Portland Trail Blazers: CJ McCollum is a surefire All-Star in 2021 CJ McCollum not worried about an All-Star nomination. You know what Im saying? [65], On December 7, 2021, McCollum was diagnosed with a pneumothorax and was ruled out indefinitely. Portland Trail Blazers, 1st round (10th pick, 10th overall), 2013 NBA Draft, More CJ McCollum pages at Sports Reference. Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum face each other for 1st time He played and started in 31 contests and shot 39.9 percent from the field. It's an undeserving slight given McCollum's career and current season. Jonas Valanciunas also missed Wednesdays game with a left calf contusion, and McCollum is playing through a thumb injury. CJ McCollumhas averaged 32.4 points, 8.1 assists and 5.3 rebounds in 8 games without Damian Lillardthis season. Learn more and register. CJ McCollum diary: 'This is happening far too often in our society Obviously, thats a tough matchup for anybody. New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (left) high-fives CJ McCollum (right) during the second half of a preseason game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on Oct. 4, 2022, in Chicago. McCollum led New Orleans in scoring with 25 points, but the team's offense floundered in the second half. McCollum looked like a bonafide All-Star before suffering a left mid-foot fracture that sidelined him for nearly two months. Vote for New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum and the rest of the team to help bring real jazz to Utah for the 2023 NBA All-Star game. I know this is something that doesnt last forever, McCollum shared after the victory. On July 27, 2016, McCollum signed a four-year contract extension with Portland. The two provided multiple avenues for which the fanbase could connect. However lively the yearly trade-deadline chatter might be, there's a reason CJ McCollum is still in Portland. The Pelicans coaching staff also showed the necessary desperation in the fourth quarter as they looked for answers to slow Lillard in the pick-and-roll. [84] During the NBA coronavirus bubble, he brought 84 bottles in with him and kept his hotel room temperature at 60F (16C) or below to protect it. [4], As a junior in the 201112 campaign, McCollum again earned Patriot League Player of the Year, as well as his third straight First Team All-Conference designation. CJ McCollum attended Glen Oak in Canton, Ohio and Lehigh. Towards the climax of that stretch, Lillard, in the middle of the 51-point game against Utah (of course), stepped to the free throw line, awaiting the ball before a familiar chant orchestrated by McCollum and Carmelo Anthony broke out: The entire arena gives Dame MVP chants after his 51-point game pic.twitter.com/kUZ4Fpv692. Just long, athletic guys all over the place. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. No Blazer had recorded numbers on par with McCollum's near triple-double in the last 29 years (Clyde Drexler posted 34 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists or more on five occasions. He deployed Herb Jones at center in small lineups for much of the fourth quarter and attempted to disrupt the Lillard pick-and-roll by throwing multiple coverages at him. However, Portland was then ousted in the second round matchup by the Golden State Warriors, going down 41; though it would come in the 125121 loss that ended the Blazers' postseason run, McCollum recorded his third 27-point game of the playoffs during Game 5.[29]. CJ McCollum averages 21.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. We were able to get to it and we liked what we saw. CJ McCollum Game by Game Stats and Performance | ESPN [19] During a first-round playoff loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Game 5, McCollum scored a then career-high of 33 points. Be sure to share some of your favorite Lillard-McCollum memories below as well. The only thing holding CJ back from being an allstar is Dame. CJ McCollum - Wikipedia CJ McCollum will be in attendance for NBA All-Star Weekend in February. [51] On December 30, he broke out of a six-game funk by hitting 13 of 18 shots in a 35-point performance as the Trail Blazers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 12995. Is CJ McCollum now the best player to never make an all-star game? Ingram's personal update explained how it would be hard to tell exactly when he'd be ready. On defense, the lead guard has snatched 13 steals and even gotten 8 blocks. I get paid like an All-Star, McCollum said. Why CJ McCollum is the most underappreciated superstar in the NBA McCollum looked like a bonafide All-Star before suffering a left mid-foot fracture that sidelined him for nearly two months. Poole has not and the Warriors still sport a 3-16 record away from home. [38] In a 122113 victory over Denver on March 28, McCollum finished with a 39-point tally. CJ McCollum shows off vision with nice pass vs. Atlanta Hawks. In celebration for those, we look back at eight-and-a-half of their greatest moments in tandem. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. What often goes forgotten in that game is that Portland, to borrow another boxing term, were very much so against the ropes, trailing 101-93 with nine minutes to play. He picked apart every coverage the Blazers threw at him and turned in one of the most efficient scoring performances of his career. 8 (428) and No. CJ McCollum questionable for Wednesday road game at Lakers Fighting merely to avoid being swept at the Moda Center, the Blazers brought pride and energy, largely through their talented guard grouping. Over that span, Lillard averaged 45.1 points, 9.6 assists, and 5.5 rebounds on 53-53-88 splits (no, there are no typos there), with the sub-.500 Blazers needing every ounce of it to keep their fledgling postseason aspirations alive. Among players to log at least 500 games, McCollum's 19.4 points per game scoring average ranks No. Right, Born: Before Wednesdays matchup, McCollum said the Pelicans were desperate for a win after losing four in a row amid an epic nosedive in the standings. The Bombs Away Game Game 2, 2019 West First Round vs. OKC. We believed in the gameplan, and it wasnt about who gets the credit. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Here are a few factors that will affect his All Star chances next season. Coaches, players, and the media already have the utmost respect for McCollum. Averaging 21.3 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game on 40% shooting from three,. Find out more. 8. Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, & Rodney Hood combined for 87 PTS as the Blazers won at home last night to force a Game 7! To close with a fun fact: from 2015-16 to 2021-22, only eight players averaged 20+ every season; McCollum and Lillard were the only duo to have done so. Off the court, McCollum has long taken a keen interest in journalism. Gabor won zero championships. Knowing that if we blitz (Lillard) with Willy and (Jaxson Hayes), what if we go with Herb at the five? Pels coach Willie Green said. In 2016, he opened up the CJ McCollum Dream Center, which is an innovative learning room at the Blazers Boys & Girls Club outfitted with new computers, books, art, and learning tools. But Brandon Ingram turned out to be the most dominant figure in Moda Center Wednesday. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. March 4, 2023, 12:40 AM. If its in Gods plan for it to happen, so be it, McCollum said. "Me knowing him the way I know him, I wanted to make sure we set the tone early.". Once Williamson and Ingram are back in the lineup, he should get more quality looks off of kick-outs. [56] In Game 3 of the Trail Blazers' second-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, McCollum matched his career playoff high with 41 points during a 140137 win in quadruple-overtime. Bleacher Report Floats Bridges, ONeale Trade to the Trail Blazers. CJ McCollum Stats, News, Bio | ESPN [7], Over his four collegiate years, McCollum added 30 pounds of muscle to fill out his frame. McCollum moved into the starting lineup for good in 2015-16, joining Lillard in the backcourt, and they teamed to lead Portland to playoff appearances each of the next five seasons, highlighted by a trip to the 2019 Western Conference finals. [72] On December 30, McCollum scored 42 points on 11 three-pointers in a 127116 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Do you have a blog? On December 27, McColllum put up 35 points to go along with 11 rebounds and 9 assists during a 9894 win over the Sacramento Kings. Watch CJ McCollum drop 40 on Spurs, help Pelicans snap four-game losing [48], Across 70 games, starting in all of them, McCollum would average 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists for the season. The peak of that stretch came in a 128-126 thriller over the Houston Rockets, in which McCollum poured in 44 points, eight assists and nine 3-pointers, and Lillard provided reinforcement with 32 points, five rebounds and nine assists, the last of which proved to be the most important. McCollum is shooting a healthy 40.1% on catch-and-shoot 3s this season. Gambling problem? MLB swings and misses in political debacle to move All-Star game [84] He has his own label, McCollum Heritage 91, named after the street he grew up on and his birth year. Had he stayed healthy, he surely would be a top-10 guard in the Western Conference. New Orleans 10-year veteran guard CJ McCollum was sidelined during Mondays win at Oklahoma City due to a right ankle sprain, and is listed as questionable to play Wednesday against the Los Angeles Lakers. [77], McCollum has been married to his college sweetheart Elise Esposito since October 27, 2020. '. A small-market team and a mid-major star: There's no more perfect union in the NBA. I understand the work he puts in and he understands the work I put in, and we continue to empower each other., CJ McCollum says he doesnt care if he never makes an All-Star Game, heres why, McCollum looked like a bonafide All-Star before suffering a left mid-foot fracture that sidelined him for nearly two months. Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum Had Epic Duel In First Ever Matchup Given McCollums comments about load management, and how the players were supposed to agree to which games they would sit, its clear that both fought to be on the floor as much as possible. The former Portland Trail Blazers star was also an AP All-American in college and the 2016 NBA Most Improved Player. While we're not even close to seeing who earns a spot on the annual squad, one player who has seemingly been on the fringes of the roster for years is Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. [81], McCollum is involved in his community as a radio personality and philanthropist. It was the second time hes scored at least 40 points in a game without logging a turnover. The list of things going right for Portland is pretty small. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. If Im going to be an elite guard, Ive got to pick up full court sometimes and do whatever it takes, McCollum said. You could argue I should have made it in previous years. We look back on their greatest moments together. McCollum is making $33.3 million this season. McCollum scored a season-high 42 points to go along with a franchise-record 11 made three-pointers. And, as the old saying goes, the best ability is availability. 3jmccollum, Position: And of course, its well-known how this series ended. Carmelo Anthony, CJ McCollum snubbed as reserves in 2021 NBA All-Star Game Im going to be more consistent. The NBPA President has 21 games to change minds. McCollum evolved with the Pull-Up podcast and as a wine connoisseur, to name a few of his interests. From a group standpoint, the best of it came during Game One of the First Round of the 2017 Playoffs, in which Lillard and McCollum combined for 75 points, just shy of the record shared by Aldridge-Lillard and Drexler-Porter groupings. The other names on the list are questionable at best. I dont know what it is. I think that was the desperation we need to play with moving forward. CJ McCollum is playing like the second All-Star Damian Lillard needs He is a willing listener. "It felt like practice a little bit, a couple of the matchups.". NBA.com is part of Warner Media, LLCs Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network, CJ McCollum questionable for Wednesday road game at Lakers, 5 things to know about the Pelicans on Feb. 14, 2023. CJ is big on that, backup point guard Jose Alvarado said. New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3), shown here driving against Brooklyn Nets forward TJ Warren at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans on Friday, Jan. 6, 2023, will be back home with his teammates Wednesday night following a five-game road trip, as the Pels take on the Miami Heat. Game Four remains a positive memory nonetheless. Although McCollum has only played 13 games and has been sidelined dealing with a foot injury, he was averaging 26.7 points, 5.0 assists, and 3.9 rebounds per game for the Trail Blazers. But as long as we remain solid and be us, then we are going to be all right.. McCollum has a podcast studio in his home and brings portable recording equipment with him when he is out of town. On Tuesday, the official NBA All-Star reserves list was released with just two weeks remaining before the game is set to take place. To count a few: theres (1) Lillards pissed off at the NBA, 51-point performance against Golden State, fresh off of another All-Star snub, (2) the corner game-winner with three Warriors in his airspace in 2018-19, and even a cohesive 41-point second half takeover from Lillard and McCollum in a Feb. 14, 2018 win, providing some hope that, with both teams fully healthy, Portland could withstand the challenge. McCollum led the Mountain Hawks to the 2010 NCAA tournament, where he put up 26 points in a first-round loss to a top-seeded Kansas team. PORTLAND Even a year after his departure, CJ McCollum is still featured prominently next to other historic Portland Trail Blazers figures in the back hallway of Moda Center. props to bro, he tried to stop B.I. authenticate users, apply security measures, and prevent spam and abuse, and, display personalised ads and content based on interest profiles, measure the effectiveness of personalised ads and content, and, develop and improve our products and services. NEW ORLEANS CJ McCollum scored a season-high 40 points and the New Orleans Pelicans beat the San Antonio Spurs 126-117 to end their four-game losing streak. CJ McCollum with 25 Points vs. Golden State Warriors It's also available for football, hockey and baseball. Though, it shouldnt be forgotten what Lillard and his co-star did together in this one. To begin the night, the Pelicans had McCollum guarding the red-hot Lillard, who entered the game averaging 38.7 points over the previous 20 games. CJ McCollum's first game against Damian Lillard yields much-needed That lineup looked so active and disruptive together that Green almost has no choice but to consider using it more, especially if Valanciunas continues to sit with his calf issue. [14] McCollum sat out the first six weeks of the regular season with a foot injury. Lillard, ultimately named the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Restart in the Orlando bubble, wasnt lacking in motivation. McCollum knows he is enough. pic.twitter.com/xg2mvYWjBX. Listed as out for the Pelicans are Zion Williamson (right hamstring strain), Dyson Daniels (right ankle sprain) and E.J. Im here to win games. In that game, Lillard played a 60-minute-and-one-second game, McCollum at 57:59 prompting his This is what Im built for quote on the way to one of the greatest games in league history. Maybe, the former Most Improved Player will finally get the first All-Star nod of his career. CJ McCollum was drafted by Portland Trail Blazers, 1st round (10th pick, 10th overall), 2013 NBA Draft. [9] On January 5, 2013, McCollum broke his left foot in a game against Virginia Commonwealth University, ending his season early. I am going to make plays. To open the 2020-21 campaign, the talented two-guard played as if that stat was on his psyche. Taking care of business for the players. 7 in minutes played (15,030). The two used to guard each other during Portland practice sessions when they wanted to light a fire under their teammates, and McCollums effort had the same effect on his new club. He has still played in 38 of a possible 43 games. [5] Also, he was an Associated Press honorable mention All-American. Dynamic duos dont survive nearly a full decade together without learning how to reach peak performance simultaneously. You dont get to have these moments forever. (Photo of the picture on the wall via Will Guillory / The Athletic). Dame Lillard (34) & CJ McCollum (41) combine for 75 @TrailBlazers points. [55] McCollum missed 10 games over late March and early April with a left knee injury. (Top photo of CJ McCollum dribbling against Damian Lillard: Soobum Im / USA Today). [3], McCollum played at the private research school Lehigh University for four seasons. C.J. He joined Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, and Tyreke Evans as the only players in Pelicans history to put up at least 40 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists in a game. McCollum began last season playing the best basketball of his life for the Portland Trail Blazers. The NBA's hands are tied concerning the fan vote but making the game as a coach's selection or even an injury replacement would be a tip of the cap to what has been an outstanding, yet sometimes overshadowed, career. -The first set of fan votes are in for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City. Will Guillory is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering the New Orleans Pelicans. Christian James McCollum averaging 26.7 points, 5.0 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 44.1% from three, all career highs, McCollums name was missing from the list of reserves for the 2021 NBA All-Star Game. The 3.9 pull-up jumpers hes making per contest are the 10th-most in the NBA. [47] In Game 4 of the Trail Blazers' first-round playoff series against the New Orleans Pelicans, McCollum scored 38 points in a 131123 loss. [22] After injury decommissioned Lillard in late December, McCollum filled in as the primary point guard. Igniting the rally, he and McCollum combined for 30 points in the second half on the way to a 114-94 win. Can you help us send children in need to see the Blazers play the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, March 29th? While accolades are great, McCollum values being a good person and helping his team win over making it to the big game. pic.twitter.com/GRbo89wKhV, New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 2, 2023. Photos: CJ McCollum at 2022 NBA AllStar Weekend McCollum knows what its like to play in big games at Moda Center. Now McCollum has the opportunity to step into a bigger role at least until Ingram returns and the pair can build off of their playoff chemistry. All-Star honors stick on a resume forever and he might be the best active player without those bragging rights. The New Orleans Pelicans are in California to face off with the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday evening, and for the game they could be without their star shooting guard. [33] On November 20, McCollum scored 33 points and hit a career-high 6 three-pointers, to defeat the Brooklyn Nets 129109. He knew the Pelicans plan was to wear Lillard down throughout the game. A large black-and-white photo of McCollums late fadeaway jumper in a Game 7 win over Denver in the 2019 playoffs hangs on a gray, tiled wall about 10 feet away from Portlands locker room. Try a week on us. Remembering Damian Lillard and CJ McCollums Greatest Blazers Hits, Blazers Cant Stop Hawks Guards, Fall in Atlanta, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors Make Transactions as Season Concludes.