The Hawks will be without their forward John Collins, He’s been suspended by the NBA for violating the NBA’s Anti-Drug Program.
Collins is currently 22, and tested positive for the drug Peptide-2, He’s currently leading the Hawks in rebounding averaging 8.8 rebounds a game.
The forward is putting up some solid numbers this season and is having breakout season he’s averaging 17 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.
The Hawks President released a statement on behalf of the team:
“On behalf of the entire Hawks organization, we are disappointed to learn that John put himself in an unfortunate situation and violated the league’s anti-drug policy. We hold ourselves and each of our players to a high standard, and we are committed to supporting John as he learns from this setback and continues to grow as both a player and a person. Head Coach Lloyd Pierce and I have both talked to him and we believe that he is truly remorseful for his actions. We will provide John with support on and off the court while we look forward to his return to the team.”
Collins also released a statement:
“First I want to apologize to my teammates, the Hawks organization, our fans, partners and community as a whole for this situation. 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 fight 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.”.