The NBPA President has 21 games to change minds. 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. McCollum's own teammate Damian Lillard is a four-time All-Star who is also at the height of his ability. 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. Fighting merely to avoid being swept at the Moda Center, the Blazers brought pride and energy, largely through their talented guard grouping. Every ticket you donate goes to someone who wouldnt have been able to see the Blazers play without you! 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. For Lillard and McCollum, that cohesion was at its most prolific in the spring of 2019. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. 1 in the Western Conference had become more of an unfortunate What If story. [25] On April 5, he posted his eighth 30-point game of the season, during a 115107 win over Sacramento. Ingram put on a masterclass in controlling an offense while operating within the 15-to-18-foot range. Coaches, players, and the media already have the utmost respect for McCollum. He consistently made the right play and was unbothered by Portlands attempts to run double teams or zone coverages to force him into mistakes. Shoots: 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. For the Blazers, then 29-37, injury-riddled and flawed, this meant that they had nearly a half-year to lick their wounds, reassess their situation, and most of all, figure out how they would stay within striking distance of the eighth-seeded Grizzlies for a shot at a Western Conference Play-In Game. If not, I am treated very well on the 1st and the 15th. 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. 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. McCollum is sinking 1.4 pull-up 3s per game this season, almost one more than the next-closest Pelican. [20], Exercising their fourth-year team option on September 30, 2015, the Trail Blazers extended McCollum's rookie scale-contract through the 201617 season. Dame Lillard (34) & CJ McCollum (41) combine for 75 @TrailBlazers points. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. He came out with the kind of desperate mindset McCollum called for pregame, but he didnt allow that to translate into recklessness. He never made an All-NBA Team. [55] McCollum missed 10 games over late March and early April with a left knee injury. Both are generational talents with name recognition having good to outstanding seasons so that cache and respect goes a long way with NBA fans. He picked apart every coverage the Blazers threw at him and turned in one of the most efficient scoring performances of his career. The loss eliminated Portland from the playoffs, the last in a four-game sweep. For nearly a full decade, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum shared the backcourt for the Portland Trail Blazers, staking their claim as one of the NBAs most potent 1-2 punches. While on the sidelines during a break in the action, McCollum caught a glimpse of the Smoothie King Center jumbotron. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Despite his stature, McCollum played varsity as a freshman for the Golden Eagles, relying on his athleticism. News: 1 day ago McCollum registered 24 points (9-19 FG, 2-5 3Pt, 4-4 FT), seven rebounds and seven assists across 36 minutes during Wednesday's 121-110 victory over the Trail Blazers. "It's cool to compete against your peers and your friends and people that you respect and you worked with. McCollum had to sit out four games due to being in the NBA's health and safety protocol program but he has led the New Orleans Pelicans with an unquestionable leadership style and scoring savvy that deserves recognition. Its difficult to argue that Damian Lillard isnt, at the current moment, playing some of the best basketball of his career. -The first set of fan votes are in for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City. [66] On January 17, 2022, he made his return from the injury, logging 16 points in a 9888 win over the Orlando Magic. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. "Obviously, that's a tough matchup," McCollum said. In 2022, McCollum was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans, ending his nine year run with the Blazers. [9] On January 5, 2013, McCollum broke his left foot in a game against Virginia Commonwealth University, ending his season early. [26] By the end of the regular season, he averaged 20.8 points per game, while Lillard did 25.1 points, making the first backcourt to average 20 or more points apiece in Blazers' history. Schooling the Thunder once in Game One was to get the monkey of their respective backs; to do it again would be sending a message. He scored 34 points in Mondays win over the Washington Wizards. McCollum played college basketball for the Lehigh Mountain Hawks and was named the Patriot League Player of the Year in both 2010 and 2012. Big-time stuff. Yet the closest McCollum's come to the All-Star courts were the 2016 and 2017 three-point contests. 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. [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. [65], On December 7, 2021, McCollum was diagnosed with a pneumothorax and was ruled out indefinitely. pic.twitter.com/fI7cgRCzYK. Here are a few factors that will affect his All Star chances next season. 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. [4] He was the leading freshman scorer in the nation and the first player in Patriot League history to be named conference Player and Rookie of the Year. Data Provided By Describing life as a score-first backcourt, and how to manage when one player is hot, how to take a step back, and how they stacked up amongst NBA historys top backcourts. PORTLAND -- After playing more than 500 regular-season games together as teammates with the Portland Trail Blazers, guards Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum squared off against each other for the first time Wednesday, more than a year after McCollum was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in February 2022. On defense, the lead guard has snatched 13 steals and even gotten 8 blocks. I mean. 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. Before joining The Athletic, he was a writer at The Times-Picayune/NOLA Media Group, and he's been on the Pelicans beat since 2016. 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 Bombs Away Game Game 2, 2019 West First Round vs. OKC. All rights reserved. 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. The Pelicans (26-17) still sit in third place in the West. All-Star honors stick on a resume forever and he might be the best active player without those bragging rights. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Find out more about how we use your personal data in our privacy policy and cookie policy. [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. Sports Illustrated's 38th-best player last season. Defense for offense typifies this fantasy trade. The ball was in his hands down the stretch, I had no problem with it win or lose. [52] On January 22, he scored 31 points and made seven 3-pointers in a 123114 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, thus passing Nicolas Batum (751) for fourth on the franchise's all-time 3-pointers list. Game Four remains a positive memory nonetheless. He was a 201213 Senior CLASS Award finalist. 7. [48], Across 70 games, starting in all of them, McCollum would average 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists for the season. CJ McCollum is one of the most under-appreciated stars in the NBA. come on! CJ McCollum is on Instagram at 3jmccollum. He was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the tenth overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft. McCollum deserves the honor and has time to prove it this season. [84] He has his own label, McCollum Heritage 91, named after the street he grew up on and his birth year. 1 all-time for players never making an appearance in the star-studded exhibition game. Zion Williamson (9) and Brandon Ingram (23) have missed a combined 32 games and counting. 6 overall in 2012, they took McCollum with another lottery pick (No. Meanwhile, Anthony has been playing fairly at 36-years-old with the Blazers. So, why not? It . Final #NBAAllStar Fan Voting Results pic.twitter.com/Ijz1dswNho. 2. [35] He set another career-high for points scored with 43 on January 1 during a 9589 win over the Timberwolves. He spent half his six-year (plus three games of a seventh season) career coming off the bench. We present them here for purely educational purposes. And, as the old saying goes, the best ability is availability. CJ McCollum was drafted by Portland Trail Blazers, 1st round (10th pick, 10th overall), 2013 NBA Draft. McCollum is shooting a healthy 40.1% on catch-and-shoot 3s this season. 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. When one didnt have it, the other did, as evidenced by each of them averaging 25+ over the seven-game series. You dont get to have these moments forever. Ja Morant and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are up-and-coming stars with loyal fanbases voting daily. Damian Lillard and Devin Booker are totally understandable choices. The only thing holding CJ back from being an allstar is Dame. 5. [83], McCollum is a wine enthusiast. 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. CJ is big on that, backup point guard Jose Alvarado said. Its all the work I put in. McCollum has a podcast studio in his home and brings portable recording equipment with him when he is out of town. Obviously, thats a tough matchup for anybody. But as long as we remain solid and be us, then we are going to be all right.. Shaquille ONeal and Kobe Bryant (2001-02), Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant (17, 18, 19), and Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown (2020-21). The Bulls add by subtraction while the Raptors bring on a sneaky good addition to their second unit. You could argue I should have made it in previous years. pic.twitter.com/xg2mvYWjBX. Having convened for an annual photoshoot, the rookie class of 2013 took an NBA.com survey, according to which McCollum was voted the 201314 Rookie of the Year (together with Victor Oladipo). Locked in on defense! from a few chairs down. Once Williamson and Ingram are back in the lineup, he should get more quality looks off of kick-outs. 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. The Last Hurrah OT Duel vs. Hardens Rockets Dec. 26, 2020. [14] McCollum sat out the first six weeks of the regular season with a foot injury. Glen Oak in Canton, Ohio, Draft: The 2021 All Star Game in Indianapolis is still almost a year away. Game One of the 2021 series against Denver, in which the two combined for 55. This stood in contrast to the previous regime of Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge, with the latter being more reclusive, or that of say, Rasheed Wallace and Scottie Pippen, given the Jail Blazers storyline and the subsequent temperature of the media. 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. Thus far, it is 2-2 even though three of its normal starters Williamson, Ingram and Herb Jones have all missed multiple games. [53] On January 26, he recorded his first career triple-double with 28 points, 10 assists, and 10 rebounds in a 120111 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Like most every other team in the NBA from 2014-15 to 2018-19, performances didnt hold the same value unless you did it against the Golden State Warriors. Odds & lines subject to change. "Just like practice, only a longer game, a couple more foul calls and fans there," he said. [3], McCollum played at the private research school Lehigh University for four seasons. Among players to log at least 500 games, McCollums 19.4 points per game scoring average ranks No. McCollum checked Haynes for being among those who didnt expect the pairing to work when they first started, highlighting some of the chip on their shoulder approaches that Portland fans have come to know all too well. I guess we got lucky. 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. [64] On August 7, 2021, McCollum was elected president of the National Basketball Players Association, succeeding Chris Paul who had served since 2013. 'Felt like practice': Lillard, McCollum square off, 'Not going out this way': Nets, down 28, stun C's, Kerr touts 5-0 homestand: Dubs 'turned a corner', KD: Mavs tilt, Kyrie meeting 'just another game', Owner: Snyder, Fields will bring Hawks success, Isaac has surgery on adductor, done for season, Clips' Powell out at least a week to treat shoulder, LeBron to have tendon injury checked in 3 weeks. By this point, the Blazers, once 30-8 and No. [6] In 2012, the Mountain Hawks beat the Duke Blue Devils, 7570, in the school's first ever victory at the NCAA Division I tournament, during which McCollum posted a game-high 30 points; this marked only the sixth time in the history of the tournament that a team seeded 15th defeated a team seeded second. I know this is something that doesnt last forever, McCollum shared after the victory. [24] On February 12, he was named among the invites to All-Star Weekend's Three-Point Contest. 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. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. [39] The Blazers finished the regular season with a 4141 record and entered the playoffs as the eighth seed. [3] McCollum would eventually benefit from a late growth spurt, gaining five inches by his second year and another four inches by his third year of high school; it proved enough to put him on the radar for college recruitment. He has still played in 38 of a possible 43 games. Jose Alvarado, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, Brandon Ingram, Jonas Valanciunas, Dennis Schroder, DAngelo Russell, Troy Brown Jr., Rui Hachimura, Anthony Davis. His 11 three-pointers were a Pelicans franchise record for the most three-pointers made in a game. You dont get to play forever. He just doesn't know if he will be there solely to take meetings as the president of the NBA Players Association or. He is averaging 13.3 points per game, and has helped the Blazers maintain an 18-12 record so far. We have great human beings in here. [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. 10). Or write about sports? He is a willing listener. It was kind of getting back to how we play.. McCollum is making $33.3 million this season. But we just care about each other. Will Guillory is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering the New Orleans Pelicans. [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. If Im going to be an elite guard, Ive got to pick up full court sometimes and do whatever it takes, McCollum said. 1. Dubs' Curry (leg) could return as soon as Sun. It has been almost one year since the Pelicans traded for McCollum and Larry Nance Jr. On April 16, 2017, Portland lost 121109 to the Warriors in Game 1 of the first-round series; yet McCollum's 41 points during the game was his postseason career-best and made him only the eighth Blazer with a 40-point playoff performance. 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 . We kind of had it in our back pocket. McCollum played high school basketball for the Golden Eagles at GlenOak High School in his native city of Canton, Ohio. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. For better or worse, there havent been many duos quite like them. Portland Trail Blazers Damian Lillard, who was snubbed as an All-Star starter, was a shoe-in. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. McCollum is not an out-of-the-blue candidate either. 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. [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. As a freshman in 2005, he was considerably undersized, standing at only 5ft 2in (1.57m). Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. Im here to win games. Like Lillard, McCollum compared the experience to playing against each other in scrimmages. McCollum is still finding his rhythm since returning to the Trail Blazers lineup. 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 with 25 Points vs. Golden State Warriors, 03/03/2023 If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. 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. Williamson is now on the shelf for at least three weeks and Ingram's timetable to return is unknown. Staying confident in everything that Im doing. 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. 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. #RipCity #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/gx5FvsyBgy. Lillard helped bridge the gap between award-winning hip-hop artist and one of the faces of Adidas. Long pigeonholed into the very good but not-good-enough category of a team's second-best . On January 1, 2014, he was assigned to the Idaho Stampede of the development league. 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. CJ McCollum not worried about an All-Star nomination. In these cases, the average was taken. Depending on your preferred story arc, its likely that everyone has a different favorite. It is happy to see Lillard being a part of the All-star game a reserve, but we all would have loved seeing Anything and McCollum join their teammate in Atlanta on March 7. Steph and Klay have missed a big chunk of Golden State road games. [77], McCollum has been married to his college sweetheart Elise Esposito since October 27, 2020. [3] In his very first game as a junior, McCollum came away with 54 points to set both school and Stark County records. CJ McCollum will be in attendance for NBA All-Star Weekend in February. You know what Im saying? Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? 8 (428) and No. The former NBA Most Improved Player in 2015-16 has. Dynamic duos dont survive nearly a full decade together without learning how to reach peak performance simultaneously. Last Call for Blazers Edge Night Help (Please?). After he scored a combined 27 points in the second and third quarters, the Pels held him to eight in the final period, including just one field goal in the final seven minutes. Lillard, ultimately named the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Restart in the Orlando bubble, wasnt lacking in motivation. CJ McCollum Christian James McCollum Twitter : CJMcCollum Instagram: 3jmccollum Position: Shooting Guard Shoots: Right 6-3 , 190lb (190cm, 86kg) Born: September 19 , 1991 in Canton, Ohio us More bio, uniform, draft, salary info 2015-16 Most Improved 3 3 SUMMARY 2022-23 Career G 52 642 PTS 21.1 19.4 TRB 4.3 3.5 AST 5.9 3.7 FG% 43.5 45.4 A few other Pelicans joked about the effort McCollum put in guarding Lillard full court early in the game. Thinking about some of the other elite duos of this time think Harden-Westbrook, Embiid-Simmons, etc its remarkable that there was never a story in which jealousy or insecurity came about. 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. He has made 55/114 (48%) of his three-pointers but has committed 46 turnovers. [43] On the 25th of that month, McCollum had 26 points and scored 7 straight in the final quarter, as he helped Portland stage a 100 scoring run to overcome a 17-point deficit and defeat the Washington Wizards, 108105. One of the most durable scorers in the game, he finished second in west guard voting last year. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. [27] McCollum would subsequently earn NBA Most Improved Player honors for his breakout 201516 season. 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. The win moved New Orleans to 1.5 games ahead of Portland in the West. 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. While accolades are great, McCollum values being a good person and helping his team win over making it to the big game. A glimpse into the future Game 4, 2015 West First Round vs. MEM. [78] They have one son named Jacobi who was born on January 10, 2022. 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. The organization is doing a good job of picking its characters up.. closest McCollum's come to the All-Star courts were the 2016 and 2017 three-point contests. [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. Lillard could offer some advice on how to deal with it. 7 in minutes played (15,030). [70], On September 24, 2022, McCollum agreed to a two-year, $64 million extension with the Pelicans. [19] During a first-round playoff loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Game 5, McCollum scored a then career-high of 33 points. CJ McCollum will be in attendance for NBA All-Star Weekend in February. McCollum looked like a bonafide All-Star before suffering a left mid-foot fracture that sidelined him for nearly two months. It's also available for football, hockey and baseball. 0:23; 'I get paid like an All-Star. Combining for 62 PTS, @CJMcCollum (33p/8r/5a) & @Dame_Lillard (29p/4r/6a) propel the @trailblazers to a 2-0 series lead! 3jmccollum, Position: You have permission to edit this article. 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. props to bro, he tried to stop B.I. McCollum began last season playing the best basketball of his life for the Portland Trail Blazers. [72] On December 30, McCollum scored 42 points on 11 three-pointers in a 127116 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. "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 believed in the gameplan, and it wasnt about who gets the credit. For those who can remember at the time, it offered a look into sides of the Blazers duo that hadnt been seen as often.