John Collins
The energetic forward who brought double-doubles and highlight dunks to Atlanta.
John Collins is an American professional basketball player who spent the first six seasons of his NBA career with the Atlanta Hawks after being selected with the 19th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft. He played college basketball for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, where he led the ACC in field goal percentage and was named first-team all-ACC and ACC Most Improved Player. In Atlanta, Collins quickly established himself as a productive frontcourt player, earning NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors in 2018 and forming a dynamic interior presence alongside Trae Young. His tenure included a career-high 35-point game, a 25-rebound performance, and a buzzer-beating game-winning tip-in against the Indiana Pacers in January 2023.
- Draft Year
- 2017
- Position
- Power Forward / Center
- Jersey Number
- 20
- NBA Debut
- October 2017
- Status
- Former Hawks Player
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
John Collins' arrival in Atlanta marked the beginning of a promising young core for the Hawks. Drafted 19th overall out of Wake Forest, he made an immediate impression during the 2017 NBA Summer League, earning All-Summer League First Team honors with averages of 15.4 points and 9.2 rebounds. His rookie season featured 11 double-doubles, including his first career double-double in just his third NBA game with 14 points and 13 rebounds against the Brooklyn Nets. By his sophomore year, Collins had recorded a career-high 35 points against the Chicago Bulls and a career-high 25 rebounds against the Indiana Pacers. In November 2019, he was suspended 25 games for violating the league's anti-drug policy after testing positive for pralmorelin (GHRP-2). He returned to post multiple 30-point games, including tying his career high with 35 points and 17 rebounds against the Dallas Mavericks. In August 2021, Collins signed a five-year, $125 million contract with the Hawks. His most dramatic moment came on January 13, 2023, when he made a buzzer-beating, game-winning tip-in in a 113–111 win over the Indiana Pacers.
In Their Own Story
The ball hung in the air as the final seconds ticked off the clock in Atlanta. Trae Young's three-point attempt had clanked off the rim, but there was John Collins, crashing the boards with perfect timing. He tipped the ball back up just before the buzzer sounded, and it dropped through the net, giving the Hawks a 113–111 victory over the Indiana Pacers on January 13, 2023. It was the kind of play that defined Collins' time in Atlanta—not always the first option, but always in the right place at the right time. Earlier that same season, he had been the steady presence in the paint, averaging double-doubles and stretching defenses with his mid-range game. From his rookie year double-doubles against the Nets and Heat to his 35-point, 17-rebound masterpiece against the Mavericks in February 2020, Collins built a reputation as a reliable scorer and relentless rebounder. His 25-rebound game in the 2019 season finale against the Pacers showed his ability to dominate the glass. Even after his 25-game suspension in 2019, he returned with a 27-point, 10-rebound performance against the Cavaliers, proving his resilience.
Reader's Guide
John Collins operated primarily as a power forward for the Atlanta Hawks, though he occasionally slid to center in smaller lineups. His role was defined by his scoring efficiency—he led Wake Forest and the ACC in field goal percentage as a sophomore, and shot 57.6% from the field during his rookie NBA season. Collins was a consistent double-double threat, tallying 11 double-doubles as a rookie and recording 10 games with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds during his sophomore college season, which led the ACC. His offensive game relied on pick-and-roll finishes, offensive rebounds, and mid-range jumpers. Defensively, he used his athleticism to block shots and grab rebounds, highlighted by a career-high 25 rebounds in a game. Collins' best statistical season in Atlanta came in 2019-2020, when he posted multiple 30-point games, including 33 points against the Clippers and 35 against the Mavericks. He was a key part of the Hawks' rotation from day one, starting 26 games as a rookie and becoming a full-time starter by his second season.
Did You Know?
- John Collins was selected with the 19th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft, not the 7th.
- He was suspended 25 games in November 2019 for testing positive for pralmorelin, a growth hormone-releasing peptide.
- Collins recorded a career-high 25 rebounds in a 135–134 loss to the Indiana Pacers on April 10, 2019.
- He made a buzzer-beating, game-winning tip-in against the Indiana Pacers on January 13, 2023.
- Collins signed a five-year, $125 million contract with the Hawks on August 6, 2021.