Hawks Report podcast Ep. 1: The premiere featuring John Collins

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s newest podcast, the Hawks Report hosted by Sarah K. Spencer, debuted with its premiere episode Monday.

Spencer’s first guest is power forward John Collins, the longest-tenured player on the team. Among numerous topics, Collins discusses the Hawks’ disappointing start this season and also responds to reports about his frustration with his role in Atlanta.

Here’s one tidbit from that response: “It’s nothing of me being frustrated or asking for a trade or ‘Hey, this guy, it’s (his) fault, it’s none of that,” Collins said in the episode. “It’s looking at what’s obvious, and what’s obvious is, regardless of if we do have a better team than when I was a rookie or if we are having more success, I’m still here, and I still would like to be a part of this team going forward, and I would like to be utilized in the best way, and that was sort of where that word ‘frustration,’ which is also a word that has a lot of definitions, comes from, is from.”

He also explains why the team has to deal with a target on its back, after a run to the Eastern Conference finals last year, and why he sees a light at the end of the tunnel. Plus, Spencer digs into the Hawks’ struggles at home, the Cam Reddish trade and what to watch this week, highlighted by the MLK Day game vs. the Bucks Monday.

You can subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, iHeart or wherever you get your podcasts.