Hawks Extend CJ McCollum, Solidifying Veteran Leadership for the Future

The Atlanta Hawks are keeping one of their most important veteran voices in the fold.

The team announced Monday that it has signed veteran guard CJ McCollum to a contract extension. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The move comes just months after Atlanta acquired McCollum from the Washington Wizards on Jan. 9, 2026, and it signals the organization’s belief in both his production on the court and leadership off it.

McCollum quickly became a stabilizing force for the Hawks after arriving in Atlanta. In 41 games with the franchise, including 25 starts, the 13-year veteran averaged 18.7 points, 4.1 assists, and 3.1 rebounds in 28.8 minutes per game.

More importantly, he helped the Hawks win.

Atlanta posted a 27-14 record with McCollum in the lineup and went an impressive 19-6 when he was in the starting lineup.

His impact extended into the postseason, where he started all six games in Atlanta’s first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks. McCollum averaged 19.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists while delivering two of the most memorable moments of the Hawks’ season.

The veteran guard hit game-winning shots in both Game 2 and Game 3 against New York, becoming just the second player since at least the 1997-98 season to score the game-winning basket in the final 60 seconds of consecutive playoff games, according to Elias Sports.

For a Hawks team looking to build on its return to the playoffs, McCollum’s presence provides valuable continuity.

During the 2025-26 campaign, McCollum appeared in 76 games between Washington and Atlanta, averaging 18.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists. His 76 appearances marked his highest games-played total since the 2017-18 season, when he suited up 81 times.

Selected 10th overall by Portland in the 2013 NBA Draft, McCollum has built one of the league’s most consistent careers. Across stops with Portland, New Orleans, Washington, and Atlanta, he has appeared in 863 career games, averaging 19.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while shooting 45.3 percent from the field and 39.5 percent from beyond the arc.

The Lehigh University product has also established himself as one of the NBA’s elite long-range shooters.

McCollum’s 2,180 career three-pointers rank 16th all-time in NBA history. He is one of only seven players in league history to make at least 2,000 three-pointers while shooting 39.5 percent or better from deep, joining an exclusive group that includes Ray Allen, Stephen Curry, Buddy Hield, Kyle Korver, Reggie Miller, and Klay Thompson.

As Hawks President of Basketball Operations Onsi Saleh emphasized during his pre-draft availability, Atlanta is focused on continuity, player development, and building a championship contender the right way.

Bringing McCollum back is another step in that process.

For a young Hawks core featuring Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu, Zaccharie Risacher, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker, having a proven veteran who has seen nearly every situation the NBA can offer remains invaluable.

And now, Atlanta knows CJ McCollum will continue helping lead that journey.

With McCollum’s extension complete, the Hawks turn their attention to the 2026 NBA Draft, where Atlanta currently holds the No. 8, No. 23, and No. 57 selections.

If the Hawks are serious about taking the next step in the Eastern Conference, keeping one of their most trusted veterans around was a strong place to start.

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