Utah
John Collins Is Having An Offensive Resurgence In Utah
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – NOVEMBER 04: John Collins #20 of the Utah Jazz dunks over Coby White #0 of the … More
As the regular season is slowly wrapping up, it’s time to look at some players – and teams – who won’t be participating in the NBA Playoffs.
John Collins is about to end his second season with the Utah Jazz, if he hasn’t already. The 6’9 forward is out with an ankle injury and hasn’t played since March 12th. While he’s practicing with the team, no official word has yet come in regards to his return.
The former Hawks forward has seen a bit of a career resurgence, in terms of offensive volume, despite being in and out of the lineup all year due to injuries, being limited to 40 games so far.
Getting back to scoring
Collins, who used to run the floor with Trae Young, had plenty of solid seasons in Atlanta, including one in which he averaged over 21 points and 10 rebounds, all while canning over 58% of his shots, including 40.1% from downtown.
To many, Collins looked like a future All-Star who would practically sleepwalk his way into a steady 20/10 line for as long as he played next to Young.
Instead, Collins saw his numbers decline – and heavily so – during the following three years with the Hawks, to point where his last season with the franchise saw him score just 13.1 points per game, and be viewed as a complete afterthought within the offense.
In 2023, Collins was moved to Utah, and while he saw just a modest uptick in scoring last season, he’s come back into the swing of things this year when he’s been available.
Collins is averaging 19 points per game, and is draining 39.9% of his three-point attempts, while seeing an uptick in free throw attempts.
The 27-year-old has admittedly played on a team in which top-tier talent hasn’t been particularly available, but that’s sprinkled in a new, and interesting, pattern of self-creation.
Collins has never created more shots off his own afford as he has this season, with only 64.7% of his two’s being assisted, compared to previous seasons where that number has found itself in the high 70’s.
Yes, the sample size is smaller than you’d want it to be, and spread out over just half a season, but that’s where the numbers and eye-test go hand-in-hand.
Collins is finding more gaps in the defense than before, and looks far more comfortable putting the ball on the floor than ever before.
This breaks a pattern of him being almost exclusively a play finisher, which was the case in Atlanta.
What does this mean for his future?
As far as Collins’ future goes, it’s tough to say. Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler are still around in Utah, and eventually Taylor Hendricks will make his return from a fractured right fibula.
That means more competition for the big man minutes, and with Utah likely having an eye on the future, Collins could find himself as the odd man out.
He’s attached to a contract which compensates him at a rate of $26.5 million in 2025-2026, assuming he picks up his player option.
After the season he’s having, in regards to finding his own rhythm again, it’s not a forgone conclusion he picks it up, although the market almost dictates a need to do so, with so few teams projecting to have any meaningful cap space.
Perhaps the Jazz would like him to stick, or perhaps Collins and them agree to find a trade that makes sense for both parties.
Regardless of the outcome, Collins certainly used his opportunity this year to make some much-need, and long-awaited, noise for himself.
Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
Utah
Vejmelka, Utah Shutout Golden Knights in Vegas | Utah Mammoth
“I just tried to help the team to get points as much as I can, and it’s a big team win tonight,” Vejmelka shared. “We need every point now. It’s a huge two points.”
After Vegas opened the game with five shots in the first 1:45, Captain Clayton Keller’s goal a minute later shifted momentum to the visitors. 3:18 after his first goal, Keller added his second of the game and doubled the Mammoth’s lead. Keller has found the scoresheet in six of the team’s last seven road games in March (3G, 5A).
“He was ready, his line played really good, especially in the first period,” Tourigny said of Keller. “I’m not saying they fade down after, I’m just saying they were more dynamic in the first. I think it was great to have that offensive production and like I said, three great goals in the first that give us a good lead.”
“Just being around the net,” Keller said of his goals. “Heck of a play by (John Marino) on one, and (a) fortunate bounce. I think when you’re around the net, (the) puck’s going to find you eventually. I think I’ve had a lot of chances lately and just bearing down and it’s good to see them go in.”
Two minutes after the Captain put Utah up 2-0, Jack McBain scored his eighth of the season and increased the Mammoth’s lead to 3-0. McBain has scored in two straight games and continued to bring a high level of physicality with a team-leading seven hits. Tourigny complimented McBain’s line with Barrett Hayton and Michael Carcone.
“I think that line is playing rock solid,” Tourigny shared. “I think it’s night after night. They grind, they compete, they play both sides of the puck. They make plays with the puck, but they make safe plays as well. Really like what they bring.”
The Mammoth picked up all four possible points on this two-game road trip and will continue to push for a post-season berth. However, it’s a quick turnaround as the team travels back to Salt Lake City to host the Anaheim Ducks Friday night.
“We know the schedule, so every game matters now,” Vejmelka said. “We have another big challenge tomorrow. We need to reset pretty quick and get ready for tomorrow.”
Additional Notes from Tonight (per Mammoth PR)
- This marks Utah’s second straight shutout win at T-Mobile Arena, after earning a 6-0 victory in the second road matchup with Vegas in 2024-25.
- Mikhail Sergachev has now earned points in four of his last five games (1G, 3A).
- Keller’s two goals came over the opening 6:05 of regulation, marking the second-fastest two goals by any player from the start of a game in franchise history.
Utah
One more bad day and the Prop. 4 repeal misses the ballot
Utah’s Prop. 4 repeal is hanging by a thread. A steady drip of signature removals has the Republican-led effort to undo the state’s voter-approved anti-gerrymandering law on the edge of missing November’s ballot.
Utahns for Representative Government (UFRG) wants voters to repeal Prop. 4, the 2018 ballot initiative that created an independent redistricting commission and outlawed partisan gerrymandering. To qualify the repeal for the ballot, organizers had to collect signatures equal to 8% of active voters statewide and also reach that 8% target in 26 of Utah’s 29 Senate districts.
Utah also lets voters who signed a petition remove their signature within a specified window. Opponents of the repeal effort have been taking advantage of that window, contacting signers and urging them to rescind their signatures.
As of Thursday morning, updated totals show another 118 signatures removed in Senate District 15, shrinking the cushion to a paper-thin 114 above the threshold. One more day like this, and SD15 fails, taking the repeal’s ballot hopes with it.
Other districts are also eroding, but not quite as rapidly:
- SD12: 460 surplus signatures (12 removals today)
- SD17: 577 surplus signatures (33 removals today)
- SD10: 590 surplus signatures (6 removals today)
- SD8: 652 surplus signatures (8 removals today)
In 2018, the Count My Vote initiative, which sought to shift Utah’s elections from the caucus/convention system for nominating candidates to a direct primary election, initially submitted more than 132,000 signatures—enough to qualify the measure for the ballot. The initiative was knocked off the ballot after opponents peeled off just enough names in two Senate districts. The Utah Supreme Court later upheld the state’s removal process.
Voters have 45 days from when their name is posted online to pull their signature off a petition. In SD15 alone, nearly 3,400 names are still within that window—about 29 times the size of the district’s current 114-signature surplus.
Utah
Black Utah license plates will soon double in price
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Soon, there will be a new price for those trendy black license plates.
The price is increasing from $25 to $50 thanks to a new bill.
MORE | Gov. Cox signs 60 more bills of 2026 Leislative Session into law
Previously, when you would buy a plate, some of that money went to the Utah State Historical Society. Now, it’s going into three different funds.
- $5.50 into the Cultural and Community Engagement Foundation Fund
- $23 into the Transportation Investment Fund of 2005
- $21.50 into the Olympic and Paralympic Venues Grant Fund
There’s a reason why the plates are so popular.
“Looks cooler,” Carson Mac said.
Mac already has one and is getting a second one for his other car.
“Nobody else had them, and Utah’s were a little colorful, so I was like ‘eh nah,’” he said. “As soon as the black ones came out, I was like ‘yeah, I’m going to get that.’”
The plates came out in May 2023 and have been $25 since then, but the new bill changes that starting in January 2027.
“Why are they charging more for something that costs the exact same?” Mac asked. “If it’s something for Olympic venues, where’s our taxes going?”
Senator Chris Wilson sponsored the bill and wasn’t available for an interview.
However, Senate spokesperson Aundrea Peterson sent 2News the following statement:
“Utah is known for consistently delivering tax relief to citizens and families while planning for long-term growth. With growing transportation demands, a strong arts community and the 2034 Olympics on the horizon, we are making responsible investments in the foundation our state depends on. The black license plate is a voluntary user-based option that supports priorities without raising taxes. It’s a practical approach that keeps Utah moving forward.”
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