Jazz’s Isaiah Collier Speaks Out on Disrespectful Snub
Utah Jazz rookie Isaiah Collier felt somewhat overlooked despite a solid first season in Salt Lake City.
The Jazz suffered a 121-110 defeat to the Houston Rockets on Thursday night, marking their fourth consecutive loss and 14th of March as they remain in last place in the Western Conference.
While the team struggles, Collier has been a bright spot. On Thursday, he posted 16 points and five assists on 7-of-12 shooting in 30 minutes of play.
This season, the former USC standout has appeared in 66 games, averaging 8.2 points, 6.1 assists, and 3.3 rebounds after being selected 29th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Despite his strong performance, Collier was surprisingly left off the Rising Stars team during the NBA All-Star Weekend in February, a decision that raised many eyebrows.
In an exclusive interview with Chris Haynes, Collier opened up about the snub:
“The only thing I accepted is, to be honest, it was looked over,” Collier said. “I can’t dwell on it or feel bad for myself. I came back and won Rookie of the Month that month.”
In February, Collier averaged 11.5 points, 9.5 assists, and 3.9 rebounds, earning the Western Conference Rookie of the Month award.
The snub only fueled Collier’s motivation, and his strong performance in February reflects that.
“You gotta get better regardless. I think it helped me even more, fuel to the fire, to be honest,” Collier said.
The 2025 Rising Stars team included 21 NBA players and seven G League players, with Jazz guard Keyonte George as the sole Utah representative. Players like Orlando Magic’s Tristan da Silva, Phoenix Suns’ Ryan Dunn, and Chicago Bulls’ Matas Buzelis, who have lower season averages than Collier, were included on the team.
Despite the exclusion, Collier is focusing on the future and using it as extra motivation. Over his last 10 games, he has scored double digits in six, including a 21-point performance against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 25 and three 16-point outings during that stretch.
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