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This dude wants to play well w/ Zion and the feelings seem to be mutual (I'm going from what I read in the article)...
CJ McCollum has been preparing for this new role his entire career
CJ McCollum never missed a postseason alongside Damian Lillard in Portland. Now, he's trying to reach the playoffs as the veteran leader of a Pelicans team without its young superstar.
www.espn.com
ON A RECENT four-game, seven-day West Coast road trip, the Pelicans had multiple team dinners, including one at an Italian spot close to their hotel in Los Angeles and a steakhouse in Sacramento. But it wasn't the location that mattered; it was the seating arrangement.
At both, McCollum was seated next to Zion Williamson, who had been away from the team when McCollum arrived in New Orleans while he recovered from a season-long foot injury. The two talked for hours, joking, bonding with one another, a duo the team hopes can be foundational for years to come.
"You give us another dynamic rolling finisher. You give us a player who can make plays off the dribble who is also selfless who also wants to win," says Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin. "It's exciting to think about what they can achieve together because their mentalities fit each other really well."
When the season ends, McCollum says he plans on going over to Williamson's house to get to know him even better, and doing the same thing with other teammates. He'll also set up meetings for the team in Las Vegas during Summer League, he says.