Alumni Spotlight: Mardy Collins

This is the third in a series of spotlights on Temple Athletics alumni. The series will start with the 2023 Athletics Hall of Fame Class, which will be inducted the weekend of October 6-7.

One of eight Temple men's basketball players selected in the first round of the NBA Draft (2006 Draft, 29th pick, NY Knicks), Mardy Collins was the last in a long line of great players coached by the late Hall of Famer John Chaney. The 6-6 point guard had an incredible four-year career for the Owls, scoring 1,919 points, which ranks fifth in school history, while ranking second in program history in steals (290) and field goals (718).

The team's leader in points, assists, and steals his junior and senior seasons, Collins was a two-time First Team NABC and Atlantic 10 selection, and three-time all-Philadelphia Big 5 honoree. He also earned A-10 all-Defensive Team accolades twice, ranking in the Top 10 in the nation in steals per game his junior (2,8 pg, 9th) and senior (2.8, 10th) seasons.

He would go on to play four seasons in the NBA before venturing overseas for a nine-year career in Europe where he earned First Team all-EuroCup in 2016 and 2017.

Talk about your decision to go to Temple to play under John Chaney?
"It really was the only option I had. Coppin State was the only other school showing interest, so I was planning to go to Coppin State. Coach Chaney was coming to see Michael Blackshear, who was on my team. He had already committed (to Temple) and we just happened to have a game at McGonigle Hall against Germantown Academy. I just happened to have a good game, something like 25 points, 14 rebounds, so Coach started showing interest. He saw me again and said he wanted me to come, but did not have any scholarships. I would have to come as a walk-on. I was all good and was going to come as a walk-on, but a scholarship came available, and I was set.
I always wanted to go to Temple as I went to their games with John Hardnett. Lynn Greer was one of the guys I followed. So, when the opportunity presented itself, I was all for it."

You had an amazing Temple career, starting all but one game and ranking among the school's all-time leaders in points, assists and steals. When you look back on your time with the Owls what stands out the most?
"This was the best time in my life. I tell people all the time, including my sons, enjoy these moments because once you leave college it is the real world. Temple was the best time of my life. I was able to learn so much from Coach Chaney. I learned about life, growing socially in that college environment. It was also the best time of my life basketball-wise, as I was able to be who I am as a player. I had some times like it in the NBA and overseas, but most of the time I was able to just play and be myself at Temple. It was the time I had the most confidence playing basketball as Coach trusted me, gave me the ball. There were times I was confused with what he wanted, but the trust he had in me was remarkable.
It was the most fun I had playing basketball, even if the style we were playing was not as up tempo as I would have liked."

Talk about the only game you did not start in your four-year career, against South Carolina as a junior during the 2004-05 season.
"The funny part about that story, my teammates know but not many other know, is we were playing Georgetown in DC the game before and Antywane Robinson and Wayne Marshall were roommates on the trip. They were late to the bus, so Coach was cussing them out (for being late). Then we go straight to South Carolina, and I cannot find my hat in my room. I remember those guys being late the last game, so I am not being late to the bus. Plus, it is 75 degrees outside. I also planned on getting off last, but Coach happened to stay on the bus. So that was one of his rules, if you do not wear a ski cap in the winter you did not start, and he saw me so I came off the bench. I was mad as it was a big non-conference game for us. The crazy part of it was I had nine steals."

You were selected in the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft. How special was that for you?
"Other than the birth of my kids it was probably the best moment of my life. It was a dream come true, especially for someone like me. I always wanted to make it (to the NBA), but when you look at my numbers I was not really playing my first three years in high school. I was still at the park playing. I always had the expectations as a kid, and I tell my sons all the time that if you want to be great you have to have unrealistic expectations. Even as a junior when I wasn't really playing and as a senior when I had no real scholarship offers at the start that I was wasn't going to make it.
When it finally happened, it was like a dream come true.   I wish I was in the building, but I wasn't a top pick. I was so nervous the whole night, but when it happened it was a dream come true."

Talk about your four seasons in the NBA. What stands out for you the most when looking back on your time at the highest level of the sport?
"It was amazing. The level of competition is amazing. It is so different. In high school you are the cream of the crop. In college at some point, you are the top guy on your team, but then you get to the League and it is all of the top guys. You see the skill level there and it can make you question yourself at times.

It was frustrating as well as I worked hard, got to the gym early and stayed late to work hard on my game but was never able to break through and got those minutes that I thought I should as I was playing on some bad teams.

I did enjoy the four years I had in the League and everything that came with it, being able to take care of my family, the lifestyle, playing against top competition.

Timing is everything. With the Knicks I was headed to breaking through as I finished my rookie year up strong. I was playing like 40 minutes per game the last two months of the season and averaging 15 (points), five (rebounds), five (assists) my last like 15 games of the season. I then went into the summer and had to get surgery on my knee, just a cleanup. I was talking to our coach, Isaiah Thomas, and he told me he had big plans for me next year. He said when I start feeling well he is putting me in and taking (Stephon) Marbury our of the starting lineup. When my knee is finally good, I tell Coach and he says I am starting you. He then tells Marbury, who leaves the team. The next day I have all the media around me saying, 'Mardy Collins is taking Marbury's starting spot.'   So now all of this pressure is on me, and I go out and sprain my ankle in the first minutes of the game.   Coach still had faith in me, but he would get fired.

So, I think it is a little bit of luck and the situations you are in."

You played overseas following your NBA career.   How was that experience?
At first I hated it. I was coming from the best league in the world, staying in the best hotels, flights, and all the accommodations and then I go to a bottom of the barrel team in Turkey with a weight room the size of a closet, travelling by bus, the gym is cold. The conditions were terrible. But when I finally went to a good team it was the best thing in the world. My other stops, Greece, France, Russia was great.   Once I started playing with bigger and better teams with bigger budgets and better arenas it was great. The money was better and there were bigger and better players. My year playing in Poland, a top team in the country but a bottom team in the EuroLeague, really helped propel me to a bigger and better team. It helped me get to a better team in France and then my career overseas took off.

I really started to enjoy my time there after that. I was able to see the world and play basketball."

What are you doing now?
"Following my sons, Madden and Mason, who are playing high school ball in South Carolina. I am also an assistant coach at Tatnall High School in Delaware besides having a training business, Mardyballhoops, providing individual workouts for young players."

Finally, what does your upcoming induction into the Temple Athletics Hall of Fame mean to you?
"For me it means a lot. As this is the time I had the most fun playing basketball and I learned a lot. When I got the call from Arthur Johnson it was like the Cherry on top of a great career. My time at Temple was the most fun I have had in my life."

Temple University Athletics

Alumni Spotlight: Mardy Collins

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