NBA forward John Collins is nicknamed “The Baptist” because of his explosive ability to “baptize” defenders with aggressive, high-flying dunks. In basketball slang, “baptizing” an opponent means delivering a fierce poster dunk directly over them.
The moniker originated organically during the 2017 NBA Summer League when a fan marveled at his rookie highlights.
It stuck due to a perfect storm of coincidences: his legal name is John Martin Collins III, and he played for Wake Forest, a university with deep historical ties to the Baptist State Convention. Today, it defines his personal brand.
Decoding the Basketball Slang Behind “Baptizing”
To understand why this specific title resonates so deeply within the basketball community, one must first look at the evolution of the language used on the court.
While “posterizing” has been the standard term for decades, “baptizing” carries a heavier, more visceral connotation of dominance.
From Posterizing to Baptizing: A Stylistic Shift
In the modern era of the league, fans and commentators are constantly looking for more evocative ways to describe elite athleticism.
While a poster dunk is impressive, “baptizing” someone suggests a transformative moment where a defender is completely overwhelmed by the offensive player’s verticality.
It is a term that denotes not just a score, but a total eclipse of the opposing player’s presence at the rim.
Why John Collins Became the Face of the Term
Collins built his reputation on elite verticality and a relentless, aggressive approach to finishing at the rim. His highlights often feature him soaring through the air to catch alley-oops or attacking the basket with a violence that few other forwards can replicate.
Because his playing style was so consistently centered on these powerful finishes, the slang “baptizing” became the perfect linguistic match for his nightly performances.
The Viral Origin Story: Las Vegas Summer League 2017
Great nicknames in professional sports are rarely the result of focus groups or corporate marketing strategies. Instead, they often emerge from the heat of competition and the immediate reaction of the fans who witness greatness in real-time.
A Rookie Debut That Turned Heads
The story begins in July 2017 during the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. At the time, John Collins was a rookie entering his first professional games for the Atlanta Hawks, and expectations were high for the young prospect out of Wake Forest.
During these games, he put on a clinic of highlight-reel dunks and alley-oops that immediately caught the attention of media members and fans across social media platforms.
The Fan Who Named a Future All-Star
The nickname was completely organic, born from the crowd rather than a broadcast booth. While Collins was watching his own highlight packages later that evening, he noticed that a fan—either in the live crowd or within the comments of a viral clip—had referred to him as “John The Baptist”.
The name was so clever and fitting that it went viral almost instantly, cementing his identity before he had even played a single regular-season game.
The Historical Coincidence: Why the Name Stuck So Firmly
A nickname only survives if it has layers of meaning that make it feel inevitable. For Collins, “The Baptist” was more than just a reference to a dunk; it was a moniker supported by his personal history and his collegiate background.
The Wake Forest and Demon Deacon Connection
Before being drafted into the NBA, Collins played his college basketball for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Interestingly, Wake Forest University was historically founded by the North Carolina Baptist State Convention.
This specific collegiate tie had already earned him the secondary moniker “The Dunkin’ Deacon” during his time in the ACC, making the transition to “The Baptist” in the pros feel like a natural evolution of his established identity.
John Martin Collins III: A Prophetic Birth Name
The ultimate “double entendre” that made the name stick was his legal birth name: John Martin Collins III. Sharing a first name with the biblical prophet John the Baptist made the parallel seamless and almost poetic.
Media personnel and commentators began to joke that his gravity-defying feats were “biblical” in nature, further entrenching the nickname into the league’s cultural lexicon.
Traditional Insights: Parallels Between the Prophet and the Player
Beyond the dunks and the slang, the name carries a weight of traditional significance. By examining the history of the original John the Baptist, we can see why this nickname carries such a powerful aura of authority and fearlessness.
A Voice in the Paint: Fearlessness and Reform
The original John the Baptist was known as a radical reformer and a moral compass who spoke “fearless truth” to power, even when it led to his arrest. In a basketball context, Collins demonstrates a similar lack of fear.
He does not shy away from the league’s most daunting rim protectors, often challenging them directly in the “wilderness” of the paint to deliver his message of dominance.
The Bridge Between Collegiate Roots and Professional Greatness
Just as the biblical figure served as a bridge between the Old and New Testaments, Collins’ nickname serves as a bridge between his college legacy and his professional future. It connects the “Dunkin’ Deacon” of Wake Forest to the high-flying veteran of the NBA.
This sense of transition and being a “forerunner” of a new style of athletic power forward adds a layer of depth to the moniker that few other player nicknames possess.
The Baptist Apparel: Building a Global Lifestyle Brand
Many players have nicknames, but few have the business acumen to turn a fan-generated title into a successful retail venture. Collins embraced the persona so fully that he moved beyond the court to establish a tangible brand.
Translating On-Court Dominance to Streetwear
Collins legally adopted the title for his business ventures by launching “The Baptist Apparel”. This lifestyle and streetwear brand was designed to reflect more than just basketball highlights.
According to Collins, the brand serves as a symbol of “on-court dominance and off-court integrity,” encouraging his followers and customers to always be their authentic selves.
The Foot Locker Partnership and Retail Success
The brand’s growth reached a major milestone in 2021 when it achieved mainstream retail recognition. Foot Locker Atlanta officially picked up the line, selling “Baptist” logo tees, hoodies, and fleece shorts to the general public.
This partnership validated the nickname as a commercial powerhouse, proving that the “Baptist” identity had resonated with the city of Atlanta and the broader basketball world.
Frequently Asked Questions About the “Baptist” Nickname
Who gave John Collins his nickname?
The moniker was created organically by a basketball fan rather than a marketing team or media outlet. It originated during the 2017 NBA Summer League in Las Vegas while Collins was a rookie playing his first games for the Atlanta Hawks.
After witnessing a series of his dominant highlight-reel dunks, a fan in the crowd or in online comments referred to him as “John The Baptist,” and the name went viral instantly.
What does “baptizing” mean in basketball?
In basketball culture, “baptizing” someone is a slang term for throwing down an incredibly fierce, aggressive dunk directly over a defending player. It is synonymous with the term “posterizing” an opponent.
Did his college play a role in the name?
Yes, his collegiate history provided a perfect historical connection that helped the name stick. Collins played for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons, a university that was historically founded by the North Carolina Baptist State Convention.
What is his official clothing line called?
Collins embraced the identity so much that he launched a streetwear and lifestyle brand officially named The Baptist Apparel. The brand achieved mainstream retail success in 2021 when it was picked up by Foot Locker Atlanta.
What was his nickname in college?
During his time at Wake Forest, he was frequently referred to as “The Dunkin’ Deacon”.
Why is the name considered a double entendre?
The nickname is a clever play on words because it simultaneously references his explosive playing style, his legal birth name (John Martin Collins III), and his collegiate affiliation with a Baptist-founded university.
Additionally, media personnel often joked that his high-flying feats were “biblical,” further cementing the parallel to the biblical prophet.
The Legacy of The Baptist in Modern Basketball
The enduring popularity of John Collins’ nickname is a testament to how sports culture, social media, and personal history can converge to create something iconic. It isn’t just a label; it’s a mission statement.
By combining the aggressive “baptism” of his opponents with a commitment to “off-court integrity,” Collins has created a persona that stands out in a league filled with stars.
Whether he is catching a lob in transition or expanding his business empire through retail partnerships, the “Baptist” moniker remains a perfect fit. It captures the essence of a player who is both a physical marvel and a thoughtful brand-builder.
For fans, every time he rises for a dunk, they aren’t just watching a play; they are witnessing the latest chapter in the gospel of one of the most uniquely named athletes in the game today.
As he continues his career, the name serves as a constant reminder of that viral night in Las Vegas where a fan’s simple observation turned into a global identity.
John Collins has shown that while he can certainly “baptize” anyone who stands in his way at the rim, his true impact is found in the authenticity and integrity he brings to the game every single night.
