[79] McCollum's older brother, Errick, is also a professional basketball player. I just work extremely hard and I dont need validation from outsiders, I dont need validation from other people, because I know what I have and what I bring to the table., "I don't need validation from other people, because I know what I have and what I bring to the table. Lillard could offer some advice on how to deal with it. 0:23; 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. [46] On March 28, McCollum had a 42-point effort, which came in a 108103 loss to the Grizzlies. "Obviously, that's a tough matchup," McCollum said. A reserve in his first two years, he became a full-time starter for the Trail Blazers in his third season after making the decision to move to shooting guard as the Blazers lost LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews, Nicolas Batum, and Robin Lopez in free agency following the end of the 2014-15 season. Both are generational talents with name recognition having good to outstanding seasons so that cache and respect goes a long way with NBA fans. Data Provided By With so many to choose from, its likely that many slipped through the cracks or have more significant backstories than others. [17], On October 27, 2014, Portland exercised their third-year team option to extended McCollum's rookie scale contract through 201516. Igniting the rally, he and McCollum combined for 30 points in the second half on the way to a 114-94 win. (Top photo of CJ McCollum dribbling against Damian Lillard: Soobum Im / USA Today). 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. [59] Portland went on to lose the Conference Finals in a four-game sweep to the Warriors. The Pelicans star forward finished the win with a season-high 40 points while also chipping in six rebounds and five assists. The Pelicans handled that pressure and played like the more desperate team, withstanding a 41-point outburst from Lillard to hold on to a 121-110 victory. Among some highlights: The chemistry proved tangible. [36] In a game on January 13, a 115109 loss to the Orlando Magic, he posted 26 points to extended his streak of games with 25-plus points to eight in a row, the third-longest in Blazers' history (only Geoff Petrie with 11 and Clyde Drexler with 9 games have had longer among Blazers players. The finale for both teams prior to the NBA All-Star break will tip off at 9 p.m. Central and will be broadcast by Bally Sports, ESPN and 99.5 FM. Over the season, McCollum has averaged 21.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 3.0 three-pointers on 43/40/79 shooting splits, providing some much-needed veteran leadership as well. [19] On November 6, 2018, McCollum scored 40 points during a 118103 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. When McCollum made his first visit back to Portland last March, Lillard was sidelined by season-ending surgery to repair an abdominal injury. 1991 McCollum knows what its like to play in big games at Moda Center. Ingram also made his presence felt on defense with active off-ball rotations and solid on-ball work 1-on-1. Not that any one knew it, or even wanted it at the time, but towards the end of the 2014-15 season, there were opportunities that showcased what a homegrown backcourt pairing of Lillard and McCollum could look like. He picked apart every coverage the Blazers threw at him and turned in one of the most efficient scoring performances of his career. My job is to take advantage of them.. Ingram's personal update explained how it would be hard to tell exactly when he'd be ready. Damian Lillard. If you look at the numbers, Pelicans guard CJ McCollum is easily an All-Star caliber player. That's borderline laughable but, as with real estate's main rule, location dictates that's just how it goes sometimes for small-market stars. 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. Here are a few factors that will affect his All Star chances next season. 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. Bucks - Game Summary - November 21, 2019 - ESPN", "McCollum, Anthony carry Blazers past Pistons, 107-104", "Trail Blazers' CJ McCollum: Lights up Magic for 41", "VIDEO: CJ McCollum's game-winning three spoils James Harden's OT heroics", "Portland Trail Blazers' CJ McCollum elected NBPA president", "CJ MCCOLLUM DIAGNOSED WITH A PNEUMOTHORAX", "Portland Trail Blazers vs Orlando Magic Jan 17, 2022 Game Summary", "TRail Blazers Complete Trade With New Orleans", "Pelicans winning streak snapped by Heat in McCollum's debut, lose 112-97", "CJ McCollum, Pelicans Beat Dejounte Murray, Spurs in 2022 NBA Play-in Tournament", "CJ McCollum agrees to 2-year extension with Pelicans", "CJ McCollum etches name in Pelicans history with monster game vs. Spurs", "Pelicans star Zion Williamson reveals what made CJ McCollum's 42-point explosion 'beautiful', "CJ McCollum in favor of playing out the rest of the season at a single site", "C.J. College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com, Scores from any date in BAA/NBA or ABA history, Frequently Asked Questions about the NBA, WNBA and Basketball, Basketball-Reference.com Blog and Articles, Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREE. September 19, But its more about team success.. Theres no easy pick which game led to the fastest heartbeat; each was packed with pressure and high-stakes implications. 3jmccollum, Position: Just long, athletic guys all over the place. The Bombs Away Game Game 2, 2019 West First Round vs. OKC. 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. CJ McCollum attended Glen Oak in Canton, Ohio and Lehigh. Portland Trail Blazers, 1st round (10th pick, 10th overall), 2013 NBA Draft, More CJ McCollum pages at Sports Reference. 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. And, in one of the more high-consequence games in recent Blazers memory, his running mate CJ McCollum all the while playing through a L3 vertebral transverse process fracture in his back was just as scintillating as the two combined for 60 points. props to bro, he tried to stop B.I. And he didn't even spend his whole time with that team wearing the number they retired in his honor. A couple hundred tickets remain, and three days. The epitaph on this partnerships life cycle had started in the lead-up to their First Round meeting against Russell Westbrook, Paul George and the Oklahoma City Thunder. During his third year in the league in 201516, he was named the NBA Most Improved Player.[1]. The former NBA Most Improved Player in 2015-16 has. Once Williamson and Ingram are back in the lineup, he should get more quality looks off of kick-outs. [19] During a first-round playoff loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Game 5, McCollum scored a then career-high of 33 points. Both Anthony and McCollum deserved to be reserved in the All-Star game this year if we look at the output both of them have put out. [55] McCollum missed 10 games over late March and early April with a left knee injury. My teammates did a good job of finding me and giving me those opportunities. Itll be what its going to be.. Beyond Zion Williamson, who remains out with his hamstring injury, Jose Alvarado will miss at least the next weeks with a right tibia stress reaction and Larry Nance is out at least the next two weeks with an ankle issue. If McCollum makes his first All-Star appearance next month, he would happily play. Then Ill enjoy a nice vacation with my wife. The Portland Trail Blazers have started the year with a steady three and two record, but CJ McCollum has been the team's best player. Coaches, players, and the media already have the utmost respect for McCollum. Final #NBAAllStar Fan Voting Results pic.twitter.com/Ijz1dswNho. McCollum has repeatedly stressed not being too reactive to the ebbs and flows of the NBA season, a message that has permeated throughout the roster. Pick Your Poison The 2019 Western Conference Semifinals Duel vs. DEN. You have permission to edit this article. Zion Williamson (9) and Brandon Ingram (23) have missed a combined 32 games and counting. Dynamic duos dont survive nearly a full decade together without learning how to reach peak performance simultaneously. Zion Williamson is sitting fourth in the Western Conference frontcourt tallies. The Center aims to provide a safe and inspiring space for underserved youth to learn, explore, create, and grow. pic.twitter.com/GRbo89wKhV, New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 2, 2023. come on! McCollum is sinking 1.4 pull-up 3s per game this season, almost one more than the next-closest Pelican. [28], McCollum helped the Blazers claim victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, 42, in the first round of the playoffs. McCollum is making $33.3 million this season. As a senior, he was named a McDonald's All-American, averaging 24.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.7 steals per game. We look back on their greatest moments together. Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, & Rodney Hood combined for 87 PTS as the Blazers won at home last night to force a Game 7! Decade-long rulers of the Western Conference, the Warriors and more specifically, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson became the litmus test the Lillard-McCollum pairing would be based judged against. [46] He joined Damian Lillard, Damon Stoudamire, Brandon Roy, Andre Miller, Clyde Drexler and Geoff Petrie as Trail Blazers to score 50 points or more. Latest on New Orleans Pelicans shooting guard CJ McCollum including complete game-by-game stats on ESPN. On Tuesday, the official NBA All-Star reserves list was released with just two weeks remaining before the game is set to take place. In celebration for those, we look back at eight-and-a-half of their greatest moments in tandem. He smiled, folded his hands together, and took a bow of appreciation. Despite averaging 26.7 points, 5.0 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 44.1% from three, all career highs, McCollum's name was missing from the list of reserves for the 2021 NBA All-Star Game. [21] With four of Portland's previous startersLaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum, Wesley Matthews, and Robin Lopezhaving departed, only star point guard Damian Lillard remained; thus McCollum was elevated to starting shooting guard to join Lillard in the backcourt for the 201516 campaign. Bleacher Report Floats Bridges, ONeale Trade to the Trail Blazers. [14] McCollum sat out the first six weeks of the regular season with a foot injury. (Photo of the picture on the wall via Will Guillory / The Athletic). The Bulls add by subtraction while the Raptors bring on a sneaky good addition to their second unit. CJ McCollum averages 21.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. Indeed, New Orleans later switched to defensive stoppers Herbert Jones, Dyson Daniels and Josh Richardson against Lillard, denying him the basketball in an effort to force other Portland players to beat them. Ive got to set the precedent on how we got to compete on both ends. [35] He set another career-high for points scored with 43 on January 1 during a 9589 win over the Timberwolves. I Broke My Back, Spinal! Play-In Game, 2020 vs. MEM. McCollum named Kia NBA Most Improved Player", "C.J. Unfortunately CJ McCollum has fallen victim of being one of the outsiders looking at the All-Star Game through a pane of glass unfairly. Fighting merely to avoid being swept at the Moda Center, the Blazers brought pride and energy, largely through their talented guard grouping. [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. 1 in minutes played (15,750) with McCollum at No. 4. 6. You dont get to play forever. We were able to get to it and we liked what we saw. It has been almost one year since the Pelicans traded for McCollum and Larry Nance Jr. CJ McCollum on potentially making the All-Star game this year: "I get paid like an All-Star" 12 Jan 2023 03:28:42 But on Thursday night, after he and Lillard combined for 57 points vs. Miami, he reminded the NBA that Portland is a force to be reckoned with. [3], McCollum played at the private research school Lehigh University for four seasons. Can you help us send children in need to see the Blazers play the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, March 29th? I want him to be the best version of himself, McCollum said of his backcourt mate. However lively the yearly trade-deadline chatter might be, there's a reason CJ McCollum is still in Portland. We have great human beings in here. By this point, the Blazers, once 30-8 and No. [16] On February 8, McCollum posted a season-high 19 points in a 117110 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. McCollum has a podcast studio in his home and brings portable recording equipment with him when he is out of town. Instagram: There will be no Jamal Murray jokes today. Keeping both highlight-reel makers and opposing defenses awake and working late in the night, the duo injected a jolt of energy into the Portland fanbase, lacing up for over 500 games together from 2014 to 2022. The historic, 68-point, 23-assist game the two had against Sacramento on Jan. 14, 2021. As McCollum dressed at his locker, Jaxson Hayes screamed, Second team All-Defense, CJ McCollum! [72] On December 30, McCollum scored 42 points on 11 three-pointers in a 127116 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Hes done just that over his last 10 outings, averaging 29.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists on 51 percent shooting from the field, 39 percent from 3 and 88 percent from the free-throw line, Just playing free. Taking care of business for the players. The first player to ever enter the NBA from Lehigh, McCollum was picked tenth overall in the 2013 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. Despite his stature, McCollum played varsity as a freshman for the Golden Eagles, relying on his athleticism. McCollum is not known for his defense, but he said he has so much familiarity with Lillards game that he wanted to take on that responsibility early on. No real explanation why; w/ some players it just never feels smart counting them out.Take a look at his rsum in elimination matchups w/ the Blazers. Twitter: New Orleans 10-year veteran guard CJ McCollum was sidelined during Monday's win at Oklahoma City due to a right ankle sprain, and is listed as questionable to play Wednesday against the Los. If you would like to customise your choices, click 'Manage privacy settings'. CJ McCollum has started the 2021 season on a high. He has been a marquee name for over a decade and since becoming a starter in 2015 McCollum has averaged over 22 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists on 40% shooting behind the arc. His consistency is part of why teams value him. 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. [9] On January 5, 2013, McCollum broke his left foot in a game against Virginia Commonwealth University, ending his season early. Of those most high-profile, Game Four against the Grizzlies proved to be the most enticing. 1 in the Western Conference had become more of an unfortunate What If story. March 4, 2023, 12:40 AM. When that swap with the Portland Trail Blazers was finalized on Feb. 8, New Orleans record was 22-32. Shaquille ONeal and Kobe Bryant (2001-02), Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant (17, 18, 19), and Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown (2020-21). Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Listed at 6ft 3in (1.91m) and 165lb (75kg) as a freshman in 200910, he made an immediate impact for the Mountain Hawks. McCollum's own teammate Damian Lillard is a four-time All-Star who is also at the height of his ability. His 11 three-pointers were a Pelicans franchise record for the most three-pointers made in a game. McCollum played high school basketball for the Golden Eagles at GlenOak High School in his native city of Canton, Ohio. During his third year in the league in 2015-16, he was named the NBA Most Improved Player [1] . [7], Over his four collegiate years, McCollum added 30 pounds of muscle to fill out his frame. The long-term highlight of that Game Two was the play above, with Lillards back-and-forth with Westbrook serving as an entertaining backdrop of this series. Gabor won zero championships. Despite. 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. Try a week on us. [50] On December 23, in a game against the Warriors, McCollum moved past Damon Stoudamire (717) into fifth on the Blazers' career list for 3-pointers. [70], On September 24, 2022, McCollum agreed to a two-year, $64 million extension with the Pelicans. McCollum is still finding his rhythm since returning to the Trail Blazers lineup. Circumstances are undoubtedly different since that culture-changing Feb. 6, 2022 deal that sent McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans. CJ McCollum was born on September 19, 1991, making him 28 years old as of 2019. [2] On August 7, 2021, he was elected president of the National Basketball Players Association, replacing Chris Paul. Its going to be a roller coaster. Despite 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. He is averaging 21.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists. Major League Baseball announced Friday that this season's All-Star Game and draft will not be held in Atlanta in response to Georgia's recently passed laws that placed new restrictions on voting. Among players to log at least 500 games, McCollum's 19.4 points per game scoring average ranks No. On a contending Rockets team, Harden is one of the most popular players in the game and already a seven-time All-Star. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred moved this year's All-Star game from Atlanta to protest new voting laws in Georgia. McCollum is not an out-of-the-blue candidate either. [82] McCollum also helps foster local youths' interest in journalists through an initiative called CJ's Press Pass; it grants aspiring journalists access to postgame news conferences and provides them the opportunity to attend events with McCollum, to receive personalized mentorship from members of the media, and to have their work published. Im going to be more efficient. Though, it shouldnt be forgotten what Lillard and his co-star did together in this one. 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. To get his team over the hump, Ingram must consistently play at a superstar level the rest of the way. once 30-8 and No. It remains the biggest shot of his career. [3] Even though he was already considered virtually destined to be a top NBA draft pick by his third year, he decided to finish his final year of college instead of leaving sooner for the NBA. CJ McCollum has made at least $147,980,107 playing professional basketball. Christian James McCollum Throwing different looks, scrambling (and) multiple efforts.. Game One of the 2021 series against Denver, in which the two combined for 55. Email Christian Clark at cclark@theadvocate.com. Lillard finished with 29 points and six assists, McCollum with 33 points, eight rebounds and five assists. On defense, the lead guard has snatched 13 steals and even gotten 8 blocks. 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. [19] In the season-opener on October 28, McCollum posted a career-high 37 points, scoring 22 of which in the first quarter alone, helping the Blazers defeat the New Orleans Pelicans, 11294. [31] Only four days later, he posted 23 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and a career-high 3 blocks as Portland beat the Denver Nuggets, 115113, in an overtime contest. [48], Across 70 games, starting in all of them, McCollum would average 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists for the season. Buthe is the only member of the Trail Blazers to make the cut. Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. That spring of 2019 was something else, was it not? He was an All-Star just once. Like Lillard, McCollum compared the experience to playing against each other in scrimmages. As the prime of his career reaches its zenith, its likely that CJ McCollum will go down as one of leagues greatest players to never earn an NBA All-Star nomination. On the NBA 2K series, this would lead to a 10 percent increase in teammate chemistry. Sure, there were bigger on-court moments, but it proved full-circle for two teammates who always seemed to root on one anothers successes. The only other player to pull off this feat in Pelicans franchise history is Anthony Davis, who did it five times. McCollum evolved with the Pull-Up podcast and as a wine connoisseur, to name a few of his interests. For reference: the Blazers had gone 1-12 in the 13 postseason games prior, leaving them short on confidence among the national media. home/away, monthly, etc More CJ McCollum Basketball Reference pages, 2022-23 Pelicans The other names on the list are questionable at best. In the process, the Lillard-McCollum match had seldom looked better; they would become the first backcourt duo to each score 250+ points in their teams first ten games: The only others in league history to have done so at that time? Learn more and register. [60], On November 21, 2019, McCollum scored a then season-high 37 points, along with 6 rebounds and 10 assists, in a 137129 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. [40], McCollum missed the opener of the 201718 season due to a single-game suspension incurred when he left the bench area once during a preseason game. CJ McCollum will be in attendance for NBA All-Star Weekend in February. Lillard's teammates, Carmelo Anthony and CJ McCollum, did not make the All-star reserve list, despite being in the top-10 in fan voting just last week. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. CJ McCollum however, 12-veteran and NBPA President, has never made an NBA All-Star Game and is again getting looked over by the fan voters. CJMcCollum As a freshman in 2005, he was considerably undersized, standing at only 5ft 2in (1.57m). Austin Reaves and Russell Westbrook are All-Stars but the Los Angeles Lakers only have a 17-21 record? But me knowing him the way I know him and having to compete against him, I wanted to make sure I got out front and set the tone early.. So I was just trying to take it all in.. So, why not? The win moved New Orleans to 1.5 games ahead of Portland in the West. All eyes were on McCollum and Lillard going into this game as they shared the court for the first time since last Februarys trade. "At first, it was weird," Lillard said following the game.. "It felt like practice a little bit, a couple of the matchups." NBA NEWS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, CJ McCollum & New Orleans Pelicans Updates The Pelicans made a visit to the great northwest last season after the trade deadline, but Lillard was sidelined following surgery on his abdominal. We present them here for purely educational purposes. [27] McCollum would subsequently earn NBA Most Improved Player honors for his breakout 201516 season. Afterward, Alvarado said New Orleans stars not having inflated egos is part of why the team has a strong locker room. [3] By graduation, McCollum had become the leading scorer in Golden Eagles history, with 1,405 career points, and was named Gatorade Ohio Player of the Year for his final campaign, the 200809 season. New Orleans is in the midst of a season-long five-game road trip. And if not, Ill be out there for some meetings anyway. While accolades are great, McCollum values being a good person and helping his team win over making it to the big game. 'Whatever seed we are, we're ready': Is there room for Cleveland among the East elite? Im here to win games. He has made 55/114 (48%) of his three-pointers but has committed 46 turnovers. Do you have a blog? Big-time stuff. 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]. [54] On March 1, he scored 35 points and matched a career best by making seven 3-pointers in a 119117 loss to the Toronto Raptors. Two nights later, he had 38 points in a loss to the Boston Celtics. [32] During a 10094 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on November 6, he matched his earlier career-high by racking up 37 points. 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. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. Desperate times may call for desperate measures. 1 / 23 CLEVELAND, OH - FEBRUARY 19: CJ McCollum #3 of the New Orleans Pelicans shoots a three point basket during the game during the MTN DEW 3-Point Contest as part of 2022 NBA All Star. [5] Also, he was an Associated Press honorable mention All-American. Meanwhile, Anthony has been playing fairly at 36-years-old with the Blazers. Right, Born: To open the 2020-21 campaign, the talented two-guard played as if that stat was on his psyche. 2. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. [69] On April 13, during the NBA Play-In Tournament, McCollum recorded 32 points, six rebounds, and seven assists leading the Pelicans past the San Antonio Spurs 113103 and advancing New Orleans to the eight seed game. And, as the old saying goes, the best ability is availability. 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. Jan 4, 2023; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) reacts to a three point shot against the Houston Rockets during the second quarter at Smoothie King Center. You could argue I should have made it in previous years.