Credit: Todd Kirkland/Photo By Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images

CJ McCollum drops ‘filthy’ response to Kevin Durant on Golden State Warriors accusation, ‘I wish…’

Originally posted on NBA Analysis Network
By Aikansh Chaudhary | Last updated Jun 26, 2025 5:42 PM ET

Kevin Durant joining the Golden State Warriors in 2016 ultimately led to new amendments in the NBA’s salary cap.

After all, the single-year salary cap increase led to the formation of the Golden State Warriors‘ dynasty in 2016. For reference, the NBA salary cap jumped from $70 million to $94.1 million.

This helped the Dubs in adding Kevin Durant to a team that had won a record 73 games in the regular season. Evidently, a change was needed, and it happened in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement that took effect with the 2023-24 NBA season.

The new CBA has stricter luxury tax implications with the second apron. This may have stopped teams from forming superteams like the Warriors dynasty, but it also has negative implications.

How the Boston Celtics traded Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis is a perfect example of this, as the team wanted to avoid paying massive taxes. Speaking of the situation, many blame CJ McCollum for how things have turned out.

Photo by Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images

CJ McCollum claps back at fan for accusing him of ruining free agency

With the new CBA in effect, it’s indeed tough for teams to hold on to their free agents, as teams do not want to pay hefty luxury taxes.

While this maintains better parity in the league, many fans are angry to see their favorite players leave the franchise for this reason.

One NBA fan on X blamed NBPA president CJ McCollum for this, stating: “It’s not talked about enough how CJ McCollum ruined the NBA free agency market because he was mad KD went to the Warriors.”

The tweet reached the veteran guard, and he berated the fan for making that ‘filthy statement.’

“Thinking I have enough power to do that is crazy work lol. Filthy statement and even nastier to tag me in it. I wish you the best, though. Whatever it is you do for a living,” McCollum wrote in response.

There’s no doubt that McCollum alone didn’t convince the league to sign the new CBA. But since he is the president of the NBPA, he will always face the wrath of fans.

CJ McCollum gets traded to the Washington Wizards

Photo by Derick E. Hingle/Getty Images

Prior to his clap back at the fan, McCollum had already made headlines, but for a different reason. The reason is that the New Orleans Pelicans traded CJ to the Washington Wizards.

McCollum will start a new chapter in Washington, one where there’s barely any pressure to win the NBA Championship, at least for now.

The trade may have been shocking for fans, but it seems like McCollum predicted this months before the actual move went down.

This article first appeared on NBA Analysis Network and was syndicated with permission.

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