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Bob Raissman

Bob Raissman: CJ McCollum doesn’t tread lightly when going after Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s ‘First Take’

CJ McCollum ESPN NBA SAS Stephen A Smith New York

NEW YORK — From the outside looking in, it sure looks like ESPN has strengthened its already tight NBA connection.

Not only is the network paying the league a reported $2.6 billion per year in its current TV rights contract, but now is paying NBA Players Association president and current Pelicans guard CJ McCollum billions of dollars less to be an NBA “multi-platform” analyst.

If you want to perceive that ESPN has the league coming and going, go right ahead. Yet, as far as McCollum’s situation, this is no easy assignment. In college, he majored in journalism, but he may not be fully prepared for what is coming down the road.

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