John Collins is playing some of the weirdest, most efficient basketball of his career right now. If you've been checking the john collins game log lately, you probably noticed the massive stat line he put up against Detroit on January 10. 25 points. Seven boards. Four steals. Four blocks. Oh, and he hit five threes.
That isn't just a good night; it’s literally historical. According to Law Murray of The Athletic, Collins became only the ninth player in NBA history to hit those specific benchmarks (4+ threes, 4+ steals, 4+ blocks) in a single game.
But here's the thing: most people still think of Collins as the guy who just catch lobs in Atlanta. That version of him is kinda gone. In Los Angeles, under Tyronn Lue, he’s morphing into this bizarre, hyper-efficient defensive rover who occasionally turns into Steph Curry from the corners.
The Reality Behind the John Collins Game Log This Season
When the Clippers traded for Collins in July 2025, the vibe was basically "let's see if he has anything left." He was coming off a rough, injury-riddled stint in Utah where he only played 40 games last season. People were skeptical. Honestly, I was too.
His season averages don't look like All-Star numbers. He’s putting up about 13.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. On paper, it looks like a decline from his 20-and-10 days. But the john collins game log tells a much deeper story about how role players survive in the modern NBA.
Take a look at his January stretch. Over his last five games, he’s shooting a ridiculous 69.6% from three-point range. That is not a typo. He’s not taking twenty shots a game like he did in 2019, but he's making the ones he takes count.
Recent Game Performances (January 2026)
On January 12 against Charlotte, he had a dud—only 3 points in 30 minutes. It happens. But look at the games right before that:
- Jan 10 vs Detroit: 25 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, 4 blocks.
- Jan 9 vs Brooklyn: 16 points, 3 blocks, 77.8% shooting.
- Jan 7 vs New York: 18 points, 10 rebounds (a classic double-double).
- Jan 5 vs Golden State: 18 points, 4 blocks.
The blocks are the real surprise. He's averaging nearly a block a game this season, but in this recent stretch, he’s been a secondary rim protector that actually gives the Clippers some teeth when Ivica Zubac sits.
Why the Context in Utah Changed Everything
You can't talk about his current form without mentioning how he got here. Utah was... well, it was a transition. The Jazz were fully committed to a youth movement with guys like Ace Bailey and Cody Williams. Collins was a veteran presence, but he didn't necessarily fit the "timeline."
When he exercised his $26.5 million player option for the 2025-26 season, everyone knew a trade was coming. The Clippers took a gamble, moving Norman Powell to Miami in a multi-team deal to get Collins.
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The fit in LA is just better. He’s playing alongside James Harden, who is a master at finding bigs in their "pockets." Whether it’s a short roll or a kick-out to the corner, Harden makes life easy. Collins is currently shooting 41% from deep this season. For a guy who was once seen as a non-shooter early in his career, that’s a massive evolution.
Assessing the "Empty Stat" Myth
There’s always been this narrative that John Collins puts up "empty stats." Critics say he doesn't impact winning.
If you look at his plus/minus in the john collins game log, it’s actually surprisingly positive for a guy playing 27 minutes a night on a crowded roster. He’s a +19 against Detroit, a +12 against Brooklyn, and a +16 against Charlotte (even when he didn't score).
He’s learning to be a "connector." He doesn't need the ball to be effective anymore. He’s setting screens, crashing the offensive glass (1.4 per game), and staying out of the way of Kawhi Leonard’s mid-range isos.
The Defensive Shift
The biggest knock on Collins was always his defense. He was often "stuck" between positions—not quite quick enough to guard elite wings, but not quite bulky enough to bang with true centers.
Ty Lue has solved this by using him as a roamer. With Derrick Jones Jr. dealing with knee issues, Collins has had to step up. He’s not a lockdown defender, but his verticality is back. He’s jumping like he did in 2018. Those 4 blocks against Detroit weren't flukes; they were weak-side rotations that required elite timing.
What to Watch For Moving Forward
If you're tracking his stats for fantasy or just because you’re a Clippers fan, pay attention to his minutes. When he plays more than 30 minutes, his production skyrockets. He averages 15.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in games where he gets a heavy workload.
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The efficiency probably won't stay at 70% from three—that's just math. But if he stays above 38%, he remains one of the most dangerous floor-spacing bigs in the Western Conference.
The most important thing to watch in the john collins game log over the next month is his volume. As the playoffs approach, will the Clippers lean on his veteran experience, or will they tighten the rotation? Right now, he’s making it impossible to bench him.
To get the most out of following his season, keep an eye on his "Stocks" (steals + blocks). If he maintains a combined average of 2.0 per game, he’s officially entered a new phase of his career as a high-level two-way role player. Check the box scores specifically for his corner three attempts, as that's been the primary indicator of whether the Clippers' offense is clicking.