Mar 11, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) blows a kiss after a three-point basket against the Los Angeles Clippers during the fourth quarter at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

NBA Fans Upset at CJ McCollum's Statement on New CBA

Originally posted on New Orleans Pelicans on SI
By Logan Struck | Last updated Jul 25, 2025 3:23 PM ET

The New Orleans Pelicans recently traded star guard CJ McCollum to the Washington Wizards in a huge deal that landed them Jordan Poole and Saddiq Bey. The 33-year-old guard is starting a new chapter of his career in the nation's capital, and he also made another huge change off the court.

In 2021, McCollum was elected president of the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) after three years of serving as a vice president, but his tenure with the committee has come to an end. McCollum spent his entire tenure with the Pelicans as the president of the NBPA, but his three-year term has ended, and Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet has taken his place.

Houston Rockets guard Fred VanVleet has been elected as the new President of the National Basketball Players Association, succeeding CJ McCollum, sources tell ESPN. VanVleet begins a four-year term as the next NBPA leader. pic.twitter.com/Ghl3kcjg3m
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 12, 2025

The most significant thing that McCollum did as president of the NBPA was to work through the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which has completely altered the league and how rosters are constructed financially. McCollum has received plenty of hate from fans for being "in charge" of the new CBA, as it has certainly caused some commotion around the league.

Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

McCollum recently joined The Young Man And The Three podcast, and talked about the new CBA.

"You shouldn't be punished for drafting well," McCollum said. "...You should be able to pay and keep and retain the players that you've drafted. And when you have a window where you really have a chance to compete and win a championship, you shouldn't have such severe restrictions."

"You shouldn't be punished for drafting well." -- Former NBAPA president CJ McCollum discusses the implications of the new CBA and things that need to change pic.twitter.com/mIEtGJbbyq
— TheYoungManAndTheThree (@OldManAndThree) July 25, 2025

The new CBA has made it much harder for NBA teams to pay and retain all of their good players without being punished, and fans were quick to call out McCollum after his comments about the agreement that he played a huge part in.

"Should blame the guy who negotiated the last CBA," one fan said.

"You’re the one that ruined the league," another fan harshly replied.

"So…why did you structure this in a way that punishes teams for drafting well?" a fan questioned.

"Right message….wrong messenger," one fan commented.

This article first appeared on New Orleans Pelicans on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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