Kobe Bryant: 'It seems to be a breakout year for' C.J. McCollum

Kobe Bryant is an oxymoron: an honest professional athlete. So when he says something positive about a young opposing player, there's no need to take it with a grain of salt. 

Here's what he recently said to the Portland Tribune about Portland Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum:

Bryant is having one of the worst seasons of his entire career, while McCollum is indeed experiencing a breakout campaign. The third-year guard is averaging 20.4 points on 45.9 percent shooting (and nearly 40 percent from behind the three-point line). 

With career highs across the board, it's fun to imagine what the 24-year-old will look like a year from now. 

(h/t: Blazer's Edge)