CJ McCollum's candid post-trade message has ignited the Hawks' resurgence. Discover his powerful words that fueled a playoff-bound turnaround.
CJ McCollum has been a top playmaker and clutch shooter for the Atlanta Hawks since joining the team in January after being traded from the Washington Wizards.
In 41 games with Atlanta, McCollum is averaging 18.7 points on 36% 3-point shooting, and has controlled the Hawks' offense at the guard position.
Since January 17, which was about a week or so after McCollum was traded to the Hawks, Atlanta is 25-12, has exceeded many people's expectations, and has earned a playoff series.
McCollum recently shared his powerful message to the Hawks team after he was traded from Washington:
“I’ve lived a great life and made a lot of money, and I just wanna see you guys be successful. Your success is my success, I’m not trying to keep moving my family so let’s figure out how to win.”
Well, when you put it like that, it sounds like winning was the only option for McCollum and his family, so the 34-year-old guard decided to anchor this Hawks team, and it's been a complete 180 turn around since early January, and specifically, since GM Onsi Saleh decided to move on from Trae Young.
However, the Hawks now wake up in mid-April with expectations of success, and McCollum is a main catalyst for that, along with Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson, and Dyson Daniels.
The NBA landscape is starting to take notice of what this Atlanta team can be not just in the future, but in the here and now as well.
Atlanta takes on the Miami Heat on Sunday in the regular-season finale, and will get the final answer on who its first-round opponent is by the end of Sunday when all the last NBA games conclude.