CJ McCollum Dismisses ‘Villain’ Tag After Silencing Heckling Knicks Fans At MSG

CJ McCollum was headed for an early summer until the Washington Wizards sent him to the Hawks in January in the trade for Trae Young.

CJ McCollum Dismisses ‘Villain’ Tag After Silencing Heckling Knicks Fans At MSG

CJ McCollum (Image credits - Firstsportz)

Before the trade deadline, CJ McCollum would have thought that his 2025-26 campaign would be done and dusted by April. The Washington Wizards were sitting at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings and had the worst record in the NBA. But everything changed at the trade deadline when McCollum was traded to the Atlanta Hawks.

The Hawks guard made 41 appearances for his new club in the regular season. He helped them secure a sixth-place finish in the standings, which guaranteed a direct qualification for the playoffs.

The Hawks have been drawn against the New York Knicks in the first round. After losing in game one, McCollum led the Hawks to a closely fought 107-106 victory in game two at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. After the game, McCollum spoke about being a “villain” in the eyes of Knicks fans.

I am no villain, I’m a nice guy with two kids and a wife. I think it’s admiration. Great, passionate fans in a hostile environment… If anything, I think it’s a sign of respect.

CJ McCollum in his post-match press conference

It has been quite a change in fortune for CJ McCollum, who is currently in his 13th season in the NBA. He was headed for an early summer this year until the Wizards traded him to the Hawks for Trae Young.

While McCollum replaced Young in the Hawks, he also replaced Young as the new villain at the MSG. Young and Knicks fans have no love lost between them. Since the 2021 playoffs, Young has had a few altercations with the Knicks and New Yorkers and has embraced the role of a villain. The strained relationship had continued to date.

However, McCollum has no interest in being a villain, as he was profanely taunted by the Garden fans on Monday. While Young embraced it, McCollum has little interest in it.

CJ McCollum impresses in game two against the New York Knicks

The Hawks were seen as dark horses by many heading into the postseason. In their last 25 games of the regular season, they went 19-6, highlighting their strong form from February. They began to peak at the right time, led by CJ McCollum and Jalen Johnson.

After coming up short in game one, the Hawks started slow in game two as Jalen Brunson looked unstoppable in the first half. By the end of the third quarter, the Hawks were down by as many as 12 points.

CJ McCollum
CJ McCollum (Image credits – AP News)

But the final quarter changed everything as the Hawks pulled off an incredible comeback. McCollum led the scorers with 32 points to go along with three rebounds and six assists. He got some help from Jonathan Kuminga off the bench, who scored 19 points.

McCollum was booed from the beginning of the game. The Knicks crowd came into this game ready to villainize McCollum. The 34-year-old received a technical foul in game one for kicking Brunson in the groin during a jumpshot. The play was deemed “dirty,” and the Knicks fans made their feelings known.

CJ McCollum accuses Jalen Brunson of selling the foul

When the replays were shown, it did look like a dirty play by CJ McCollum. He did receive a technical foul for it, but it was not received well by the Knicks crowd. To add fuel to the fire, he was given a technical foul in game two, and he was involved in a scuffle with Jose Alvarado in the third quarter. The boos only grew louder.

When asked about the questionable play on Brunson in game one, McCollum said Brunson exaggerated the play.

I watched the game and there was contact. But I have a natural fade in my jump shot. And when you don’t jump when you’re guarding somebody, there’s a chance you’re gonna get hit. If he would’ve jumped, he wouldn’t have been hit. But since he’s just kind of standing there, it is what it is.

CJ McCollum on his foul on Jalen Brunson in game one

McCollum won’t be too bothered about everything that took place at the Garden. The Hawks have a win on the road and will look to defend home court. Game three is scheduled on Thursday at the State Farm Arena.

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