NBA TODAY | CJ McCollum warns Timberwolves should be viewed as favorites in Western Conference

NBA TODAY | CJ McCollum warns Timberwolves should be viewed as favorites in Western Conference

In the west who are heading into the All-Star break on a four-game winning streak we’re talking about the Minnesota Timberwolves who had a 30-point lead in the first quarter round up beating the Trailblazers 12 12891 that’s tied for their largest Road win in franchise history of course Anthony Edwards he

Scored 34 points to lead seven wolves who scored in double figures here so the Timberwolves they’ve been in the NBA for 35 Seasons this is the first time they enter the All-Star break leading the Western conference that’s pretty remarkable they’re led by Anthony Edwards Carl Anthony towns the Wolves

They have multiple players selected to the allstar game for the first time since 2018 so CJ you’ve matched up against every single team in the Western Conference has Minnesota been the best team that you have faced no I think um Minnesota’s a great team I think they play extremely well great homec court

Advantage a lot of young talent but in terms of matchups for us I don’t don’t feel like they’ve been the toughest team to match up against I think uh we had more trouble with the Clippers we had more trouble with the Suns we had more trouble with Denver in terms of matchups

And um just uh our lack of ability to execute um throughout an entire game um but I think they’re a really good team I think a lot of teams respect them a lot of players respect them and what they’ve been able to do from a body of work

Standpoint but if I’m just answering your question it’s it’s it’s obvious say you just so you you saying you won’t smoke with them in the playoffs that’s what you’re saying I’m saying there’s not a lot teams that want to play a healthy version of the New Orleans Pelicans including them oh okay okay

That’s hey look hey look that’s what I like to hear but listen when it comes down am I lying huh am I lying no you’re not lying I was telling you this I was on my little toy you lucky I’m toring between the two of saying whether or not

You guys are my sleepers to come out of the west or the Minnesota timberwoods I how sleeper be the number one yeah but but because no one believes in them even Vegas right they’re not a fake they’re not no one They’re not a favorite but I do believe this right I do believe from what they’re shown us that they arguably have one of the best starting fives in the game when I think about they they’re the only team that has beating every single Contender out there they beat the they

Beat the Milwaukee Bucks they beat the Denver Nuggets they beat the Boston Celtics they didn’t beat the Clippers matter of fact they own the Clippers so I’m looking at this young team l by Anthony Edwards and you know the thing that sticks out to me the most is his

Leadership right and we I said this before CJ Jimmy Butler couldn’t pull what Anthony Edwards is pulling out a call Anthony towns right now on both ends of the floor Donovan Mitchell couldn’t pull with Anthony Edward is pulling out of Rudy gobert right now they’re the number one defensive team in

The league they’re playing with a dog and killer mentality and it’s led by this young and upcoming Superstar and Anthony Edwards that has an old soul we don’t see that a lot around the league yeah but I think Anthony Edwards would be the first person to say that it feels

Like cat brings out the best in him he brings out the best in cat leadership though you you know what I’m saying sometimes you got to put the key in their back it seems like everybody it’s everything I’m just thinking about the conversations that we’ve had today in

Terms of leadership and bringing out the best in your teammates and so are you ready to talk about bringing out the best in your teammates cuz that’s do it I want to take a little bit look of the bigger picture thank you I appreciate that CJ of the of the western conference

Right now because really there are six teams when we take a look at the top here the Celtics they have a sizable lead for the top seat in the East but the West the top four teams they’re kind of bunched up the Suns your Pelicans they have the same records in the five

And six Bots the Suns right now hold the tiebreaker but you play them a couple bit of more times you guys won seven of your last eight games to get that tie with Phoenix for the fifth spot that’s despite Zion Williamson struggling a little bit of times averaging career

Lows in points and rebounds but how important is he the growth you’ve seen from him in other ways we were talking about this before it really impressed me yeah I think you got to throw the stats out the window uh for us in the beginning of the season was about health

It’s about availability and US figuring out how to play together consistently as a group by group I mean myself Brandon Ingram Z we only played 10 games together last year as a team so practices chemistry execution spacing understanding where guys like the ball that down stretch of games like all

Those things are important but you have to play in games to see that from a growth standpoint what I like most about what I’m seeing from zbi and our team in general is the accountability we’re able to have with each other we’re able to be more vocal we’re able to have those

Dinners those hard conversations that uh to curse you out moments where you need to curse somebody out and the the moments where we’re not calling you out we’re calling you up I think that’s a part of it and the second part as a father of two now you see growth you see

Maturity in Z how he approaches the game understanding the importance of life outside of basketball bball understand that this game is really important and you have mega star Mega Superstar talent but it’s about how you approach the game it’s about the little habits and we talked about stacking days he’s been

Stacking his days getting his extra conditioning in eating properly sleeping properly we talked about the importance of him being available later in the season he’s doing those things and I say throw the stats out at the beginning because we were figuring out how to utilize this roster how to utilize this

Team and his uses was low his uses is starting to pick up his conditioning is getting better we’re winning games and now he ticking up at the right time in terms of body fat in terms of conditioning in terms of how he’s being used in terms of minutes he’s playing

Back to backs now and I think the accountability is there the understanding of his greatness is there and what he can do for not only himself but for our team in the city of New but I think I think CJ he has no choice but because you’re true you’re you’re the

True definition of a leader and and a true professional I’m watching The Kid Murphy he’s in great shape Jose we know what he he brings to the table bi brings it every night so if Zion don’t follow the lead he’s going to poke out like a

Sord thumb here’s my thing I know how bad y’all want it for him but how bad do Zion want it for Zion and my thing is like does he care about being great does he care that Zion Williamson is not here in Indianapolis right now as an Allstar

Like do Zion Williamson care about these I think in past years I wouldn’t have been sure how to answer on National Television but I think I can say with absolute certainty that his actions have demonstrated that he cares his actions the work the consistency I asked him

What he was doing during the break we talked about five games and seven days that we have coming out of this a back to back and we talked about how we have a gap of six games in about 14 or 15 days shout out to the schedule Gods

We’re excited about that but he said I got treatment in the morning I have a lift with my stepfather I got some on court work and then I got my tea time schedule you’re talking about a guy that’s locked in and understanding that you get your work in first and then you

Figure out what’s your version of healthy happy play and for him it’s golf for him it’s it’s his way to get away but I’m excited about seeing what everybody does bi this is a guy who’s been great throughout the year we’ve seen what he did in the playoffs two

Years ago when we got in there Trey getting into Rhythm JV is always available herb herb is shooting 40 over 40 from three in his last 70 career games he’s shooting like 50 since December 1st um obviously I’m still here I’m still going to do what I do U but I

Think our team is built to succeed as long as we’re healthy and I’m excited to see what happens going forward shout out to my guy n Marshall too man playing well and Dyson I hope you get healthy man um and and get back out there soon that’s awesome thank you so much for

Sharing all of that with us that kind of rare insight into your team we really appreciate that and we look forward to your match up AO we have so much fun sitting and watching you I hope the other game you had 10 blocks against the Toronto

Raptors do you have a favorite moment of your career so so far um yeah I mean the first triple double was pretty nice you know but um I I’ve had plenty honestly this is why it’s it’s a it’s a good season you know you were looked like you

Were hunting that 10th block it was like you were waiting for it you were tracking it you were is that what was happening yeah of course of course like I me this is this is what I got to be all the time you know tracking and being like a

Shark this SP is the like we call it the Batman I’m trying to be the Batman is like covering everybody’s back you know the Batman yeah the Batman like Batman like Batman like exactly like pointy ears and pointy ears and everything voice yeah when was the last time it feels like every time

We see you on the basketball floor there’s something that we’ve never seen before but when was the last time you surprised yourself last time I surprised myself I would say it’s you know um when on the the Sham God I did it’s uh uh so I’ve been

Working on it but uh I was like I was surprised that I could apply it in game and recognize the situation so quick cuz I have I had like I had no hesitation did you watch back the Highlight yeah of course were you and you looked back and

You said all right I’m pretty good actually what I said was yeah I should have dun that I was trying to but the momentum was a little bit High let’s talk about your three-point shooting because over your last 14 games you’re shooting near 40% from three is that

Something you’ve put a specific effort on can you shed some light on that yeah um I mean it’s one of the aspects I want to get better of course I think what’s changed is the the shot selection and also the the Rhythm in my shots cuz what’s hard what’s hard for me and

What’s been hard you know long arms long segments you know if I catch the ball and I’m standing up and I’m not ready you know I I won’t make this shot like this is I need momentum and if I’m not so this is why I’m I’m pretty good when

I’m dribbling the ball you know pull it through Ser but if I get to create my momentum Myself by being legs bent and ready to shoot you know in Rhythm when you came into the league you were talked about as the best Prospect in NBA history is that something you want to be

Called is that something that you think about yes and no because it’s a prospect what’s a prospect it’s not really something it’s something that’s about to become real you know so it’s not like um it’s not like a like a contest like a winning a championship or something

Being the first overall pick was a an achievement and I’m glad you know nobody’s gonna take that away from me it’s on my resume now but being the best Prospect is it’s like it’s not really it’s not really a thing so doesn’t matter really I’m

Trying to be the best uh in the league now not in the imaginary of people I have the potential to to be the best so I want to fulfill it what single player do you face now that you’ve faced something of the greats that brings the

Best out of you you get this opponent you’re like yeah I know I’m raising my game I mean Kevin Durant you know playing against him was I did feel special and um I mean yeah you can just see I mean this is he’s been the player

I’ve studied the most over the years so it’s it was just incredible to play against him do you have a biggest rival yet I don’t have no I don’t have any rival there’s always the guys who want to dunk on me and who want destroy me you know in the opponent team

And this is so this is what I like to emphasize in in my head you know to to make my survival Instinct I mean I feel like I’ve got to feel threatened a little bit on the court to bring the best you told me that winning rookie of the

Year it will come when you do the right things you’re focusing on doing the right things on the floor and you just have this belief that you will be rewarded for that do you care about winning Rookie of the Year yeah I do because it’s uh yeah like you said it’s

Uh I mean I’m I’m convinced the best way for me to have my team reach the best Heights is by being a good individual player you know um so uh of course it’s h it would be a a byproduct of of our team progress and also individual progress throughout the year and growth

So it’s uh it is something I care about you’ve come in with the face mask a couple different times this season is that going to be the signature look that we’re going to start to see from you I don’t know I mean it’s just it’s just time you know but it might happen

Again but I think every time I’ve worn a face mask I went crazy so might want to do it on special occasions well it’s not just when he’s wearing the face mask over the last 30 Seasons Victor is just one of four players to put up numbers like this and

The other three they’re all MVPs and Hall of Famers but he’s not alone in the race for rookie the year I also caught up with OKC’s Chad Homen this morning to talk about the award oh you was everywhere how much would it mean to win

Rookie of the Year to you you know it mean a lot to me personally just knowing uh you know how much work I’ve put into everything uh just getting back healthy getting back on the court um you know it’d be extremely cool for sure two Marquee rookies having great

Seasons Victor has the advantage in all the major statistical categories but Che is headed to the playoffs almost certainly the Thunder are the second seat in the west so that was one of the things I wanted to know from Chad is does winning matter in this award and he

Says yeah you know what it is wanyama is the favorite to win rookie of the year but there’s a whole lot to consider here perk who do you have giving the edge here it’s Victor I mean and winning does matter to a certain extent but it’s the Personnel that’s around you right’s

Making a face I’m just saying like Victor had to deal with Sohan playing the point guard the first part of the Season man I mean come on now let’s be real but what he’s doing right now on both ends of the of the floor leading the league and block shots I mean he’s

Doing it he just had a damn triple double with blocks I’m not taking anything away from chadol GRE but he has a MVP candidate on his team in SGA a guy that could another guy in Jaylen Williams that could possibly win Rook of the Year Victor is doing this all by

Himself right now and he’s are just ridiculous all by see he’s got the memo of the show already youve actually played against Victor like you’re the you’re the one person that we have had you know as an analyst on the show who can speak from that perspective as well they’re both

Special talents in their own right let’s just start with that Chad’s an incredible player playing on a really good team utilized in a completely different manner whereas he’d probably be able to put up 20 and 10 on a on a different type of team so let’s just

Start with that but typ of team was a nice way to put that different type of team but for Victor you look at the skill set the versatility obviously the ability to shoot off the bounce block shots protect the rim footwork um him coming from Europe has I think giving

Him a leg up on the competition in terms of ability to process basketball understanding how to be a professional how to take care of his body all of those things but I think the cool part about his game is that he hasn’t really learned how to play the NBA game yet at

A high level in terms of understanding angles understanding the schedule understanding referees how they’re going to call games how he’s going to be guarded he’s still learning the NBA game because he’s played in Europe throughout his entire career so I think the heights that he can reach are unlike anything

We’ve probably ever seen I think we talked about it as a Team MVP defensive player year he’ll probably have multiples of both at some point if he continues to grow at this level while staying healthy and putting together um consecutive seasons of Excellence I don’t see that can happen who’s your

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NBA TODAY | CJ McCollum warns Timberwolves should be viewed as favorites in Western Conference