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. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. Michael Reaves/Getty Images) I would say this is the most unique position we've been in probably since I was traded here, to be honest. 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. On July 27, 2016, McCollum signed a four-year contract extension with Portland. After McCollum poured 35 points on the Miami Heat Thursday tohelplead Portland to a 125-122 victory, he earned the walk-off interview for his stellar performance. McCollum finished the night with 24 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, but it wasnt his offensive performance that left his teammates giddy after the buzzer. Join our linker program. While Lillard did get the best of him in their individual matchup, McCollum got what he needed most in his return to Portland: a win. 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. )[23] McCollum was able to resume his starting shooting guard role on January 4 as Lillard was back on his feet, returned from injury. Can you help us send children in need to see the Blazers play the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, March 29th? On the box score, Game Threes 140-137 win would likely suffice. The ball was in his hands down the stretch, I had no problem with it win or lose. His consistency is part of why teams value him. Averaging 21.3 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game on 40% shooting from three,. 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. (31-33, 10th place in NBA Western Conference). Every ticket you donate goes to someone who wouldnt have been able to see the Blazers play without you! With Valanciunas and Nance Jr. both sidelined due to injuries, Pelicans coach Willie Greens frontcourt options were already limited. Its all the work I put in. [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. I just do my job. [27] McCollum would subsequently earn NBA Most Improved Player honors for his breakout 201516 season. 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. If its in Gods plan for it to happen, so be it, McCollum said. 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. CJ McCollum is one of the most under-appreciated stars in the NBA. 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. He consistently made the right play and was unbothered by Portlands attempts to run double teams or zone coverages to force him into mistakes. 1 all-time for players never making an appearance in the star-studded exhibition game. And if not, Ill be out there for some meetings anyway. The championship window seemed shattered on the ruptured Achilles of Wesley Matthews, and within weeks, the talented two-guardalong with fellow starters Aldridge, Nicolas Batum, and Robin Lopezwould become a thing of the past. 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. Lillard finished with 29 points and six assists, McCollum with 33 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Talk about Blazers vs. Hawks First Half Here! CJ McCollum on potentially making the All-Star game this year: "I get paid like an All-Star" 12 Jan 2023 03:28:42 6 overall in 2012, they took McCollum with another lottery pick (No. September 19, By the time the year is over, he will have collected close to $180 million in career earnings. Though, if there were a measuring stick, his eight-game stretch from Jan. 17 to Feb. 1, 2020 might be it. McCollum's own teammate Damian Lillard is a four-time All-Star who is also at the height of his ability. The only thing holding CJ back from being an allstar is Dame. [3], McCollum played at the private research school Lehigh University for four seasons. CJ McCollum was born on September 19, 1991, making him 28 years old as of 2019. Jonas Valanciunas also missed Wednesdays game with a left calf contusion, and McCollum is playing through a thumb injury. 10). 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. 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. My teammates did a good job of finding me and giving me those opportunities. 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. McCollum is still finding his rhythm since returning to the Trail Blazers lineup. McCollum put together the first of what would become a long list of elite performances in win-or-go-home games, many of those shots illustrated here: Ive got this odd suspicion that CJ McCollum is bounce back with one of his greater games tonight in Game 6. Ive got to set the precedent on how we got to compete on both ends. 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. While they are out, the Pelicans rely heavily on McCollums ability to create something out of nothing. Locked in on defense! from a few chairs down. 7 in minutes played (15,030). 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. Pick Your Poison The 2019 Western Conference Semifinals Duel vs. DEN. [81], McCollum is involved in his community as a radio personality and philanthropist. [74] It is co-hosted by ESPN analyst Jordan Schultz. Ingram also made his presence felt on defense with active off-ball rotations and solid on-ball work 1-on-1. Among players to log at least 500 games, McCollum's 19.4 points per game scoring average ranks No. While accolades are great, McCollum values being a good person and helping his team win over making it to the big game. 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. Two nights later, he had 38 points in a loss to the Boston Celtics. Tonight marks the first-ever game between Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. With so many to choose from, its likely that many slipped through the cracks or have more significant backstories than others. 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. Learn more and register. Game Four remains a positive memory nonetheless. The NBPA President has 21 games to change minds. 7. He scored 34 points in Mondays win over the Washington Wizards. Major League Baseball sent a warning shot on Friday to Republicans considering new laws to restrict voting, pulling its summer All-Star game out of suburban Atlanta in . When McCollum made his first visit back to Portland last March, Lillard was sidelined by season-ending surgery to repair an abdominal injury. Christian James McCollum (born September 19, 1991) is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). closest McCollum's come to the All-Star courts were the 2016 and 2017 three-point contests. That means sometimes I might have it going, but hes the closer. Combining for 62 PTS, @CJMcCollum (33p/8r/5a) & @Dame_Lillard (29p/4r/6a) propel the @trailblazers to a 2-0 series lead! 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. He hit a franchise-record 11 3-pointers in a Dec. 30 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, and he is now up to 40.3% shooting from distance on 7.4 attempts per game. props to bro, he tried to stop B.I. We look back on their greatest moments together. (Photo of the picture on the wall via Will Guillory / The Athletic). Obviously, thats a tough matchup for anybody. [41] McCollum would play in 80 games and start in all of them while averaging 21.4 points, 4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists a night. As such, he has written articles concerning the NBA for various media outlets;[80] in one of his pieces, he interviewed the Commissioner of the league Adam Silver. 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]. pic.twitter.com/GRbo89wKhV, New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 2, 2023. He came out with the kind of desperate mindset McCollum called for pregame, but he didnt allow that to translate into recklessness. Despite not elevating Portland to a championship, Dame and CJ provided the small-market Blazers relevance within the national media, highlighted by their hour-long, exclusive sit down with Yahoo Sports Senior NBA Insider (then of ESPN) in Chris Haynes. [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. McCollum deserves the honor and has time to prove it this season. You can change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. [19] In the season-opener on October 25, he put up 25 points to help defeat the Utah Jazz, 113104. 6. Lillard joked that he knew McCollum's full-court pressure against "wasn't going to last." Sources: 2021 NBA All-Star reserves:West: Chris Paul, Paul George, Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Zion Williamson, Anthony DavisEast: James Harden, Julius Randle, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Zach LaVine, Ben Simmons, Nikola Vucevic. On a contending Rockets team, Harden is one of the most popular players in the game and already a seven-time All-Star. [76], On May 30, 2022, McCollum signed a multiplatform deal with ESPN to be an NBA analyst. He is one of the best players of his generation to have never earned a nod. John Amis/Associated Press. We kind of had it in our back pocket. 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. In a considerably superior environment with more talent, the Warriors often got the better end of the stick. Liddell (right knee ACL injury recovery). We were able to get to it and we liked what we saw. I am going to make plays. CJ McCollum's career-high 9TH three-pointer wins it for the @trailblazers pic.twitter.com/4gEBbFU6HZ. The Chris Haynes Interview on ESPN March 2018. McCollum: Why I'm returning to Lehigh for my senior year", "McCollum breaks record in 9177 win at Sacred Heart", "Hulls Named Finalist for Senior CLASS Award", "Lehigh alum C.J. [57] In Game 6, he scored 30 points in a 119108 win, helping the Blazers tie the series against the Nuggets at 33. The Bombs Away Game Game 2, 2019 West First Round vs. OKC. Circumstances are undoubtedly different since that culture-changing Feb. 6, 2022 deal that sent McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans. The two provided multiple avenues for which the fanbase could connect. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. A couple hundred tickets remain, and three days. 1. 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. Mar 27, 2022 4:52 PM EDT. Among some highlights: The chemistry proved tangible. He never made an All-NBA Team. 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. Ingram admitted after the win that he knows the margin of error is small for the Pels as they attempt to stay above water with all the injuries popping up. The Pelicans star forward finished the win with a season-high 40 points while also chipping in six rebounds and five assists. [59] Portland went on to lose the Conference Finals in a four-game sweep to the Warriors. [68] Two days later, McCollum made his Pelicans debut, putting up 15 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in a 11297 loss to the Miami Heat. Long pigeonholed into the very good but not-good-enough category of a team's second-best . McCollum: 'More Than Just a Basketball Player', "CJ McCollum Dream Center Opens at Blazers Boys & Girls Club", "Portland's CJ McCollum is a Silent Assassin on the Court and a Blooming Journalist Off of it", "NBA star CJ McCollum is keeping his hotel room a frigid temperature to create a wine cellar for the 84 bottles he ordered to the Disney bubble", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=CJ_McCollum&oldid=1140860142. Talk about Blazers vs. Hawks Second Half Here! 8 (428) and No. McCollum looked like a bonafide All-Star before suffering a left mid-foot fracture that sidelined him for nearly two months. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. [58] In the deciding Game 7, he scored a game-high 37 points in a 10096 win, including the game-sealing step back jumper with 15 seconds remaining, to help the Blazers advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2000. I am going to make shots and am going to help us win.. It was the second time hes scored at least 40 points in a game without logging a turnover. Steph Curry and Luka Doncic as the top two backcourt options makes complete sense. Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. Despite. 0:23; If you would like to customise your choices, click 'Manage privacy settings'. [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. When NBA players discuss some of the benefits to that of their sport, in comparison to say, the NFL where games are often seven days apart one of the positives they always bring up: after a bad performance, you normally dont have to wait as long for a shot at redemption. [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. 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. 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. CJ McCollum was born on September 19, 1991. pic.twitter.com/URZ0mDnBD0. For the season, he would average 20.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists a night across 80 games. [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. The first-ever Playoffs series win vs. the Clippers in 2016. While on the sidelines during a break in the action, McCollum caught a glimpse of the Smoothie King Center jumbotron. 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. Damian Lillard spoke about the Blazers trading CJ McCollum pic.twitter.com/KGgKUasAex. [5] Also, he was an Associated Press honorable mention All-American. Still, it was McCollum and the Pelicans who emerged with a key victory in the battle for spots in the Western Conference play-in, snapping a four-game losing streak and moving 1.5 games ahead of the Blazers in the standings. [3] He played in 33 games, starting in 31, and averaged 19.1 points and 5 rebounds per game while shooting 45.9 percent from the field. It paid off tonight, Ingram told The Athletic. For everything thats changed, much has also remained the same: both players remain tasked with the expectation of leading the offensive charge for their respective franchises, each of which remaining heavily invested in this seasons Western Conference postseason race. [34] On December 10, he set a new career-high of 7 three-pointers made and finished with 34 points scored in a 118111 loss to the Indiana Pacers. [83], McCollum is a wine enthusiast. If not, then he will handle his duties as NBPA president and then escape the Mountain West cold for a few days with his family. Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum top NBA quotes of the week, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Co-author, Pro Basketball Prospectus series, Formerly a consultant with the Indiana Pacers. But for the first time in his career, McCollum walked through that back hallway with the intention of beating Lillard and handing his new team a historic night of their own. If not, I am treated very well on the 1st and the 15th. You can get full details here or simply visit the Trail Blazers ticket site and click Buying Options to donate a ticket or two! But we just care about each other. Igniting the rally, he and McCollum combined for 30 points in the second half on the way to a 114-94 win. Among players to log at least 500 games, McCollums 19.4 points per game scoring average ranks No. 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. "It's cool to compete against your peers and your friends and people that you respect and you worked with. The win moved New Orleans to 1.5 games ahead of Portland in the West. He just doesn't know if he will be there solely to take meetings as the president of the NBA Players Association or. 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. I think we all care about each other, Alvarado said. But its more about team success.. 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. Sports Illustrated's 38th-best player last season has also been humble in the biggest moments since joining the New Orleans Pelicans, both collectively and individually. 'Whatever seed we are, we're ready': Is there room for Cleveland among the East elite? CJ McCollum attended Glen Oak in Canton, Ohio and Lehigh. Dr. A's weekly risers and fallers: Jeremy Sochan, Christian Wood make the list, NBA Power Rankings: Kevin Durant's return could rock the West, What NBA Finals runs from LeBron, Giannis can teach Jayson Tatum, They said it! [78] They have one son named Jacobi who was born on January 10, 2022. Im going to be more efficient. Depending on your preferred story arc, its likely that everyone has a different favorite. [70], On September 24, 2022, McCollum agreed to a two-year, $64 million extension with the Pelicans. Trailing by 10 with less than eight minutes to go, that Lillard-McCollum (and Aldridge) trio pieced together 25 points together to help avoid elimination. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. He was an All-Star just once. The former Portland Trail Blazers star was also an AP All-American in college and the 2016 NBA Most Improved Player. McCollum led New Orleans in scoring with 25 points, but the team's offense floundered in the second half. One of the most durable scorers in the game, he finished second in west guard voting last year. [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. 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. [49] On December 12, he matched his season high with 40 points during a 9283 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. CJ McCollumhas averaged 32.4 points, 8.1 assists and 5.3 rebounds in 8 games without Damian Lillardthis season.