Portland Trail Blazers star shooting guard CJ McCollum says fans can learn a lot about an NBA owner based on how they handled the coronavirus suspension.
McCollum, during an interview with David Aldridge of The Athletic, said owners not paying for employees or paying only after players did first “shows you what they’re about.”
“Looking at some of the owners who haven’t come out of pocket, or volunteered to come out of pocket until the players have, it kind of shows you what they’re about,” the Blazers star said.
“With all due respect, you’re a multi-billionaire. I never count other people’s money, but you should be in a position to either speak on it, to where you just come out and say, ‘I’m not going to do that. I don’t want to. I don’t want to pay for my employees.’ Not saying anything is saying something, in my mind. If you don’t feel that way, you should speak on it.”
McCollum has committed $170,000 to separate charities in Portland and his native Canton, OH, for COVID-19 related relief programs.
The Blazers pledged $1.4 million to the nearly 1,000 part-time employees who work game nights at Moda Center. Superstar point guard Damian Lillard donated $100,000 as well.
Some owners may not have made it public that they've paid their employees and whatnot. However, it's clear the Blazers star paid attention to how some owners were acting before their players decided to step up.
CJ and the Blazers were in ninth place in the West before the season got suspended. McCollum was averaging 22.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists on the season for the team, all while shooting 45.3 percent from the field, 38.0 percent from beyond the arc and 75.0 percent from the free-throw line.
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