Dynamic and athletic power forward whose scoring, athleticism and shot-blocking made him one of the NBA's most exciting young big men.
John Martin Collins III was born on 23 September 1997 in Layton, Utah, to John Collins Jr., who served in the Navy, and Lyria Rissing-Collins, who served in the Air Force, and the family's military postings took him to the U.S. Virgin Islands, Turkey, and Guam during his childhood before eventually settling in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he attended Cardinal Newman High School and was named Florida's Class 4A Player of the Year. Collins played two seasons at Wake Forest, and his breakout sophomore campaign, in which he averaged 19.2 points and 9.8 rebounds while setting a program record with 12 consecutive 20-point games, made him the school's first first-team All-ACC selection and earned him ACC Most Improved Player honours. The Atlanta Hawks selected Collins 19th overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, and he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team, developing into an efficient, athletic forward known for his finishing ability and rebounding across six seasons in Atlanta. Collins was traded to the Utah Jazz in 2023 before moving to the Los Angeles Clippers in 2025, continuing his career as a versatile frontcourt scorer whose family's nomadic military upbringing gave him an unusually broad early-life foundation before he settled into basketball in Florida.
High-flying dunks and efficient scoring
He averaged over 21 points and 10 rebounds in the same season while shooting 40% from three — an efficiency combination that placed him among the NBA's most uniquely productive power forwards.
Did You Know?How They Played
Athletic power forward with strong finishing ability and improving three-point shot
Lasting Impact
Athletic power forward who became an All-Star with the Hawks
Career Honours
- NBA All-Star 2021
| Club | Period | Apps | Shirt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Hawks | 2017–2022 | 314 | #20 |
| Utah Jazz | 2022–2024 | 595 | #20 |