CJ McCollum mentored Zion Williamson after joining the Pelicans by leading through example with his own routines for diet, training, and recovery. He built trust gradually through casual conversations about injuries and rehab, then offered specific advice when Zion was ready to hear it.
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Coming in as a leader of this team, when you're traded to the team, Zion, I think at that time was hurt, missing the entire season last year. And struggling with weight, you know, the reports are coming out that he's struggling on weight. You know, they, somebody catch a picture every now and then, he looked a little heavier. And you know, he's having knee injuries, foot injuries, which I'm not necessarily gonna say being overweight at that time was what did it, but it definitely didn't help it. And, you know, coming in there and understanding that number one, this is number one pick. Number two, generational talent, but could possibly struggle with weight issues. Did you take on that challenge in coming in there to say, I have to do what I need to do to teach this second year guy who's a superstar making hundreds of millions of dollars already, but I need to teach him about diet. I need to teach him about taking care of his body. I need to teach him these things. So that he can be available on the floor. Was that something that you had to take on in going to New Orleans with such a young team, especially with a young guy like Zion?
That was something that I was surely gonna take on, but I didn't force it, right? Like, I didn't wanna be the old head that preaches 'cause I know what that looks like, right? You know how it's like when every time you see somebody telling you about what it was like back in they day and it's like, I didn't wanna be that guy. I was more like show first, then I tell. So it was like, I ain't gonna say nothing. I'mma read the room. I don't really know these guys like that. I know 'em from afar. But I'm gonna just work how I work, do what I do, eat what I eat. I show up at the same time. I work out at these times. I get my body worked on at these times. And they gonna see what a real professional looks like. And then once they see that, like, okay, this is how CJ is. CJ's very blunt. CJ's very honest. CJ's— he's himself yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He see something he don't like, he speak on it. Sometimes he don't say nothing. Sometimes I say too much. It's like— Yeah. They was gonna be able to get, get to know me better. We was gonna go out to eat first. We did all that stuff before I started trying to preach. It's like, nah, I, I came here and I said it from day one. I said, look man, I've been in the playoffs 8 straight years. It's gonna be 9. And we not in no position to make the playoffs at this point. Right? Like I said, look, I work a certain type of way. I love this game. I'm gonna give everything I got to this game and then I'm gonna walk away from it. I want y'all to challenge me. I want y'all to coach me. I don't care if you start or if you're the last guy on the bench. If you see I'm not doing something right, you tell me. If I'm not running the play right, 'cause I don't run none of the plays. You tell me, you help me. And that's kind of how I get down. I'm gonna challenge y'all and I want y'all to challenge me. And I sat down and I think that changed the perception of what they thought about me because I'm sure they had this idea what I was like as the president, all of that stuff. And then they was like, okay, like CJ, he's, first of all, he got real game. But second of all, like he talks when he needs to talk.
Real dude.
Yeah, he keep it 100 with me. He not gonna sugarcoat nothing. If I see something I don't like, I'm gonna tell him. I'm changing stuff within the organization that I may not like or may not think is, what we should have. And I'm saying stuff and then I'm delivering. It's not like I don't just make up stuff. Like Z's gone on record saying like, "TJ got somebody for everything." Like I do.
Mm-hmm.
And I'm not, I don't just make it up. Like I really look out for people and make sure that they smooth. And in this case, our lockers right beside each other, sit beside each other on the bus. He comes back to the team, we start talking and I'm just getting to know him on like a, Surface level, right? Like, I broke my foot 3 times.
Mm-hmm.
What surgeon did you use? Like, just general stuff. Like, how's your rehab going? What you doing? What phase you in now? Did you do this? Did you do that? It's like, I can relate. I've been there. I did it 3 times, dog. Like, I know what you're going through mentally. Do you got a therapist? Like, how's your day-to-day? Like, how you structuring your days now that you're not playing? Like, do you have a routine? So I'm just hitting him with just like general. I'm not, I'm not, I'm not telling them what to do. I'm seeing what you're doing. And then as it progresses, then I get more comfortable. We get more comfortable. Now I'm like, this is what I think you should be doing. It's your life. Like I always tell 'em like, I don't need nothing from none of y'all. I'm not bragging.
Mm-hmm.
I done signed 3 deals. Like I make good money. I make good money off the court. Like I don't, I do this 'cause I want to, not 'cause I have to. I want to get the best outta you. I wanna get the best outta you. I want all y'all to make as much money as y'all supposed to. I'm maximizing what CJ McCollum is supposed to be in all phases of life. I want you to maximize what you're supposed to be. And your ceiling is a lot higher than a lot of ours. So I just want you to get there is all I'm saying. And I don't need no bread from you. I don't need nothing. I just want you to be available. And I want to see you be able to say that when you— when you done, CJ kept it a buck with me. He gave me a lot of gems. I took them with me. And I took my talent and I ran with it. And I think now he's doing that. Obviously, he's got a little injury right now. Mm-hmm. But they all work. And that's what I love to see. Like, win or lose, whatever. Do you work? Do you care? Do you apply yourself? Are you maximizing your days? And this is one of the best organizations in terms of fun. Like, they make the game fun. And that's what I love to be around. The locker room is fun. The flights is fun. Like, you really, really get down with these guys. And we not really faking the funk. Like, we really mess with each other.
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