CJ McCollum Rejects ‘Villain' Label After Hawks Upset Knicks

The New York Knicks held a 91-79 lead over the Atlanta Hawks entering the fourth quarter in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series on Monday night.

Then, CJ McCollum happened.

The Hawks traded All-Star guard Trae Young, formerly the Knicks’ worst nightmare, to the Washington Wizards in exchange for McCollum and Corey Kispert in January. It’s only fitting that the Young trade positioned McCollum to haunt the Knicks.

Madison Square Garden swelled with an obscene chant directed at McCollum earlier in the game, and he made sure they hated him by the end of the game.

McCollum’s back-to-back buckets put the Hawks up 103-100 with 93 seconds to go. Knicks All-Star point guard Jalen Brunson responded with a three-pointer to tie it, but McCollum sank a jump shot to give Atlanta the lead again.

The Hawks held on to complete the comeback, winning 107-106 and evening the series 1-1. McCollum finished with a game-high 32 points.

The first question McCollum fielded in his postgame press conference was about his performance playing into “a villain status.”

McCollum didn’t hesitate: “I ain’t no villain. I’m a nice guy with two kids and a wife. I think it’s admiration. Great, passionate fans in a really hostile environment. It’s fun. It’s basketball. It’s the playoffs. If anything, I think it’s a sign of respect.”

McCollum’s response echoed what Young used to say about being viewed as a villain by Knicks fans.

In May 2021, as the Hawks took out the Knicks in the first round, Young also called it a sign of respect, per the New York Post.

In December 2024, Young said, “I don’t like being a villain. I don’t like being that way or that target, but if that’s what it needs to be, that’s what it’s got to be. That’s not like who I want to be or who I am in any way. I don’t think I turn myself into a villain; I feel like people turn me into a villain.”

McCollum won’t have to worry about furious Knicks fans again until Game 5. The Hawks will host the Knicks at State Farm Arena in Atlanta for Games 3 and 4 on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.

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This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 8:32 PM.