The Clippers have a roster filled with superstars but John Collins is not one of them.
He has never been selected for an NBA All-Star Game. He was named to the league’s All-Rookie Second Team in 2018, but that’s as close as the power forward has gotten to widespread recognition at the pro level.
This season, though, Collins has grabbed the spotlight and others are taking notice, most notably with his performance in Sunday night’s win against the Portland Trail Blazers. He had 16 points, six rebounds and two steals off the bench while shooting 7 for 8 from the field, making his only 3-point attempt. Through three games, he is shooting 64% from the field.
“I loved his energy, and then, like you said, when Zu (Ivica Zubac) was being double-teamed, he did a great job cutting to the basket (and scored),” Coach Tyronn Lue said Sunday after the Clippers put away the Blazers, 114-107.
While Collins is a career 54.6% shooter, he credits his veteran teammates for making him shine this season.
“I have a bunch of great motivators as well, guys that are not only going to talk the talk but walk the walk as well, do it with me, help encourage me, like I said along the way,” said Collins, a first-round draft pick in 2017 who the Clippers acquired from the Utah Jazz as part of a three-team trade this summer.
But there is one veteran in particular who is constantly giving advice – 12-time All-Star point guard Chris Paul, a fellow Wake Forest alum.
“CP for sure is the biggest one, he’s always in my ear, whether in the moment I’m happy about it or not, you know what I mean?” Collins said. “He’s just leading me in the right direction. Obviously, James (Harden), too, but CP, yeah. If you watch closely enough, you’re going to always see CP talking to really everybody. So, as I said, sometimes you just got to humble yourself and listen and we move.”
Collins’ size (6-foot-9, 226 pounds) and versatility give the Clippers the kind of skill set they have longed for at the No. 4 spot, someone who presents matchup problems for opponents. The power forward excels at creating space and in transition, a player who can score as a runner and is a vertical threat with rebounding skills.
“We get a big player like John on the floor, alongside Kawhi (Leonard) and teams have a nightmare as far as matching up,” Lue said. “You want to put a smaller guy on John, or a smaller guy on (6-6, 225-pound) Kawhi? … (Collins’) versatility on both sides of the basketball is a huge thing for us.”
He also gives the Clippers a powerful second unit along with Brook Lopez, Kris Dunn, Nicolas Batum and Paul.
“It’s been great and just having to bring more out of myself, raise the level of intensity, be more locked in for myself obviously,” Collins said. “But I want to win, but I feel like just as the competitor I am, I want to win for my teammates as well and just love playing for dudes who’ve accomplished a lot.”
Collins said that while playing alongside future Hall of Famers and All-Stars is inspiring, he also knows they expect a lot from others.
“The level of the standard for winning, and for just competing, just raises guys to play at the high level. Guys can see what you do, and they hold you to that standard, so you’re just going to become a better player,” he said.
CLIPPERS AT WARRIORS
When: Tuesday, 8 p.m.
Where: Chase Center, San Francisco
TV/Radio: NBC (Ch. 4)/1150 AM, 1220 AM
