Hawks skywalker John Collins submitted an early contender for dunk of the year with a highlight reel jam in preseason action against the Cavaliers on Wednesday night.
Collins, who signed a lucrative five-year extension in the offseason, caught a high-arcing lob from rookie point guard Sharife Cooper high above the rim and threw it down for a resounding alley-oop.
With Cooper coming off a high screen, he served up a sweet assist on his dish to Collins, who went up and over Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen -- listed at 6'11" -- to finish the electrifying sequence.
The Hawks have come to expect this kind of exceptional play from Collins, but what's equally or more encouraging was the deft touch pass from Cooper.
Pegged by most draft analysts as a first-round talent, Cooper slipped to the back half of the second round, where it appears the Hawks may have found themselves a viable long-term backup for Trae Young.
The Hawks made a surprise run to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, and they appear intent on returning. With Collins' contract put to bed and the addition of another back-court playmaker in Cooper, the early signs look good.
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