Feb 4, 2020; Denver, Colorado, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward Carmelo Anthony (00) celebrates with guard CJ McCollum (3) after scoring against the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

CJ McCollum shared his thoughts on Carmelo Anthony coming off the bench for the Portland Trail Blazers this season.

McCollum said he admires the way Anthony has handled his role change.

“I think there’s a misconception of who he is and who he stands for as a person. I think at this stage in his career obviously he’s more than capable of being a starter but he’s trying to figure out what’s best for the team.

What’s best for us to make a run and I think that shows his maturity and how he’s kind of progressed as a player and how he’s comfortable with his legacy and what he’s been able to accomplish.

There’s no doubt he’s a Hall-of-Famer but I think his willingness to do that just shows that he’s extremely mature and is in a different phase of life in terms of his mentality and what he’s thinking,” McCollum said of Anthony, via Dylan Mickanen of NBC Sports.

Anthony averaged 15.4 points and 6.3 rebounds for the Blazers last season.