The New York Knicks had a historic championship run this past season. Atlanta’s CJ McCollum stood as one of the biggest threats to that ***** le.
This past week, McCollum agreed to a one-year, $21 million contract extension with Atlanta that includes a trade kicker, ensuring he will not enter free agency on June 30. The extension comes less than six months after the Hawks acquired McCollum in a blockbuster midseason trade, showing the organization’s vision for the 2026-27 season.
When the Hawks acquired McCollum in January, the move was widely viewed as a roster-balancing decision as a part of Trae Young’s departure. Yet what followed was something more impactful, as McCollum quickly became a consistent, experienced player that Atlanta lacked.
His scoring, decision-making, and veteran playstyle helped guide the Hawks through the second half of the season, ultimately turning them into a legitimate playoff threat. The Atlanta Hawks went 27-14 in the regular season with CJ McCollum in the lineup (including 19-6 when he started). McCollum appeared in 41 regular-season games (25 starts), averaging 18.7 PPG, 4.1 APG, 3.1 RPG, and 1.0 SPG.
The moments that have stuck with the fans, however, came during the playoffs, where McCollum’s biggest contributions came when the lights were the brightest.
This past week, McCollum agreed to a one-year, $21 million contract extension with Atlanta that includes a trade kicker, ensuring he will not enter free agency on June 30. The extension comes less than six months after the Hawks acquired McCollum in a blockbuster midseason trade, showing the organization’s vision for the 2026-27 season.
When the Hawks acquired McCollum in January, the move was widely viewed as a roster-balancing decision as a part of Trae Young’s departure. Yet what followed was something more impactful, as McCollum quickly became a consistent, experienced player that Atlanta lacked.
His scoring, decision-making, and veteran playstyle helped guide the Hawks through the second half of the season, ultimately turning them into a legitimate playoff threat. The Atlanta Hawks went 27-14 in the regular season with CJ McCollum in the lineup (including 19-6 when he started). McCollum appeared in 41 regular-season games (25 starts), averaging 18.7 PPG, 4.1 APG, 3.1 RPG, and 1.0 SPG.
The moments that have stuck with the fans, however, came during the playoffs, where McCollum’s biggest contributions came when the lights were the brightest.
4 months ago
