CJ McCollum explains the difference between a good and a great NBA player: "I've seen LeBron ice in the club" originally appeared on Basketball Network .
Every player who makes it to the NBA may not always get the chance to showcase their full potential on the biggest stage, but that doesn't mean they lack talent. On the contrary, just getting drafted or signed means they're already among the best out of thousands chasing the same dream. Every player who enters the league does so with hopes of not just being good, but of becoming great. Unfortunately, not all of them reach that next level.
That's exactly what CJ McCollum recently addressed while explaining what separates the great from the good. CJ named two players — LeBron James and Kobe Bryant — not just as legends of the game, but as perfect examples of what it truly takes to reach the very top.
"There's a lot of good players in the league. But the great ones? The difference between the great ones is consistency over long periods of time, right? Excellence at a high level, whether that's shot making, defense, being in shape, taking care of your body. The great ones are willing to sacrifice more than the good ones," McCollum said . "By sacrifice, I mean it takes a lot to be great: discipline, it takes a lot of time away from your family."
It's evident that season after season, for more than two decades now, James has been in contention for individual awards and All-NBA selections, so naturally, anybody would switch places with him in an instant. But McCollum emphasized the sacrifices behind the scenes, relentless self-discipline when the world is enjoying, hours of ruthless training, and missing important dates with family, which have truly enabled Bron to unlock such greatness. While King James may arguably be the GOAT, it's the grind and sacrifice that no one will ever look upon.
The same goes for Bryant. Over the years, several former players have shared stories about his resistance to losing and his determination to practice hours before the other players arrived in the gym. So, for McCollum, it gave him an idea of the kind of "mental psyche" that Kobe always knew he had to give in order to rise above the rest.
Thus, CJ used these examples to illustrate a hard truth — greatness doesn't come from just raw talent or flashy moments — in fact, it's built on years of sacrifice, obsession with improvement, and an unrelenting drive to stay ahead. Legends like Kobe and LeBron didn't stop pushing themselves after winning titles or achieving stardom. In fact, once they reached the top, they went even harder to stay there.
"Look at LeBron… Mario Chalmers told a story about LeBron icing in the club. I've seen LeBron ice in the club. I've seen it. There's a different level of dedication that it takes to be successful. The great ones will do whatever it takes," McCollum continued. "So, I would say, good players like me have skills, but there's like another level mentally that you have to kick it, tap into. I worked with K, I worked out with Bron, the lock-in is crazy. The ability to switch is unlike anything you've ever seen. Like Kobe, he had an aura and a psycho mentality of just obsessive behavior when it came to preparation and sport. He was just infatuated with being great."
Perhaps that is the biggest message for today's stars. Most may not be motivated enough after earning millions in their early 20s, but if they genuinely have the gene of greatness inside them, their mindset would just be to grind every day. Stardom may come soon, but true greatness only comes through sheer inadvertent sacrifice.
One may have elite natural talent, but nothing can make them great if they don't have the passion and obsession to be a beast.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
