John Collins (basketball)
An explosive forward who transformed from a lightly-regarded draft pick into a nightly double-double threat and one of the NBA's most efficient finishers.
Born 1997 (age 29)·American basketball player·Birthday: September 23·Generation Z
Biography
John Collins entered the NBA with a chip on his shoulder and a motor that never quit. Drafted 19th overall by the Atlanta Hawks, he was seen as a raw, athletic project. He responded by relentlessly honing his game, developing a reliable three-point shot to complement his ferocious dunking and rebounding. In Atlanta, he became a cornerstone of the team's rebuild, forming a potent partnership with Trae Young and consistently ranking among the league leaders in field goal percentage and player efficiency rating. His game is built on intelligent movement, elite leaping ability, and a soft touch around the rim. After establishing himself as a premier frontcourt scorer, a trade to the Los Angeles Clippers presented a new challenge: adapting his high-flying style to a veteran-laden team with championship aspirations.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
John was born in 1997, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When John Was Born
The biggest hits of 1997
#1 Movie
Titanic
Best Picture
Titanic
#1 TV Show
ER
John's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1997Born
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2002Started school
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2010Became a teenager
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Could drive
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2015Could vote
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2018Turned 21
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 29 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Averaged a double-double for the Atlanta Hawks in the 2019-20 season with 21.6 points and 10.1 rebounds per game.
- Led the entire NBA in true shooting percentage (68.5%) during the 2020-21 season.
- Finished second in voting for the NBA's Most Improved Player Award in 2019.
- Recorded a career-high 33 points and 20 rebounds in a single game against the San Antonio Spurs in 2021.
Did You Know?
He played college basketball for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.
He is an avid chess player and has spoken about how the game helps his basketball IQ.
His father, John Collins Jr., played college basketball at Creighton and was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in 1987.
He is known for his emphatic, often highlight-reel dunks and alley-oops.
“I'm just trying to be the most consistent version of myself every single night.”
