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John Collins

Detroit Pistons · Forward · 6′9″ 226 lb · age 29 · Wake Forest · 10th season

15.0 ptsPTS
7.7 rebREB
0.7 astAST
29.3 minMIN

3 games this season

Availability

Next game Tomorrow at NYK. The injury report for it appears the day before.

Season form

3 games this season
Threes2.3 3PM
FG%51.4%
3P%50.0%
FT%0.0%

Starts 3 of 3 games · 3rd on DET in minutes · Core role

6
23
16

Bars: minutes in his last 3 games · numbers: points

Situational splits: turn on Prediction tools.

Every situation, with four seasons of history →

What's being said

58 items · 7 sources this season
  • Podcast Locked On Pistons · 7 points ·
    • With Duren out, John Collins played much of his time at small-ball five. The host says this suited the matchup because the Sixers used LeBron at the five a lot. at 9:14
    • Collins led the team with 11 rebounds and scored 16 on 7-15 shooting. at 9:08
    • Against Miami, Collins had 23 points and 7 rebounds and went 5-of-6 from three. at 16:53
    • The host says Collins showed defensive concerns in preseason and struggled in the Boston opener. Javonte Green outplayed him there, and the small-ball five minutes did not go well. at 15:03
    • The host thinks Collins is starting to fit the Pistons' defensive culture, noting multiple rim-protection reps against Philly. at 17:22
    • The Pistons signed Collins and moved on from "Tobias" (surname not stated). The host's analysis: Collins hits above-the-break threes, shoots them more quickly and more often than expected, and that improves spacing at the four. at 17:07
    • Collins attacks smaller defenders in the post with quick drop steps. Twice he punished switches during the Sixers' last run. at 19:47

    “Detroit Pistons Outduel 76ers Without Jalen Duren or Ausar Thompson, Start NBA Season 3-0!” · listen ↗

  • Podcast Locked On NBA host · Report · wording unclear in audio around the league

    Detroit won 128-111 at Miami and is 2-0, and Miami is 0-2. Cade Cunningham had 16 points and 8 assists. Duncan Robinson is 10-of-20 from three to start the season.

    “BEST NBA NIGHT EVER! YOU HAD TO BE THERE!” at 18:41 · listen ↗

  • Story ESPN · Article ·

    Pistons roll past Heat 128-111, adding to Miami's season-opening woes on defensive end

    source ↗

  • Podcast Numbers on the Board host · Analysis · around the league

    The Pistons look almost the same as last season. The change named is John Collins in place of Tobias Harris.

    “LIVE From Chicago! | Numbers On The Board” at 7:32 · listen ↗

  • Podcast Locked On Clippers host · Analysis · around the league

    The host describes Rui Hachimura as replacing John Collins and says Hachimura averaged fewer rebounds than Collins.

    “Biggest Takeaways From LA Clippers Preseason” at 5:32 · listen ↗

  • Podcast Gil's Arena · 2 points · partly checked episode
    • Boogie referred to a John Collins signing by Detroit and said it gives the Pistons size, shooting and some rim protection. at 1:03:59
    • Evan Turner said Detroit relies on John Collins and Cade to make plays. He said the playoffs showed that physical, high-energy games lead to high-turnover games for Cade ('Cato'). at 1:06:21

    “GIL'S ARENA NBA FANTASY DRAFT WITH $100K ON THE LINE ! Part 2” · listen ↗

  • Podcast Locked On Pistons · 2 points ·
    • John Collins had 16 points and 11 rebounds and was fierce in the paint. at 6:05
    • Hunter thinks Collins is slowly finding his niche in the offense. He took advantage of his size when a smaller player switched onto him and attacked the paint. at 8:40

    “PISTONS POSTCAST: Undermanned? NO PROBLEM! Detroit Pistons BEAT Philadelphia 76ers To Move To 3-0” · listen ↗

  • Podcast Locked On Pistons · 13 points ·
    • Host's prediction: the most likely scenario is an 11-man rotation, with minutes shifting among Ronald Holland II, John Collins and Kevin Huerter depending on who is playing well. at 9:07
    • The host believes Bickerstaff benched John Collins for about the last eight minutes of Game 1 in favor of Javonte Green. The host hedged this with "I believe". at 7:37
    • Host's view: John Collins was disappointing throughout preseason and in Game 1. The host names Collins and Ronald Holland II as the most negatively impactful Pistons in the opener. at 14:32
    • According to the host, Detroit chose John Collins and let Tobias go. The host says the offseason concerns about that switch showed up in preseason and Game 1. at 15:09
    • Detroit opened the fourth quarter of Game 1 with John Collins at small-ball center alongside Daniss Jenkins and bench players. This came after the Pistons had cut the deficit to nine. at 16:04
    • Host's analysis: Collins is not a strong enough rebounder at center to sustain small-ball-five minutes for long stretches. He adds that Collins and Duncan Robinson had too many defensive miscommunications. at 17:36
    • The host describes a fourth-quarter play in which Collins stood on the right block and did not rotate to the open corner shooter (the host thinks it was Scheierman) until after the catch, which led to a score. at 18:53
    • Host's hope: Bickerstaff has gotten the most defensively out of weak defenders such as Malik Beasley, THJ and Duncan Robinson, and may do the same with Collins over time. at 17:56
    • Host's opinion: if Detroit keeps using Collins at small-ball five, it should pair him with Ausar Thompson to survive on the glass and on defense. at 22:46
    • Host's view: on offense Collins looked out of sorts in his first game in the new system. He seemed unsure of his role, cut into driving lanes, and got no coordinated lobs from Cade Cunningham like he did at times in preseason. at 20:19
    • Host's prediction: Collins will improve offensively. The host says he is not too concerned about Collins's offense, only his defense. at 21:08
    • Host's view: the Collins + Jalen Duren minutes were not great defensively. He says Tobias was a much better defender who worked with Duren. at 21:25
    • The host asks how long Detroit will keep testing small-ball five with Collins, noting that his previous teams eventually dropped it. at 22:27

    “Should The Detroit Pistons ALREADY Make A Rotation CHANGE After Javonte Green's Game 1 Performance?” · listen ↗

  • Podcast Locked On NBA · 2 points ·
    • Kukiel said the Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff benched Ronald Holland II and John Collins in favor of Javonte Green. Kukiel praised the decision. name not confirmed at 31:49
    • Kukiel said Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren bullied Mitchell Robinson and Neemias Queta on the glass. He said Boston could not punish Detroit's small-ball lineups with John Collins at the five. at 33:27

    “Thunder SWAT Down Spurs, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren Make Opening STATEMENT” · listen ↗

  • Podcast Locked On Pistons · 6 points ·
    • Host opinion: Javonte Green should be in the rotation, possibly taking minutes from Holland, Collins or Huerter. The host says he is not claiming Holland should lose his spot after one game. Before the season he had said Green was probably out of the rotation. at 31:40
    • Host observed Bickerstaff tell Ausar Thompson to have Collins move away so Thompson would set the screen. Cade Cunningham inbounded, went straight into a pick-and-roll with Thompson, and they scored. The host was unsure the screener was Collins ("I believe") and thought Duren was on the bench. at 7:47
    • Host opinion: John Collins looked lost on offense, unsure where to be, cutting into drives and wandering. On defense he was really bad. at 28:39
    • After that, Ausar Thompson played with Collins for a short, better stretch. Bickerstaff then brought in Duren and Javonte Green and dropped the small-ball-five look. at 29:43
    • Collins was repeatedly late on off-ball rotations and had miscommunications with Duncan Robinson. at 30:06
    • Host opinion: he disliked the Collins-Duren minutes, and the offseason concerns about Collins's signing and fit showed up right away. He says it is only one game. at 30:24

    “Detroit Pistons STUN Boston Celtics With Unbelievable Second-Half Comeback Led By... Javonte Green!?” · listen ↗

  • Podcast Locked On Pistons · Analysis ·

    Hunter said John Collins wasn't as comfortable as he could be, but Hunter thinks he will get better.

    “PISTONS POSTCAST: COMEBACK WIN! Pistons BEAT Celtics | Postgame Show: Lindsey Hunter & Jake Riepma” at 7:17 · listen ↗

  • Podcast Locked On NBA host · Analysis · name not confirmed around the league

    A host Matt said John Collins is Detroit's only new starter and is being compared to Tobias Harris, so a bad first game would draw scrutiny.

    “LeBron vs. Knicks! Wemby vs. Thunder! NBA Opening Day Preview” at 29:11 · listen ↗

  • Podcast Locked On Hawks · 2 points ·
    • The hosts say Detroit added John Collins and Isaiah Joe, among others. They list Tobias Harris, Caris LeVert, Isaiah Stewart and Marcus Sasser as departures. at 3:29
    • A host's analysis: John Collins is a play finisher, not a creator like Tobias Harris was. He should play well off Cade Cunningham and give Detroit a second pick-and-roll option. at 8:07

    “Central Division preview and over/unders (with Robby Kalland)” · listen ↗

  • Podcast Locked On Pistons · 7 points ·
    • The host lists the new players as Isaiah Joe and John Collins. He also counts Kevin Huerter as new, because he played only about six games last year before getting hurt. at 19:13
    • The guest says John Collins is basically the replacement for Tobias Harris, though not a like-for-like one, because he lacks Harris's isolation skill. at 20:04
    • The guest says Collins can roll or pop as a screener, and that he was seen popping once in the previous day's preseason game. at 20:37
    • The guest doesn't think Collins is a great defender, but says he adds size to the front line. at 20:46
    • The guest doesn't think adding Isaiah Joe or John Collins, whom he calls offense-leaning, fixes the team's lack of two-way lineups. at 26:29
    • The host's biggest question about the offseason is whether the team added a secondary creator or a high-volume frontcourt shooter. He says Collins and Tobias Harris are both low-volume shooters. at 25:47
    • The host guesses that the versatility talk may refer to small-ball minutes with John Collins at center surrounded by spacing. at 31:21

    “Will Detroit Pistons' UNIQUE YOUNG Trio Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, Jalen Duren BREAK the Mold?” · listen ↗

  • Podcast Locked On Pistons · 2 points ·
    • Duren ran inverted pick and rolls with other guards while Cunningham was on the weak side. In one Duren–John Collins pick and roll, Duren was the ball handler; it ended with the ball knocked out of bounds. at 16:14
    • Greg Kelser; John Collins (reported): The host relays that broadcaster Greg Kelser, and John Collins in his halftime interview, both mentioned that Duren came out to send a message. Their exact words are not quoted. at 7:47

    “ELECTRIC: Detroit Pistons’ Jalen Duren DOMINATES, Cade Cunningham & Ausar Thompson Impress!” · listen ↗

  • Podcast Locked On Pistons · 7 points ·
    • Ku Khahil: John Collins hasn't played well individually through two preseason games: poor shooting (he refers to shooting 0% from three) and, in the host's view, poor rebounding. at 15:45
    • Ku Khahil: Host analysis: the Pistons have been very bad on the glass with John Collins at small-ball 5, in both preseason games. at 17:26
    • Ku Khahil: Small-ball 5 offense: the team has run five-out spacing with Ausar Thompson or Daniss Jenkins on the ball. There was only one possession of Asar, Ronald Holland II and Collins together. The host says it hasn't produced great offense yet, and the sample is small. at 16:54
    • unnamed reporters who covered John Collins (reported): Relayed: the host says several people who covered John Collins in Atlanta, Utah and with the Clippers told him the small-ball 5 experiment looked promising there at first, but the team couldn't rebound or defend and abandoned it partway through the season. at 17:48
    • A reporter (reported; name unclear in the audio): Relayed: in a summer podcast exchange, D. Leon, who covers the NBA and the Hawks, said the biggest concern for the Pistons was the defensive downgrade from Tobias to John Collins. at 20:55
    • Ku Khahil: Host prediction (conditional): the Collins small-ball and defense issue is the host's biggest concern for the team; if it continues in the regular season, the Pistons will be in trouble. at 22:13
    • Ku Khahil: Host analysis: compared with Tobias, Collins is the better off-ball player, finisher, catch-and-shoot shooter, cutter and offensive rebounder, but he isn't on Tobias's level at creating his own shot. at 20:08

    “Ausar Thompson Poor Performance, ROUGH John Collins Small-Ball 5 Minutes FLASH in Game 2” · listen ↗

  • Podcast Locked On Pistons host · Analysis ·

    The rotation run-through starts with Cade (Cunningham), Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, John Collins and Jalen Duren, called "five". These are presented as the top five, though the word "starters" is not used.

    “Will Moving Cade Cunningham OFF the Ball TRANSFORM the Detroit Pistons’ Offense?” at 16:20 · listen ↗

Podcast items are our short summaries of what was said, credited to who said it; posts and stories link to the original. Opinions and rumors are labelled as such and are not checked facts.

Game log

● = started

2026-27 season

DateOppMinPtsRebAst3PM
Oct 25@PHI W34 min16 pts11 reb0 ast2 3PM
Oct 23@MIA W29 min23 pts7 reb1 ast5 3PM
Oct 20BOS W25 min6 pts5 reb1 ast0 3PM
2025-26 season (last season) · 70 games
DateOppMinPtsRebAst3PM
Apr 15GSW L21 min11 pts9 reb0 ast1 3PM
Apr 12GSW W21 min18 pts9 reb0 ast0 3PM
Apr 10@POR L13 min0 pts2 reb0 ast0 3PM
Apr 8OKC L27 min12 pts9 reb3 ast1 3PM
Apr 7DAL W28 min12 pts7 reb1 ast1 3PM
Apr 5@SAC W24 min25 pts4 reb2 ast4 3PM
Apr 2SAS L25 min15 pts6 reb0 ast0 3PM
Mar 31POR L31 min17 pts6 reb1 ast3 3PM
Mar 29@MIL W35 min22 pts3 reb3 ast0 3PM
Mar 27@IND W20 min5 pts6 reb1 ast1 3PM
Mar 25TOR W22 min0 pts5 reb0 ast0 3PM
Mar 21@DAL W29 min8 pts3 reb0 ast1 3PM
Mar 19@NOP L28 min18 pts8 reb1 ast3 3PM
Mar 18@NOP L24 min18 pts7 reb2 ast0 3PM
Mar 16SAS L26 min11 pts9 reb4 ast0 3PM
Mar 14SAC L20 min10 pts3 reb0 ast1 3PM
Mar 1NOP W25 min15 pts7 reb1 ast1 3PM
Feb 20@LAL L16 min12 pts1 reb0 ast1 3PM
Feb 19DEN W32 min11 pts12 reb4 ast1 3PM
Feb 11@HOU W35 min12 pts6 reb1 ast0 3PM
Feb 10@HOU L31 min17 pts8 reb1 ast0 3PM
Feb 8@MIN W29 min15 pts4 reb0 ast3 3PM
Feb 6@SAC W34 min22 pts7 reb1 ast1 3PM
Feb 4CLE L27 min19 pts7 reb0 ast0 3PM
Feb 2PHI L32 min15 pts7 reb2 ast2 3PM
Feb 1@PHX W28 min16 pts9 reb2 ast1 3PM
Jan 30@DEN L31 min18 pts6 reb4 ast4 3PM
Jan 27@UTA W23 min11 pts2 reb1 ast2 3PM
Jan 25BKN W26 min18 pts5 reb1 ast2 3PM
Jan 22LAL W33 min13 pts5 reb1 ast1 3PM
Jan 20@CHI L24 min23 pts0 reb1 ast5 3PM
Jan 19@WAS W26 min11 pts4 reb0 ast1 3PM
Jan 12CHA W30 min3 pts5 reb1 ast1 3PM
Jan 10@DET W37 min25 pts7 reb1 ast5 3PM
Jan 9@BKN W26 min16 pts4 reb0 ast2 3PM
Jan 7@NYK L33 min18 pts10 reb0 ast3 3PM
Jan 5GSW W39 min18 pts4 reb1 ast3 3PM
Jan 3BOS L29 min22 pts2 reb0 ast3 3PM
Jan 1UTA W20 min8 pts11 reb0 ast0 3PM
Dec 30SAC W22 min16 pts5 reb1 ast2 3PM
Dec 26@POR W19 min8 pts3 reb1 ast2 3PM
Dec 23HOU W29 min13 pts5 reb5 ast3 3PM
Dec 20LAL W32 min17 pts12 reb1 ast2 3PM
Dec 18@OKC L28 min20 pts4 reb2 ast1 3PM
Dec 15MEM L26 min10 pts2 reb1 ast0 3PM
Dec 11@HOU L24 min9 pts0 reb2 ast0 3PM
Dec 6@MIN L30 min12 pts2 reb0 ast2 3PM
Dec 5@MEM L25 min16 pts2 reb2 ast2 3PM
Dec 3@ATL W32 min15 pts9 reb1 ast0 3PM
Dec 1@MIA L25 min10 pts6 reb2 ast0 3PM
Nov 29DAL L36 min21 pts4 reb1 ast1 3PM
Nov 28MEM L33 min10 pts7 reb0 ast0 3PM
Nov 25@LAL L34 min18 pts5 reb1 ast4 3PM
Nov 23@CLE L30 min5 pts3 reb0 ast0 3PM
Nov 22@CHA W26 min10 pts7 reb0 ast1 3PM
Nov 20@ORL L25 min9 pts4 reb0 ast0 3PM
Nov 17@PHI L27 min11 pts7 reb0 ast0 3PM
Nov 16@BOS L30 min17 pts2 reb0 ast1 3PM
Nov 14@DAL W24 min8 pts3 reb0 ast0 3PM
Nov 12DEN L21 min2 pts4 reb0 ast0 3PM
Nov 10ATL L31 min9 pts7 reb0 ast1 3PM
Nov 8PHX L28 min19 pts4 reb2 ast2 3PM
Nov 6@PHX L23 min13 pts4 reb1 ast2 3PM
Nov 4OKC L25 min17 pts4 reb1 ast1 3PM
Nov 3MIA L25 min12 pts3 reb0 ast2 3PM
Oct 31NOP W19 min14 pts3 reb1 ast1 3PM
Oct 28@GSW L23 min5 pts7 reb0 ast0 3PM
Oct 26POR W26 min16 pts6 reb1 ast1 3PM
Oct 24PHX W24 min10 pts6 reb2 ast0 3PM
Oct 22@UTA L28 min14 pts7 reb1 ast1 3PM

How his numbers change by situation, with four seasons of history →

Predictions about him

how calls are tracked

Waiting 1

  • Waiting Locked On Pistons (show): John Collins will be better offensively this season than last season.
    2026-10-22 · Podcast · by 2027-04-12 Flag

Background

ESPN profile · our roster records
BornSep 23, 1997 · West Palm Beach, FL
Size6′9″ · 226 lb · Forward
CollegeWake Forest
Draft2017 · round 1, pick 19 · ATL
Experience10th NBA season
Teams (since 2022-23)DET 2026–27 · LAC 2025–26 · UTA 2023–25 · ATL 2022–23