NBA: Hawks’ CJ McCollum made it work during a “storm”

ATLANTA — Severe weather has become one of the few reasons NBA games are rescheduled in today’s tightly organized league. Aside from extraordinary circumstances like the ongoing protests in Minnesota, NBA players typically thrive on strict routines. On Sunday afternoon, the league announced multiple schedule changes after a powerful winter storm created hazardous travel conditions across large parts of the United States. Games in Memphis and Milwaukee were postponed Sunday, while matchups in Atlanta and Charlotte slated for Monday were moved to earlier tip-off times.

CJ McCollum drives the ball during an NBA game between the Indiana Pacers versus the Atlanta Hawks on January 26, 2026 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/BlackPressUSA)

For newly acquired Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum, the adjustment came quickly. The Hawks’ game was shifted six hours earlier—from a 7:30 p.m. start to a 1:30 p.m. matinee—forcing McCollum to rework his entire day on short notice. After scoring 23 points in Atlanta’s 132–116 win over the Indiana Pacers, McCollum explained how the abrupt change disrupted his usual routine.

“I had to tweak my schedule a bit,” McCollum said. “We ended up staying in a hotel, which felt strange—packing up from one place just to move to another. I made sure to see my guy for some table work the night before, just to keep my body loose. Normally, I try to get eight hours of sleep, watch a little His and Hers on Netflix, wake up, and then go hoop.”

Despite the unexpected timing, nearly 7,000 fans flocked to State Farm Arena to catch the rare afternoon game. Even with a strong performance, McCollum admitted that sudden changes don’t come easily to him.

“I’m not a fan of change,” he said. “I struggle with it like anyone else. That said, early games do have their benefits. Once the game’s over, you still have the rest of the day. I can go look at houses and handle personal stuff. With a 7:30 game, you’re basically waiting around all day. So I do enjoy early tip-offs—I just wish they were planned that way from the start.”

McCollum emphasized that uncertainty is the hardest part. Knowing the schedule in advance helps players mentally and physically prepare.

“If you tell me the game is at noon or one o’clock, just lock it in,” he explained. “Mentally, it changes everything—how you structure your day, how you eat the night before, even when you eat breakfast. At this point in my career, I’m very detail-oriented. I have to adjust everything depending on whether I’m playing at 1:30 or 7:30.”