When CJ McCollum takes the court against the Warriors on Thursday night, his every move will be monitored and then catalogued. The in-and-out dribble. The shoulder fake. The step-through and the step-back. The game itself will be broadcast live to a national audience, but McCollum’s best maneuvers will be clipped, packaged, and sent around the league, specifically to players who mean to steal from him.
Welcome to the basketball development complex, where the NBA’s copycat sensibilities extend to the most granular level. Over the years, McCollum has become a sort of teaching aid for coaches and trainers everywhere.