Sandwiched inbetween mandatory media obligations and competing in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge and Foot Locker Three-Point Shootout, Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum sat on a discussion panel at the OVO Summit during All-Star Weekend in Toronto. In conjunction with rapper Drake's OVO Fest and NBA Cares, the OVO Summit provided an educational platform for aspiring young people to connect with industry leaders and professionals (think TED Talks, but on a smaller scale).

McCollum, the odds-on favorite for the NBA's Most Improved Player award, spoke to students about channeling motivation, time management, reputation awareness and defying the odds, as transcribed by Green Label.

On the juxtoposition of excelling at a small college:

"Every school in Ohio refused to play us after my sophomore year, because I had 42 against Kent State." "I’m from Ohio so I wanted to play every school in Ohio that didn’t recruit me and get 50."

On the NBA scouting process:

"They talk to the current coaches, they talk to the athletics directors, and they reach out to professors; they’re doing their own background checks to see exactly what type of person you are and how you act when no one’s watching. They’re going to give you millions of dollars, so they want to know if you’re going to blow it"

On the long-term approach to signing endorsements and getting involved off the court:

"I do this so I don’t have to think about my next move in life. I don’t have to think about my career afterward because it’s all going to fall into place ... my preparation is flawless"

You can read the full Q & A, written by Gregston Hurdle, here.