NBA: Ranking 30 best power forwards for 2019-20

Despite being hampered by a left ankle injury that sidelined him for the first 15 games of the season, John Collins made a big second-year leap for the Atlanta Hawks in 2018-19.

Collins, who will be 22 in September, averaged 19.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 30.0 minutes per game, shooting 56.0 percent overall and stretching his range to the tune of 34.8 percent on 2.6 3-point attempts per game.

He was limited to 61 appearances because of the preseason injury, but even accounting for a 5.9-minute-per-game jump in playing time, Collins’ per-36 numbers told a tale of improvement.

His scoring went from 15.7 points per 36 to 23.4, with increases in rebounding and assists as well. The dip in blocked shots could be attributable to both spending less time at the 5 last season and to the ankle injury, which affected his explosiveness for several weeks after he returned.

Even though he increased his 3-point frequency from 8.6 percent to 19.0 percent of his total attempts, he still took more than half of his shots from the restricted area and converted a solid 73.4 percent.

Atlanta was also 6.3 points per 100 possessions better with Collins on the floor, even as he struggled as a defender. ESPN’s Defensive Real Plus-Minus had him at No. 452 on its list of 514 NBA players with a rating of minus-1.57.

For the record, rookie point guard Trae Young checked in at No. 514, so the Hawks emerging as the NBA’s third-worst defensive team at 113.1 points allowed per 100 possession comes into focus.

Collins will have an established backup at the 4 this season in veteran Jabari Parker, so it’s possible Collins will spend more time at the 5 in small-ball lineups this season.