When the basketball leaves Yuri Collins’ hand, it looks like it’s been given instructions ahead of time. It flies down the court like it has somewhere to be.

There isn’t much flare to his game, because he doesn’t need any. He’s just an old-school floor general who seems to see everything half a second before everybody else.

Collins didn’t start as a pass-first player. He started like every kid did, simply trying to put the ball in the basket. But as the NBA became all about scoring and shooting from deep, he realized that he needed to find a way to separate himself.

“I knew if I wanted to get far I had to find something that others didn’t like to do,” Collins said. “I found my identity.”

While growing up in St. Louis, he spent hours playing one-on-one games at his local gym. On the surface, these games mainly seem like an opportunity to grow as a scorer.

But they taught him something most people miss. The better you are at breaking down a defender, the more the defense collapses. Eventually, he was seeing the court better than ever, anticipating openings and creating opportunities for his teammates before anyone else even knew they existed.

“The same way you go in the gym and shoot the ball, you can work on different reads,” he said. “If you study the game, it’s easy to pick up.”

He eventually blossomed into one of the best point guards in the region, leading St. Mary’s High School to a Class 4A State Championship appearance during his senior year.

Collins then made the five-mile trip from his childhood home to play at Saint Louis University, where he led the NCAA in assists in 2022 and 2023.

During a 2022 win against Tennessee State, he recorded 20 assists, the fourth-highest single-game total in NCAA history.

While playing for the Golden State Warriors’ G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors, the 6-foot, 190-pound guard led the league with 10.8 assists per game, the highest average from a G League player in over a decade.

At Long Island’s Media Day, Collins explained that his distributing ability is a unique mix of natural talent and the hard work that nobody sees.

“It’s a blessing from God. It’s something that I’m able to do with my eyes closed,” Collins said. “I watch a lot of basketball, I study the game a lot. But it’s also just a natural ability that I have.”

If you ask him who he compares his game to, he won’t bother reaching for a comparison. He’s watched and learned from greats like Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo, but isn’t comfortable borrowing their shadows.

“I play like Yuri Collins,” he said with a grin. “Really, I don’t think I play like anybody.”

While most of the players on the Brooklyn Nets’ G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, are still going through the rough acclimation process that comes with playing professional basketball, the third-year guard has brought some much-needed experience.

This year, the Nets drafted a record five first-round picks, and all but one have spent time in the G League.

Collins has become the ideal distributor for the young guys in Long Island, constantly setting them up and giving chances to build trust in themselves as scorers.

“I feel like I give everybody confidence on the court,” Collins said. “They know to be ready when I have the ball. Most people like to play with a point guard that is unselfish.”

His impact hasn’t gone unnoticed. Long Island Nets head coach Mfon Udofia explained that for a team loaded with young talent, Collins is the glue that holds it all together.

“He’s been terrific. He’s brought leadership and a veteran presence,” Udofia said. “He’s also very vocal and helpful with the young guys, so we’re lucky to have him right now.”

He’s built a strong reputation as a distributor, but Collins still keeps his scoring ability tucked in his back pocket.

During Wednesday’s 115-95 win over the Westchester Knicks, he missed just one shot all night while scoring 13 points to go along with six assists and six rebounds.

“I’m a hooper, bro,” he said. “I can do anything you need me to do.”

The Nets don’t have a proven point guard on their NBA roster just yet, just a lot of potential and with a two-way spot open, Collins could be called up to Brooklyn at any moment.

He spent time in Golden State sharpening his game under future Hall of Famer Stephen Curry and would bring a pass-first mentality to a team that has spent most of the season firing up any half-decent look they get.

He knows he‘ll seize the opportunity, but would rather let his play do the talking.

“I’m ready. It’s as simple as that,” Collins said.