As the Atlanta Hawks prepare for the start of their season on Thursday when they host the Dallas Mavericks, Hawks forward John Collins recently spoke with Dukes and Bell about how the success of the 2020-201 season has placed some expectations by fans on the team and how he and the rest of the Hawks are embracing the challenge.
“I feel like it’s part of our natural growth and development, showing you can do more,” Collins told Dukes and Bell.
After their 2020-21 regular season came to an end with a 41-31 record and a playoff berth with the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Hawks would go on to surprise many by getting past the Knicks in the opening round and upsetting the 76ers in the second round, before falling to the Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals.
For Collins, building off of last season’s success means that he and his teammates have to understand that there are “certain pressures and certain expectations” that come with their desires to be considered some of the best players in the NBA.
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“It comes with the territory. I try not to think too much about it, but I just understand that this is the line I have to walk to be one of the better players in the league,” Collins said adding that he knows fully that the journey will not be an easy one for he and his teammates, but yet, one that “has to be done.”
Last year, Collins averaged 17.6 points and 7.4 rebounds per game over the course of 63 games played. This offseason also saw Collins and the Hawks agree to a contract extension worth $125 million for five years, just another reason, expectations may be high for the forward.
