CJ McCollum stated he was not surprised by the New York Knicks winning their first NBA championship in 53 years, revealing he had told teammate OG Anunoby during the first round of the playoffs that the Knicks were capable of winning the title.
"I actually told OG [Anunoby] at the free-throw line, ‘I think you guys can win the championship,’” McCollum said on SiriusXM NBA Radio. “Looking at their roster, how they were playing, meshing, and their focus and intensity, I saw a team capable of making a deep run.”
McCollum acknowledged that the entire Hawks team recognized the Knicks' strength during the series, specifically mentioning their shot-making ability and the performance of Jalen Brunson. Brunson averaged 28.4 points, 6.1 assists, and 3.2 rebounds over 19 playoff games.
During the series, McCollum became a notable figure for the Knicks' opponents. He observed that New York made effective offensive adjustments to counter the Hawks, a lesson he found valuable from the matchup. "We pushed them to the limit, I’m sure they appreciated the fact that we tested them and got them ready,” McCollum said.
He noted that some teams with significant talent can advance easily through early playoff rounds but falter when facing opponents of comparable skill. The Knicks’ path through the first round was not seamless; they lost home-court advantage in Game 2 against the Hawks at Madison Square Garden and later trailed in the series 2-1 after a clutch jumper by McCollum in Atlanta.
New York responded by making adjustments for Game 4, securing three consecutive wins that initiated their historic playoff run. The Knicks ultimately won the NBA Finals with only one loss in the final three rounds.
Charles Barkley commented on the Knicks' playoff performance before their NBA Finals victory, stating, “It’s one of the greatest runs. You have to give them their props.”
