Pistons are asking John Collins to do something he hasn’t since his Hawks days

The Detroit Pistons have made an apparent upgrade at the power forward position by replacing 34-year-old Tobias Harris with 28-year-old John Collins. In recent years, Collins has become a more efficient shooter than Harris while offering impressive size and athleticism.

For as intriguing as that may be, the Pistons appear to be asking him for something he hasn't offered since his tenure with the Atlanta Hawks: Volume scoring on a playoff team.

Collins looks great on paper. In 2024-25, for instance, he averaged 19.0 points and 8.2 rebounds in 30.5 minutes per game while shooting at a clip of .527/.399/.848. This past season, he buried 1.3 three-point field goals in 27.2 minutes per contest on 40.6 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

He played just 40 games in 2024-25, however, and hasn't been to the playoffs since 2022-23—when he averaged 13.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per contest. He hasn't averaged at least 15.0 points on a playoff team since 2021-22.

Though Collins' production from 2025-26 would be beneficial, as would his numbers from 2022-23, the Pistons have a glaring need for volume. In 2025-26, Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren were the only two Detroit players who averaged more than 13.3 points per game. Harris at 13.3 was the third-leading scorer.

Though the Pistons still won 60 games, there was also consistent discussion about how badly they needed shot creation and conversion help for the stars. Collins is perhaps their best bet to provide it.

Pistons need John Collins to score with volume on a playoff team

Collins' talent isn't the issue here. In 2025-26, he not only shot 40.6 percent from beyond the arc, but ranked in the 96th percentile in field goal percentage at the rim, the 92nd percentile in one on one shot making, and the 94th percentile in one on one shot making efficiency, per Basketball Index.

Collins also ranked No. 2 among forwards in stable post up points per possession, which illustrates how dangerous he is with his back to the basket.

Furthermore, Collins ranked in the 69th percentile in off-ball gravity and buried 41.7 percent of his catch-and-shoot threes. The hurdle in that regard, however, only further epitomizes this concern: He did so while making a low volume of shots at 1.3 per game.

In Detroit, Collins will need to be able to knock down catch-and-shoot threes with more consistency—all the while scoring in general with greater volume.

Perhaps he likes of Ron Holland, Paul Reed, or Ausar Thompson will improve their production and allow Collins to settle into a role with less responsibility. Until that actually transpires, however, the Pistons' need for shot creation and shooting remains.

With or without Duren on the roster, Detroit will need Collins to step up as the skilled scorer he is and provide the volume the team lacked in 2025-26. It'll simply be his first time doing so for a playoff team since he was in Atlanta.

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