Atlanta Hawks head coach Lloyd Pierce says big man John Collins is “not in a good place” at the moment.
Collins has received a 25-game suspension from the NBA for testing positive for Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide-2 (GHRP-2).
"You're disappointed. You're sad for the team. You feel for John. He's not in a good place. So it's how do we help him and how do we help those other guys."
— Lloyd Pierce on the suspension of John Collins
— Sarah K. Spencer (@sarah_k_spence) November 5, 2019
While Collins will work with the NBPA on an appeal, his suspension will begin immediately.
It's a tough loss for the Hawks, as Collins is a key player and one of the best young players in the league. Collins released a statement about his suspension, via Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN:
“First I want to apologize to my teammates, the Hawks organization, our fans, partners and community as a whole for this situation,” Collins said in a statement to Wojnarowski. “I understand the impact this matter has on what we are trying to achieve together this season, and I am incredibly frustrated and disappointed in myself for putting all of us in this position.
“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.”
On the season, Collins is averaging 17.0 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists. He's shooting 52.5 percent from the field, 47.4 percent from beyond the arc and 70.6 percent from the free-throw line.
Lloyd Pierce and the Hawks are 2-3 on the young season. Collins joins Brooklyn Nets swingman Wilson Chandler and Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton as the latest NBA player to be suspended for PED use.
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