Last Updated on July 21, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

John Collins is an explosive, high-flying forward whose athletic finishing, rebounding, and ability to stretch the floor have made him a consistent frontcourt weapon throughout his NBA career. Whether attacking the rim with powerful dunks or creating second-chance opportunities, Collins combines energy and versatility in a style that has kept him an important contributor on competitive teams.

Here’s the detailed information about John Collins:

  • Full Name: John Martin Collins III
  • Nationality: American (also holds U.S. Virgin Islands citizenship)
  • Age: Born September 23, 1997
  • Hometown: Layton, Utah, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 9 inches (206 cm)
  • Weight: 235 pounds (107 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 feet 11 inches (211 cm)
  • Shoe Size: 16 (US Men’s)
  • Jersey Number:
    • #20 — Wake Forest Demon Deacons
    • #20 — Atlanta Hawks
    • #20 — Utah Jazz
  • Position: Power Forward / Center
  • High School: Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach, Florida
  • College: Wake Forest University (2015–2017)
  • NBA Draft: 2017, 1st round, 19th overall pick by the Atlanta Hawks
  • Player Archetype: Rim-running, pick-and-roll finishing power forward
  • Primary Offensive Role: Vertical spacer, lob threat, secondary scorer
  • Defensive Role: Weak-side rim protector and help defender
  • Play Style: Explosive finisher with efficient interior scoring, capable of floor spacing and transition scoring
  • Handedness / Shooting Hand: Right
  • Athletic Profile: Above-average vertical athlete with strong leaping ability and quick second jump
  • Recruiting Status: 3-star recruit (2015 class)
  • Draft Status Detail: Declared after sophomore season; projected late first-round pick due to efficiency and athletic profile
  • Injury Status Category: Moderate Risk — has missed stretches with foot and finger injuries but no career-altering setbacks
  • Career Stage: Prime / late-prime transition phase
  • Comparison Style: Athletic scoring big with pick-and-roll emphasis
  • Comparable Players:
    • Amar’e Stoudemire — explosive rim-running scorer
    • John Collins — N/A
    • Aaron Gordon — athletic forward with hybrid role
    • Blake Griffin — athletic finisher early-career style
  • Teams Played For:
    • Atlanta Hawks (2017–2023)
    • Utah Jazz (2023–2025)
    • Los Angeles Clippers (2025–2026)
  • Championship Rings: None as of now
  • Parents: John Collins Jr., Lyria Rissing-Collins
  • Kids: None
  • Siblings: Unknown

John Collins fits the archetype of a rim-running, high-efficiency power forward whose value is anchored in vertical spacing and finishing. Defensively, he operates primarily as a help-side presence, offering secondary rim protection rather than anchoring a scheme, while offensively he thrives as a pick-and-roll target, transition finisher, and complementary scorer alongside ball-dominant guards. Physically, Collins combines above-the-rim athleticism with fluid mobility, allowing him to play both frontcourt spots in modern lineups. His play style is built on energy, efficient shot selection, and opportunistic scoring rather than isolation creation, making him most effective within structured offensive systems that maximize his movement and finishing ability.

Scouting Report

John Collins has always been at his best when he’s moving toward the play rather than holding the ball and trying to manufacture something from a standstill. His scoring comes in waves because so much of it is built on timing—slipping behind a ball-watching defender for a lob, sprinting into early seals before the defense gets organized, or popping out of a screen just far enough to make a big choose between protecting the rim and contesting a jumper. That’s where he becomes difficult to guard. He doesn’t need a dozen dribbles to leave his mark, and it’s easy to overlook how often his vertical spacing opens driving lanes even on possessions where he never touches the ball. The trade-off is that asking him to create against a set defense usually leads away from his strengths. His handle can get crowded by help defenders, and while he’ll attack a closeout decisively, he’s more comfortable finishing a possession than initiating one. Defensively, Collins is better covering ground than anchoring it. He can rotate from the weak side to challenge at the rim, switch onto wings long enough to survive a possession, and recover quickly after showing at the level of a screen, but stronger interior scorers can move him off his spot and he isn’t the kind of back-line communicator who organizes an entire defense. To me, the ideal role is as an active finisher next to a playmaking guard and a true rim-protecting center, where his rim runs, cuts, transition play, and occasional pick-and-pop shooting become complementary weapons instead of responsibilities that have to carry an offense. His game has always reminded me of a more explosive Brandon Bass with greater above-the-rim finishing, while sharing elements of Amar’e Stoudemire in the way he punishes defenses that lose track of him around the basket, even if he doesn’t command possessions in quite the same way.

Player Insights

Player Update (February 11, 2025):
John Collins entered the NBA as a high-impact, athletic power forward for the Atlanta Hawks, quickly establishing himself as one of the league’s more efficient young frontcourt scorers and rebounders. During his tenure in Atlanta, Collins was frequently involved in trade speculation—an indication of both his value and the organization’s ongoing roster re-evaluation around franchise guard Trae Young.

In July 2023, Collins was traded to the Utah Jazz as part of the Hawks’ broader effort to reshape their roster and financial structure. His move to Utah placed him within a developing team context that has prioritized flexibility and long-term asset building. While the Jazz have remained in a transitional phase, Collins has shared frontcourt responsibilities with established contributors such as Lauri Markkanen and emerging defensive presence Walker Kessler.

From a contractual and team-building standpoint, Collins’ situation reflects a common dynamic in the NBA: players on long-term deals are often evaluated not just on individual production, but on fit within evolving roster timelines and organizational direction. As of February 11, 2025, Collins remains a productive frontcourt option, though his role and impact are influenced by Utah’s broader developmental trajectory.

Sources:
Basketball Reference — John Collins Stats
NBA.com — John Collins Bio
ESPN — John Collins Profile