Former Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins (20) Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Jazz big man John Collins takes parting shot at his former team

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 10/2/23

After years of seeing his name in trade rumors, John Collins' tenure with the Atlanta Hawks has ended. Collins was acquired by the Utah Jazz earlier this summer in a move that was essentially a salary dump. The 6-foot-9 forward was drafted by the Hawks with the 19th pick in the 2017 draft. However, Collins saw his role with the Hawks slowly diminish.

On Oct. 2, Collins spoke to the media as a member of the Jazz. The seventh-year forward used the platform to take a thinly-veiled shot at his former team. Collins shared how there is less ego in the Jazz's locker room than he's been used to.

“I’d say the one thing that has surprised me is the lack of ego here,” Collins said. “It’s refreshing to have a group of guys that truly emphasize playing team basketball and that want to do so; it’s nice for me to see. It’s exciting for me to be around, and you know, it helps me wake up in the morning motivated to go play.”

"I’d say the one thing that has surprised me is the lack of ego here. It’s refreshing to have a group of guys that truly emphasize playing team basketball and that want to do so."

More from John Collins on his new situation in Utah vs. Atlanta: https://t.co/sOW1hPTHof
— Andy Larsen (@andyblarsen) October 2, 2023

The Hawks have struggled for relevancy in recent years. There have been questions raised about how far Trae Young can take the franchise as their star player.

During Collins' tenure with the team, Atlanta was often accused of under-utilizing the versatile forward. He will get a fresh start in Utah and will play for highly-rated young coach Will Hardy.

Aside from last season, when the Wake Forest product played through a broken finger, Collins has been a reliable perimeter threat. Providing floor spacing from the forward position is essential in the modern NBA. As such, Collins will likely look to bounce back from a career-low year from deep and prove his value to the Jazz.

Collins has an opportunity to prove the Hawks wrong. He has an opportunity to improve his game and become a foundation in Utah's rebuild. Moving past his tumultuous history with the Hawks should give the forward a reason to take his game to a new level. Collins was once a highly-rated prospect. Now, he has the opportunity to prove he can develop into the player many believed he could be.

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