John Collins: I want to be in the Hall of Fame

Andy Larsen: Report from shootaround: Jordan Clarkson, John Collins, Lauri Markkanen, and Kelly Olynyk will all rest tonight vs. Sacramento. -via Twitter @andyblarsen / October 19, 2023

“It’s pretty difficult in the sense of feeling like a rookie again,” Collins said after the Jazz practiced at home Thursday. “Not in terms of obviously my experience in the NBA, but it’s a new home, new coaches, new everything, new teammates, and it’s hard to adjust to new. “I have to adapt to a bunch of things that I wasn’t used to doing in Atlanta, and that’s part of the game, and I’m embracing it because it’s a new chapter for me and it also allows my game to grow.” -via deseret.com / October 12, 2023

Not only did Hardy want to let him know he had the full support of the coaching staff and team, but he also wanted to make sure that Collins feels comfortable bringing ideas, observations and concerns directly to the head coach. “His input is valuable,” Hardy said. “And it’s for John to understand too that we want to help him but we’re also not going to make our team and the game about him. It’s a work in progress. Today was a big step in the right direction. We were able to — after the conversation he and I had and after our staff meeting and watching the film — sort of iron some things out. I think we refined a few things today.” -via deseret.com / October 12, 2023