McCollum Reflects on Knicks’ Championship Win
CJ McCollum expressed that he was “not surprised” by the Knicks capturing their first championship in 53 years.
The Hawks’ guard mentioned that during the first round of the playoffs, he had told OG Anunoby they had a real shot at winning it all, even as Atlanta took the first two games of the series.
“I wasn’t surprised that they won. I actually told OG, ‘I think you guys can win a championship,'” McCollum shared during a talk on SiriusXM NBA Radio.
He analyzed the Knicks’ roster, their gameplay, and their team’s cohesion. McCollum felt their focus and intensity made them a serious contender.
He noted that throughout the series, the Hawks recognized the Knicks’ strength, pointing out their shooting capability and the impact of Jalen Brunson.
Brunson had an impressive playoff performance, averaging 28.4 points, 6.1 assists, and 3.2 rebounds over 19 games.
McCollum, who was somewhat of an antagonist for the Knicks during the matchup, acknowledged that New York made crucial adjustments to overcome Atlanta, which he deemed a valuable lesson from their first-round clash.
“We pushed them to the limit, and I think they appreciated the fact that we tested and prepared,” he mentioned, reflecting on the competition.
He also pointed out that while some teams glide through the early rounds due to sheer talent, they might struggle against equally skilled opponents later on.
The Knicks’ journey through the playoffs wasn’t without its challenges. They lost to the Hawks at home in Game 2 and found themselves scrambling for home court advantage.
In Atlanta, McCollum missed a critical jumper, causing the Knicks to fall behind 2-1 in the series.
The team needed to adjust for Game 4, but ultimately, they managed to win three consecutive games to progress.
They went on to clinch the NBA Finals, suffering just one defeat in the final three rounds.
Charles Barkley remarked on “Inside the NBA,” “I’m not saying this is the best team of all time, but if they win the next two games, this will be one of the greatest playoff runs in history. I have to give them props.”
