CJ McCollum seems to have had a significant veteran impact on the Atlanta Hawks outside of his stellar play on the hardwood, and he finally revealed what he told his fellow Hawks immediately after the trade back in January.
CJ's message to the team was incredibly straightforward:
“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.”
The Hawks have certainly figured out how to win since acquiring CJ, but this wasn't what fans envisioned the day the trade was made. When the Atlanta Hawks traded long-time franchise centerpiece and superstar Trae Young for the older CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert in January, many fans were heartbroken.
Not only was the loss of Young a stab in the heart, but the return was far, far below what fans were expecting. Just this past offseason, Desmond Bane went for an assortment of first-round picks. Not getting a single pick back from the Wizards seemed like a slap in the face.
Three months have passed since the trade, and these feelings of despair are long gone. With win after win after win, largely due to CJ McCollum, Atlanta's morale seems to have flipped a full 180 degrees.
McCollum's simple team-first message worked wonders
Having a teammate who immediately establishes they're not just working for their own success, but also for yours, is such a wonderful gift. There are plenty of players who play, first and foremost, for their own statistics, their own financial benefit, and their own glory. CJ isn't this type of player at all.
McCollum's team-first sentiments also serve as a stark juxtaposition to the Trae Young era. While both players are stand-up individuals who value their teammates, Young's heliocentric playstyle was widely criticized and no doubt limited the opportunities of his teammates in the box score.
McCollum's ability to dominate on and off the ball has not only given rise to his teammates' numbers but also to the Hawks' win column. Specifically, his lethal lineup pairing with Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu has given opponents severe trouble.
CJ's greatest fear seems incredibly unlikely
Thanks to all the wins that Atlanta has seen recently, McCollum's aversion to moving his family appears to be all but forgotten. While it's incredibly unlikely that McCollum will command as lucrative a contract as he signed last ($30M/yr), the odds that Onsi Saleh will do everything in his power to keep him in a Hawks uniform are overwhelmingly high.
Time will tell how deep Atlanta is able to go in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, but one thing is for certain: CJ McCollum has been a perfect fit with the Hawks, and the future of the team is much brighter with him in it.