John Collins was born on September 23rd, 1997 to a military family. His father, John Collins Jr., was in the Navy while his mother, Lyria Rissing-Collins was in the Air Force. Due to this, Collins moved a lot during his youth, even spending time in Guam, Turkey and the Virgin Islands.
Eventually, Collins settled down in West Palm Beach, Florida where he played his high school ball at Cardinal Newman. The Florida 4A Player of the Year his senior year, Collins eventually signed his letter of intent to play his college ball at Wake Forest.
After just two seasons in college, Collins declared for the 2017 NBA Draft. The Atlanta Hawks selected Collins with the 19th overall pick. Traditionally a big man at 6-9, Collins has the ability to play anywhere on the floor. He is known for his excellent defense and his ability to score from anywhere on the floor, making him a tough matchup for any team.
John Collins attended Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach, Florida. A three-time letter winner, Collins was the Florida Class 4A Player of the Year during his senior season.
On November 13th, 2014, Collins signed his letter of intent to play basketball at Wake Forest. During his freshman season, Collins played in all 31 of the Demon Deacons’ games. He led his team in FG percentage (54.7). During his sophomore season, Collins became a full-time starter and led the team with 19.2 points per game. He became the ACC Most Improved Player and was named first-team all-ACC.
Collins decided to forgo his final two years of eligibility as he entered the 2017 NBA Draft.
Collins was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 19th overall pick of the 2017 NBA Draft. He signed his rookie deal on July 1st, 2017. In the NBA Summer League, Collins earned All-Summer League First Team honors. He averaged 15.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists per game.
Collins scored his first two career double-doubles on back-to-back nights in his third and fourth career NBA games. Collins eventually earned his first career start on November 22nd, 2017 due to an injury to Luke Babbitt. He also secured a double-double in that game as well with 14 points and 10 rebounds. As the Hawks continued to struggle as the season progressed, Collins eventually saw time as a full-time starter in the final months of the 2017 NBA season.
On November 5th, 2019, Collins was suspended 25 games for violating the league’s anti-drug policy. Collins tested positive for pralmorelin, a growth hormone. He recorded a double-double in his first game back with 27 points and 10 rebounds.
Collins earned just over $4 million in his first two years in the NBA from his salary. He is set to earn another $2.7 million during the 2019-2020 season. He will earn more than $4.1 million during the 2020-2021 NBA season. He will be a restricted free agent following the 2021 season with a $5.9 million qualifying offer.
John Collins signed a 4-year, $11 million deal with the Atlanta Hawks in 2017
Collins was born in Layton, Utah. His father, John Collins Jr., served in the Navy while his mother, Lyria Rissing-Collins served in the Air Force. The family moved around a lot when Collins was a child due to the family's military ties. Collins spent time in the Virgin Islands, Turkey and Guam.
“You guys, the media and the basketball people, you seem to like that quote;” (in response to his head coach saying there are no plays designed for Collins).
When asked what to do when teams switch on him: “Punish them.”
“There are a bunch of variations in the offense and I think I do a good job of knowing how to run it, in an elite way, that allows me to be open.”
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