player.

In his senior year (the 1979–80 season), he averaged 23.1 points per game. A figure that, more than four decades later, remains the programme’s single-season scoring record. At the time, it was the highest average in the Pac-10 conference since Bill Walton. That’s saying something.

That season, he led the Cougars to a 22-6 record and their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1941. As the conference’s top scorer AND top steals leader, he was unsurprisingly named Pac-10 Player of the Year and selected for the AP Second-Team All-America. A true leader.

The 1980 Draft and his NBA career : a more low-key role

On the back of that standout season, Collins was selected 18th overall in the 1980 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks. Straight into the top flight.

But the NBA did not roll out the red carpet for him. Over six seasons and 303 games, he averaged 9.8 points on 48.5 per cent shooting. Decent, but nothing more. He played for four different franchises: Atlanta (1980–81), the Washington Bullets, the Golden State Warriors (1983–84) and finally the Milwaukee Bucks (1986–87).

Between his stints in the NBA, he made a name for himself in the American minor leagues. In the CBA, he won three consecutive titles with the Thrillers (1985, 1986, 1987). The scorer was just waiting to burst onto the scene. He simply lacked the right environment.

Limoges CSP : the perfect fit (1987–1991)

He found that setting in France. In 1987, Limoges CSP took a chance on him. It was a winning move.

Limousin was set for four blistering seasons. There, Collins became ‘The Cobra’: a cool-headed killer, capable of sinking the game-winning shot in the dying seconds. A born finisher, who turned every crunch time into a masterclass.

The titles came thick and fast. French champion in 1988, 1989 and 1990, and runner-up in 1991. And a European highlight: the 1988 Cup Winners’ Cup, snatched from Grenoble against Juventut Badalone (96–89 after extra time), the first European Cup won by a French club. A defining moment for French basketball as a whole, alongside Richard Dacoury, Stéphane Ostrowski and Clarence Kea.

His average ? Stratosphereal. Around 25 points per game over the period, peaking at 25.9 points in 1989. In the 1988 championship final, he even racked up 40 points in a single match — a scoring record in the French top-flight final that stood for a long time.

End of his career: La Rochelle, Switzerland and Mexico

After his epic spell in Limoges, Collins continued his French adventure in La Rochelle in the early 1990s, playing in Pro B. ‘The Cobra’ no longer had quite the bite he’d had in his heyday, but a scorer remains a scorer.

He then went on to play abroad, notably in Switzerland (Pully, Cossonay) and later in Mexico, where he gently brought his nomadic career to a close. It was the full circle for a player who left his mark wherever he went — but nowhere as much as in Limoges.

Playing style: a cool-headed finisher

The nickname says it all. “The Cobra” strikes quickly, strikes accurately, and strikes at the worst possible moment for his opponent.

Collins is, first and foremost, a pure scorer – a 1.98 m agile wing player capable of creating his own shot and delivering in crunch time. His trademark: clutch play. Decisive baskets in the dying seconds were his speciality.

At Washington State, he was also a formidable on-ball defender – the conference’s top interceptor in 1980. This dual-threat profile – an elegant scorer and a ball-stealer – explains why he was able to excel in both the fast-paced American style of play and the more tactical European game.

A combination of offensive talent and a killer instinct. The very definition of the player you want with the ball in his hands when it all comes down to it.

A new era is beginning…

Be in the light !

Why Don Collins left his mark on basketball

Because he was one of the driving forces behind the first golden age of modern French basketball. Let’s be clear: without the winning trio of the late 1980s, CSP Limoges would not have become the legendary club we know today. And Collins was its number one offensive weapon.

His legacy is threefold. Firstly, the trophies: three French league titles and the 1988 Cup Winners’ Cup – the first European cup won by a French club. A historic turning point. French basketball proved it could win in Europe.

Secondly, the rarity of his status. Three-time French league MVP (1988, 1989, 1990), he is one of the very few foreign players to have amassed so many individual honours in France. A level of dominance almost unparalleled for an import player.

Finally, his legacy in popular culture. In Limoges, people still talk about ‘The Cobra’. He epitomises that era when an American could transform a provincial club into a winning machine. A local legend, and a key to understanding the origins of great French basketball.

Don Collins’ statistics and honours

The figures below are taken from public sources (Basketball-Reference / NBA, Washington State archives, Wikipedia and specialist French media). For a player from the 1980s, some French averages remain approximate depending on the source – here, we have prioritised verifiable facts and honours.

Individual highlights

– 1979-80 (senior) : NCAA, Washington State = 23.1 pts/game – club record, top scorer in the Pac-10

– 1980-1987 (6 seasons) : NBA = 303 games, 9.8 pts/game, 48.5% shooting

– 1988 (final) : French Championship = 40 points in a final match

– 1989 : French Championship ≈ 25.9 points per match on average

– 1987-1991 : French Championship ≈ 25 points per match over the period

Honours

– French Champion (Limoges CSP) : 1988, 1989, 1990

– French Runner-up : 1991

– French Championship MVP : 1988, 1989, 1990

– Cup Winners’ Cup (Saporta Cup) : 1988

– European Champions’ Cup Final Four : 1990