CJ McCollum Draws Energy from Boos

For CJ McCollum, the jeers fuel him. They signal that he’s on the right path.

During Monday night’s match, as the Hawks edged out the Knicks 107-106 at the Garden, he faced a lot of hostility from the crowd. This win evened the series at one game each.

“I’m not a bad person. Just a nice guy with a family,” he reflected after scoring 32 points, including a crucial jumper with 33 seconds on the clock. “I see it as a compliment. These passionate fans in such an intense atmosphere make it enjoyable. It’s basketball, it’s playoffs—just great.”

“Honestly, I think it’s a sign of respect,” he added.

So far, there hasn’t been an effective answer from the Knicks for the 34-year-old guard. McCollum has amassed 59 points across two games, with shooting percentages of 54.7 from the field and 36.8 from beyond the arc. Interestingly, he made only 7 of 32 shots in the fourth quarter on Monday, managing to outshine Knicks’ star Jalen Brunson.

Even before truly going after the Knicks, McCollum had drawn the crowd’s ire. He received a technical foul for a questionable kick to Brunson while shooting, and afterward, suggested that Brunson was overacting.

The tension in the arena seems to have only ramped up since then. “I thrive on it. This is why we compete,” he expressed. “There’s an exhilaration in quieting the crowd when the game ends, especially on their turf. It’s mutual respect; it was a hard-fought game against a skilled opponent on their home soil, and their passion is warranted. They’ve played well all season.”

Reflecting on his experiences, he mused, “I’ve sat in the stands at the Garden before. Witnessed playoff games as a fan. It’s fantastic now to play here and leave with a victory.”