Jazz’s John Collins has finally spoken up about the contentious altercation involving him and Bulls assistant Chris Fleming. During the closing moments of the Utah Jazz’s narrow 119-117 loss to the Chicago Bulls, tempers flared following a deliberate foul by Collin Sexton on DeMar DeRozan. Bulls’ Torrey Craig, despite not being on the active roster, engaged in a heated exchange with Sexton, known for his assertiveness.
This escalated until Jazz’s John Collins felt compelled to step in, leading to a tense moment. However, matters worsened when Bulls assistant coach Chris Fleming seemingly pushed Collins, provoking his reaction. Reflecting on the incident after the Jazz’s disappointing loss, Collins clarified his perspective, stating he was merely defending himself as Fleming instigated the confrontation. “Collin and T-Craig got into a little [scuffle], they’re talking. Ran over, I’m standing there and the coach comes over and just shoves me for no reason. Y’all can go watch the film,” Collins explained to reporters. While footage suggests Fleming initiated physical contact, Collins retaliated by shoving back, though perhaps with his hands positioned too high, posing a potential risk.
Despite the incident, the Jazz must move past it, particularly given their missed opportunities in the game. Collins faces a crucial period ahead to showcase his value to the team amid their frontcourt challenges.
