John Collins can shine with the Utah Jazz

John Collins may not have the name recognition of a can’t-miss veteran, but with him entering the Utah Jazz roster, it’s time to look at why he might just be their secret weapon next season.

Collins’ tenure with the Atlanta Hawks didn’t have a fairy tale ending. Last season, his numbers took a tumble, for example, his scoring hit its lowest since his rookie year (13.1 points), and his shooting, both from the field and beyond the arc, took a nosedive.

Collins shot career lows of 50.8 percent from the field and 29.2 percent from 3-point range. His defense, which probably had its best outing two years ago, left a lot to be desired. But was all this entirely his fault?

The Hawks’ offense has largely revolved around Trae Young, a strategy that unfortunately saw Collins playing second fiddle. As his role diminished, so did his court time and confidence. Yet, those who have watched him closely know that his athletic prowess can’t be ignored. Whether it’s putting someone on a poster, making it a YouTube highlight, or dominating social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, Collins has athleticism and flair that’s hard to come by.

Now, a move to the Utah Jazz might just be what Collins needs to rejuvenate his career. One only needs to look at Lauri Markkanen’s transformation in Utah to understand the possibilities. While Markkanen reached All-Star status and even clinched the Most Improved Player award, it might be too ambitious to expect the same from Collins. But can he improve? Definitely.

There’s a glimmer of hope in Collins’ trajectory. A gruesome finger injury on his shooting hand last season significantly affected his 3-point accuracy, as he made just 25.3 percent of his attempts in his first 52 games. But he shot 37.8 percent from downtown in his last 19 games, close to his career average, hinting at a return to form.

In the 2019-20 season, Collins played 47 percent of his minutes at center, posting averages of 21.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.6 blocks, 1.5 assists, and 0.8 steals in 33.2 minutes.

Now in Utah, while Walker Kessler might have claimed the starting center position, Collins isn’t entirely out of the equation. Coach Will Hardy’s strategy is different from the Hawks’ Young-centric style, potentially offering Collins more involvement. Plus, the Jazz’s investment in Collins is palpable, indicating their trust in his skills and potential.

Given his history, the injury factor, and his new environment in Utah, Collins is poised for a potential resurgence. The pieces are set, it’s only a matter of them falling into place.