John Collins Bio
John Martin Collins III is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The 6-foot-9 power forward and center, born in 1997, has built his career on inside scoring, rebounding, and efficiency near the basket. After a standout college run at Wake Forest, Collins was selected 19th overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2017 NBA draft and has since played for the Utah Jazz before joining the Clippers in 2025.
John Collins Early Life and Background
John Martin Collins III was born on September 23, 1997, in Layton, Utah, to John Collins Jr. and Lyria Rissing-Collins. His father served in the Navy and his mother was in the Air Force, which meant the family moved often during his childhood. The family spent time in the Virgin Islands, Guam, and Turkey as a result of his parents’ military careers. As a teenager, Collins regularly played soccer on his mother’s military bases, an experience that helped him develop his coordination and love of competition. He is a Premier League fan and an avid supporter of Chelsea.
Collins attended Cardinal Newman High School in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he became a three-time letter winner in basketball. During his senior year, he was named the Florida Class 4A Player of the Year, cementing his reputation as one of the top prep forwards in the state. On November 13, 2014, he signed a letter of intent to play college basketball at Wake Forest, joining the 2015 recruiting class alongside Bryant Crawford and Doral Moore.
John Collins Path to Basketball
Collins’ basketball development accelerated at Cardinal Newman, where his size, footwork, and finishing ability made him a dominant high school player. His Florida Class 4A Player of the Year award as a senior signaled to college programs that he was ready for the next level. The decision to commit to Wake Forest allowed him to continue developing in a structured ACC program with experienced coaching and a clear developmental path.
At Wake Forest, Collins quickly emerged as a key contributor. As a freshman, he appeared in all 31 games and led the team in field goal accuracy at 54.7 percent. By his sophomore season, he was a starter and led the Demon Deacons in scoring with 19.2 points per game and rebounding with 9.8 rebounds per game. He also led the Atlantic Coast Conference in field goal percentage and 20-point, 10-rebound games with 10. His 12 consecutive 20-point games set a Wake Forest record, and he became the first Demon Deacon since Tim Duncan in 1996-97 to score 600 points and grab 300 rebounds in a single season. His performance earned him ACC Most Improved Player and first-team All-ACC honors in 2017. After the season, Collins declared for the 2017 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining eligibility.
John Collins Career
Atlanta Hawks Era (2017-2023)
On June 22, 2017, Collins was selected with the 19th overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks. He signed a rookie-scaled deal on July 1, 2017, and earned All-Summer League First Team honors after averaging 15.4 points and 9.2 rebounds across five games. In his third NBA game on October 22, 2017, he recorded his first career double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds against the Brooklyn Nets. A November 20, 2017, career high of 21 points against the San Antonio Spurs led to his first NBA start two days later, and he impressed with 14 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, and four steals in 38 minutes against the Los Angeles Clippers. He closed his rookie year with 10.5 points and 7.3 rebounds per game on 57.6 percent shooting and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team on May 22, 2018.
Collins took a major leap in his second season. On January 23, 2019, he scored a then career-high 35 points in a 121-101 win over the Chicago Bulls, and on April 10, 2019, he posted 20 points and a career-high 25 rebounds in a 135-134 loss to the Indiana Pacers. On November 5, 2019, he was suspended 25 games without pay for violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy after testing positive for pralmorelin, a growth hormone-releasing peptide. He returned on December 23, 2019, with 27 points and 10 rebounds against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and on January 22, 2020, he scored 33 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in a 102-95 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. On August 6, 2021, Atlanta signed Collins to a five-year, $125 million contract extension. On January 13, 2023, he hit a buzzer-beating game-winning tip-in in a 113-111 win over the Indiana Pacers.
Utah Jazz Era (2023-2025)
On July 7, 2023, Collins was traded to the Utah Jazz in a deal that sent Rudy Gay and a future second-round pick to Atlanta. The trade brought him back to his hometown state and gave him an opportunity to play a leading role on a rebuilding roster. His two seasons in Salt Lake City provided a steady veteran presence and consistent production, even as the team focused on developing younger players around him.
Los Angeles Clippers Era (2025-Present)
On July 7, 2025, exactly two years after his move to Utah, Collins was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in a three-team deal. Utah received Kevin Love and Kyle Anderson from the Miami Heat along with a 2026 second-round pick from the Clippers, Norman Powell moved from Los Angeles to Miami, and Collins was sent from Utah to Los Angeles. The move placed him on a contending roster where his size, finishing, and frontcourt depth were expected to add value to the Clippers’ playoff push.
Playing Style and Strengths
Collins is a high-efficiency interior scorer who excels at finishing around the rim, rolling to the basket, and converting second-chance opportunities. His combination of size, athleticism, and a 57.6 percent field goal mark as a rookie highlighted his touch near the basket, and he has consistently produced double-doubles throughout his career. He is also a strong rebounder on both ends, capable of extending possessions on the offensive glass.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Collins’ signature moments, his December 2018 35-point outburst against the Bulls, his 25-rebound effort against the Pacers in April 2019, and his buzzer-beating tip-in versus the Pacers in January 2023 stand out. He also became just the second Wake Forest player since Tim Duncan to record 600 points and 300 rebounds in a single season.
John Collins Family
Family Background and Basketball Lineage
Collins was raised in a military family. His father, John Collins Jr., served in the Navy, and his mother, Lyria Rissing-Collins, served in the Air Force. The family’s military relocations shaped his early years and gave him broad exposure to different cultures and sports, including soccer on his mother’s bases.
Personal Life
Collins is a known Premier League supporter and an avid fan of Chelsea. He has spent much of his life connected to Layton, Utah, where he was born and where he continues to maintain ties after his trade to the Los Angeles Clippers.
2025 Season Performance
Collins’ 2025 campaign began with the Utah Jazz, where he served as a veteran frontcourt presence during the first half of the calendar year. His play helped anchor the team’s interior rotation and provided a steady scoring option as Utah continued its youth movement around him.
Following the July 7, 2025, three-team trade, Collins joined the Los Angeles Clippers and shifted into a contending environment. The Clippers added his size and finishing to a roster already built around star talent, and his role as a power forward and center offered head coach Tyronn Lue additional frontcourt flexibility.
Looking ahead, Collins is expected to contribute as a rotational big, providing rebounding, rim running, and efficient scoring off the bench. With the Clippers pursuing a deep playoff run, his familiarity with both the Eastern and Western Conference and his experience in high-leverage games position him to be a meaningful contributor in the 2025-26 postseason chase.
