CJ McCollum thinks that Zion Williamson listens to him.

Williamson’s name has come up in trade rumors this week ahead of the 2023 NBA Draft, and scorned apparent ex-lover Moriah Mills has gone on a weeks-long tirade about him after he participated in a gender reveal party with another woman.

In the same timeframe, NBA insider Brian Windhorst said that Williamson does not have a bond with his Pelicans teammates.

“It’s surprising to me how out there it is in the league that the Pelicans are discussing Zion business,” Windhorst said earlier this week. “I wouldn’t rule out anything I guess, but the events of the last six months with Zion are what they are. There is no relationship between Zion and the organization. And minimal relationship between Zion and his teammates, from what I understand.”

McCollum appeared on Ryen Russillo’s podcast on The Ringer and was asked if Williamson listens to him.

“I think that he does,” McCollum said, as covered by The Spun. “That’s a really good question. From a respect standpoint, he respects my approach, he respects my résumé.”

McCollum said that he is respected across the league as a winner, and as someone who plays the game “the right way,” and said that he believes Williamson respects his honesty and bluntness.

“I’ve never said anything to the public that I haven’t said behind closed doors to him directly, and the things that I say to him directly are not sugarcoated the way I would to the media or to you in a conversation,” McCollum continued.

“We’re very close and we very much so communicate often more than the public eye would understand,” he added. “If you asked him, he would say absolutely.”

Williamson played in just 29 games this past season after missing all of last season with a foot injury.