C. J. McCollum Quotes

C. J. McCollum

Profession : Athlete

Birth : September 19, 1991

In college, the line is so close that you can kind of half-heartedly shoot the ball off-balance and fading away. To shoot an NBA three, because the arc of your shot has to be a little higher, you have to be squared up and get your legs into it more, which can be tough in the fourth quarter.

C. J. McCollum

I ended up breaking a bone in my foot early in my rookie season, and honestly, it was kind of a blessing. I had so much free time while being laid up that I put a lot of time in on film to understand the game from a different vantage point.

C. J. McCollum

It's been a tough 2020, honestly, for me personally, for a lot of people in the world in general.

C. J. McCollum

My mother, my father, my brother, they've done a tremendous job of preparing me and helping me get right in having confidence.

C. J. McCollum

I had a few brief, brief interactions with Coach K. Mainly us beating them in the NCAA Tournament back in 2012.

C. J. McCollum

I think sometimes there's this perception that players are supposed to be robots.

C. J. McCollum

A lot of people have compared being an NBA rookie to being a fraternity pledge. It's not really intense like that. It's more like being an intern.

C. J. McCollum

At the combine we went through medical exams from every team, the most extensive physicals I've ever had: blood tests, MRIs, heart monitors, everything. Because of my injury teams really paid attention to my lower body.

C. J. McCollum

When you're smaller, you kind of learn how to do other things. You have to work a little bit harder.

C. J. McCollum

Sometimes recruiters and scouts are missing on players. Going after the guys who are really hyped, five-star players and guys that are playing in grassroots and are seen all the time. Then there are the players that developed internally. They go to small schools and they continue to work on their games and they blow up later.

C. J. McCollum

I'm not just a dumb basketball player who got lucky and graduated from college. My ratio for professor to student was nine-to-one so it wasn't like I wasn't going to class. I was going to class every day.

C. J. McCollum

It's mentally draining to be on 100% of the time on both ends of the floor, especially when you're the team's undisputed shot creator.

C. J. McCollum

I like Malcolm Gladwell.

C. J. McCollum

Everything in the NBA is sped up. Lanes close much faster than college.

C. J. McCollum

Even since I've been in the NBA, a lot has changed with the game.

C. J. McCollum

For me, understanding your heritage and wanting to leave a legacy was always important to me.

C. J. McCollum

Like, if I'm assessing someone's game and they can't shoot, they can't shoot. And they know they can't shoot. It's not like I'm making fun of them. I just keep it real, man.

C. J. McCollum

I spend a lot of time in the gym working on moves, working on difficult shots, figuring out ways to create space, becoming a tough-shot taker and a tough shot maker, especially down the stretch.

C. J. McCollum

One thing I love about guards in this league is that you can be a 5-foot-9 pit bull or a methodical 6-foot-7 jump-shooter, and still succeed in your own way.

C. J. McCollum