CJ McCollum Seems to have Thrown Shade at Warriors While Praising Jonathan Kuminga

CJ McCollum has been a hero for the Atlanta Hawks in the Atlanta Hawks’ first-round series against the New York Knicks. After clutch plays in Game 2, McCollum drained a game-winning jumper in the waning seconds of Game 3 to lift the Hawks to a 2-1 series lead against the Knicks. 

During the NBA on Prime’s post-game interview, McCollum deflected praise and instead gave his flowers to Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga. McCollum said that Kuminga played a big role in the team’s 2-1 lead and will ensure that Kuminga will be taken care of in Atlanta, in what seemed like a subtle dig at Kuminga’s former team, the Golden State Warriors. 

“We’re not up 2-1 without him. We’re thankful to have, and we’ll make sure we take good care of him here in the A,” McCollum said with a slight grin on his face. 

Kuminga endured inconsistent playing time with the Warriors during his five-year run with the team. He was also included in numerous trade rumors, along with misunderstandings on his role alongside Steph Curry and Draymond Green, straining his relationship with the squad. 

It ended with him being traded to Atlanta at the trade deadline for a package that included Kristaps Porzingis. 

Meanwhile, McCollum had a long history of throwing jabs at the Warriors back when he was still playing with the Portland Trail Blazers. Since 2016, McCollum had criticized the Warriors’ screens, labelling them “illegal,” on top of calling out their superteams when Kevin Durant joined Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green in 2017. 

He also had numerous social media and statement exchanges with Durant and Green over the years. 

McCollum just became a Hawk last January as part of a deal that sent Trae Young to the Washington Wizards. Many have seen McCollum as a salary filler in the trade, but his recent performances have shown he still has what it takes to steady the ship for a team, especially in pressure-packed moments. 

McCollum put up 23 points, while Kuminga notched 21 markers on 9-of-14 shooting from the field, punctuated by a game-sealing steal in the final possession to ice the win for the Hawks. 

Meanwhile, the Warriors have not reached the playoffs this season, losing in the play-in tournament for the No. 8 seed against the Phoenix Suns. 

CJ McCollum Wants to be Level-Headed for the Rest of the Series

GettyCJ McCollum hopes to remain level-headed for the rest of the Hawks-Knicks series.

Keeping himself level-headed after back-to-back one-point wins in the series, CJ McCollum said he does not want to get caught up in the noise of the playoffs as the Hawks look to take a commanding 3-1 lead in Game 4. 

“I don’t get too high. I don’t get too low,” McCollum said. “I could have missed those shots and I would have been approaching the game the same way.”

“I’m comfortable with failure and I’m comfortable with success…I’ve played for a long time.”

McCollum has a chance to reach the second round for the first time since 2019, when the Trail Blazers marched to the Western Conference Finals only to lose to the Warriors via sweep. 

Hawks Brace For Knicks in Game 4

GettyGame 4 between the Hawks and the Knicks is expected to be a crucial battle.

The Atlanta Hawks will look to gain a considerable advantage in their first-round series against the Knicks in Game 4. 

A Hawks win would propel them to a 3-1 series lead and would put immense pressure on the Knicks to win three straight games to salvage their season, their first under head coach Mike Brown. 

Game 4 is scheduled Saturday, April 25, at 6 p.m. Eastern time. The series will then return to New York in Game 5 on Tuesday, April 28. 

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