John Collins

In teaching the Washington Wizards the same lesson with one swat after another, John Collins showed that he’s capable of timing up a big-time performance the same way he times up a defensive rotation: flawlessly. Minutes away from securing a much-needed victory at home, the skilled big man prepares himself to both protect the rim and the Utah Jazz’s lead, diverting his attention away from a pick-and-roll before speeding to the rim to meet Deni Avdija’s dunk attempt at the summit, pinning it off the glass with authority. If it had anything to do with jumping, Collins was more than up to the task during the victory on March 4, 2024. Upping his versatility with Utah missing multiple rotation pieces, Collins excelled with 17 points, a game-high 15 rebounds, a career-best six blocks, and a 3-point make.