The Hawks are getting one young rising star back in their lineup with the reappearance of point guard Trae Young, but are losing another for the foreseeable future.
Hawks forward John Collins has been suspended 25 games for violating the NBA's Anti-Drug policy, the league stated Tuesday morning. Collins is being suspended for a Growth Hormone.
Collins, 22, is averaging 17.0 points and 8.8 rebounds per game this season while shooting an eye-opening 47.4 percent from 3-point range. He averaged 19.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game last year, his second season in the NBA.
The former No. 19 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft has played the Kings just twice in his young career.
Collins is averaging 14.0 points and 7.5 rebounds per game versus Sacramento.
Atlanta is 2-3 this season and needs as many games with Collins on the court as possible. If his suspension is upheld, he also won't play versus the Warriors on Dec. 2, the 16th game of his suspension.
With Collins suspended, former No. 2 overall draft pick Jabari Parker likely will step into the starting lineup. He's averaging 13.8 points and 3.8 rebounds off the bench for the Hawks.
"I have always been incredibly careful about what I put in my body, but I took a supplement, which, unbeknownst to me, had been contaminated with an illegal component. I plan to appeal my suspension in arbitration so I can get back on the court as soon as possible and continue to contribute to our 2019-20 campaign."
Hawks president of basketball operations/general manager Travis Schlenk said in a statement that the organization was "disappointed" to know of Collins' violation of the anti-drug policy.
His suspension will start with Tuesday night's game versus the San Antonio Spurs.
Collins is the third player to receive a 25-game suspension for a drug violation this season.
