NBA: 10 candidates to be 1st-time All-Stars in 2019-20

10. John Collins, PF, Atlanta Hawks

The most exciting player on the Atlanta Hawks is Trae Young, who lit the nation on fire as a freshman two seasons ago and was an All-Rookie first-team selection a year ago due to his shooting and playmaking. Yet the numbers are clear that the Hawks’ best player last season was not Young, but rather power forward John Collins.

The former Wake Forest player is a double-double machine, attacking the boards on both ends of the court and not afraid to muscle his way inside for putbacks or to secure the defensive glass. All-Star campaigns are built on round numbers and Collins was only a whisker away from “20 and 10” a season ago.

Collins will likely reach that threshold this season, and the question will be whether the Hawks can elevate their play enough to get Collins into the All-Star Game. An eight-win team around Christmas is less likely to boost Collins than a 16-win team and a hot start from the Hawks means he has a great chance to make the team.

Collins can help his own case by shoring up his defensive issues, protecting the rim at something approximating an average level. That would unlock lineups with Collins at the 5 and rookie De’Andre Hunter at the 4, which long-term raise this team’s offensive ceiling the highest. Fans and even coaches will be excited to elevate an Atlanta player to this level if there is cause to do so.