Like Lillard, McCollum compared the experience to playing against each other in scrimmages. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. CJ is big on that, backup point guard Jose Alvarado said. We look back on their greatest moments together. [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 however, 12-veteran and NBPA President, has never made an NBA All-Star Game and is again getting looked over by the fan voters. Game One of the 2021 series against Denver, in which the two combined for 55. [33] On November 20, McCollum scored 33 points and hit a career-high 6 three-pointers, to defeat the Brooklyn Nets 129109. 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. McCollum played high school basketball for the Golden Eagles at GlenOak High School in his native city of Canton, Ohio. 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. 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? If the Portland Trail Blazers guard continues in this vein of form, he is a surefire All-Star selection. Had he stayed healthy, he surely would be a top-10 guard in the Western Conference. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. McCollum is shooting a healthy 40.1% on catch-and-shoot 3s this season. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. However lively the yearly trade-deadline chatter might be, there's a reason CJ McCollum is still in Portland. He never made an All-NBA Team. 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. 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. Join our linker program. He is averaging 21.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists. Over the first 11 games, McCollum averaged 28.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game on 47-44-84 splits. C.J. home/away, monthly, etc More CJ McCollum Basketball Reference pages, 2022-23 Pelicans But he doesnt need anyones validation, acknowledgement or praise to fuel his passion for basketball. As such, he saw his minutes increase to 34.8 per contest, and he started in all 80 games that he played. [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. 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. 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. [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. 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. McCollum is making $33.3 million this season. [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 is a willing listener. When McCollum made his first visit back to Portland last March, Lillard was sidelined by season-ending surgery to repair an abdominal injury. Im here to win games. Tonight marks the first-ever game between Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. [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. 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. closest McCollum's come to the All-Star courts were the 2016 and 2017 three-point contests. The Most Valuable McCollum leads the MVP chants for Lillard Feb. 2, 2020. By the time the year is over, he will have collected close to $180 million in career earnings. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. McCollum scored a season-high 42 points to go along with a franchise-record 11 made three-pointers. To open the 2020-21 campaign, the talented two-guard played as if that stat was on his psyche. A key component that made the Lillard-McCollum pairing so alluring came in just how available they made themselves in off-court settings. Try a week on us. [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. He was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the tenth overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft. A couple hundred tickets remain, and three days. Across their eight-and-half year reign together, the two combined for 29,367 points a lot of regular season and postseason buckets combined along with three 50-win seasons, eight postseason appearances, once upon a time the NBAs longest active streak, and an immeasurable amount of memories. From 2015-16 to 2020-21, Lillard was No. The list of things going right for Portland is pretty small. But its more about team success.. [45] During a game on January 31, as Portland defeated the Bulls, 124108, McCollum scored a franchise-record 28 points in the first quarter alone, and he finished with a career-high 50 points in only three periods before heading to the bench for the fourth. John Amis/Associated Press. Dynamic duos dont survive nearly a full decade together without learning how to reach peak performance simultaneously. [19] In the season-opener on October 25, he put up 25 points to help defeat the Utah Jazz, 113104. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. 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. [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. )[23] McCollum was able to resume his starting shooting guard role on January 4 as Lillard was back on his feet, returned from injury. [5] Also, he was an Associated Press honorable mention All-American. 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 . 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. 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! [62] McCollum matched his season-high on March 2, scoring 41 points in a 130107 win over the Orlando Magic. Jordan Poole getting on the same star list as teammates Klay Thompson and Curry? Gambling problem? [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. [3], Throughout his high school career, McCollum worked at refining his shooting stroke; the successful effort was reflected in the 29.3 points per game he averaged during his senior season. After . 5. He is averaging 13.3 points per game, and has helped the Blazers maintain an 18-12 record so far. 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. If I never make an All-Star Game man, I wont be sad about it because I know Im nice, and I know a lot of people respect my game, McCollum said. 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. It was kind of getting back to how we play.. Among players to log at least 500 games, McCollums 19.4 points per game scoring average ranks No. [65], On December 7, 2021, McCollum was diagnosed with a pneumothorax and was ruled out indefinitely. So, why not? 8. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Because so many special moments followed each other, one after another in the 2019 Western Conference Semifinals, well cheat. All rights reserved. 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. [28], McCollum helped the Blazers claim victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, 42, in the first round of the playoffs. Lillard and McCollums relationship actually started because they both dealt with the same foot injury. The 3.9 pull-up jumpers hes making per contest are the 10th-most in the NBA. Despite. The first-ever Playoffs series win vs. the Clippers in 2016. 6. [14] McCollum sat out the first six weeks of the regular season with a foot injury. 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. (31-33, 10th place in NBA Western Conference). The organization is doing a good job of picking its characters up.. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. [37]) On February 7, McCollum scored 32 points; the last two of which, on a runner from the top of the lane, clinched the 114113 win over the Dallas Mavericks with 0.9 seconds left. 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. Its going to be a roller coaster. 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. But as long as we remain solid and be us, then we are going to be all right.. September 19, March 4, 2023, 12:40 AM. inCanton,Ohio [19] On November 6, 2018, McCollum scored 40 points during a 118103 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. Do you have a blog? There was a problem saving your notification. He spent half his six-year (plus three games of a seventh season) career coming off the bench. For the first time in 16 months, that pairing this generations most impactful Blazers duo will share the floor together once more in what promises to be an emotional outing. [16] On February 8, McCollum posted a season-high 19 points in a 117110 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. On a contending Rockets team, Harden is one of the most popular players in the game and already a seven-time All-Star. CJ McCollum on potentially making the All-Star game this year: "I get paid like an All-Star" 12 Jan 2023 03:28:42 Do you have a sports website? I am going to make shots and am going to help us win.. Fighting merely to avoid being swept at the Moda Center, the Blazers brought pride and energy, largely through their talented guard grouping. A large black-and-white photo of McCollum's 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 Portland's locker room. Poole has not and the Warriors still sport a 3-16 record away from home. You dont get to play forever. All eyes were on McCollum and Lillard going into this game as they shared the court for the first time since last Februarys trade. Christian James McCollum (born September 19, 1991) is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). So I was just trying to take it all in.. New Orleans is in the midst of a season-long five-game road trip. 3jmccollum, Position: 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. If not, I am treated very well on the 1st and the 15th. Long before they teamed up in Portland, McCollum (Lehigh University) and Lillard (Weber State University) took turns leading the nation in scoring. The Last Hurrah OT Duel vs. Hardens Rockets Dec. 26, 2020. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Defense for offense typifies this fantasy trade. 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. 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. [75][76] In a March 2020 episode of the podcast, McCollum was recording when he received news that the NBA was suspending the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Damian Lillard. It remains the biggest shot of his career. CJ McCollum is on Instagram at 3jmccollum. It has been almost one year since the Pelicans traded for McCollum and Larry Nance Jr. When Dame was out this year, his usage spiked and he put up great numbers. 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 us, High School: 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. 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. During the Pelicans win against the Wizards, Alvarado kept telling McCollum what he was seeing on the court during stoppages in play. You could argue I should have made it in previous years. The two provided multiple avenues for which the fanbase could connect. You have permission to edit this article. He has made 55/114 (48%) of his three-pointers but has committed 46 turnovers. "It felt like practice a little bit, a couple of the matchups.". 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. 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. 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. Ive got to set the precedent on how we got to compete on both ends. "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. Final #NBAAllStar Fan Voting Results pic.twitter.com/Ijz1dswNho. Unfortunately CJ McCollum has fallen victim of being one of the outsiders looking at the All-Star Game through a pane of glass unfairly. 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. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. While on the sidelines during a break in the action, McCollum caught a glimpse of the Smoothie King Center jumbotron. Sports Illustrated's 38th-best player last season. [2] On August 7, 2021, he was elected president of the National Basketball Players Association, replacing Chris Paul. It's also available for football, hockey and baseball. Jonas Valanciunas also missed Wednesdays game with a left calf contusion, and McCollum is playing through a thumb injury. 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. Shaquille ONeal and Kobe Bryant (2001-02), Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant (17, 18, 19), and Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown (2020-21). Jonas Valanciunas had 16 points and . [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. [42] He recorded as many as 36 points during a 9897 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on November 7. 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. [44] On January 1, to defeat the Chicago Bulls, 124120, he scored 25 of 32 points after halftime, including the game-clinching basket with 56.5 seconds left in overtime. "Me knowing him the way I know him, I wanted to make sure we set the tone early.". McCollum is not an out-of-the-blue candidate either. Lillard helped bridge the gap between award-winning hip-hop artist and one of the faces of Adidas. [57] In Game 6, he scored 30 points in a 119108 win, helping the Blazers tie the series against the Nuggets at 33. McCollum had 24 points and teamed with Brandon Ingram, who scored a season-high 40, to either score or assist on 29 of New Orleans' 31 points in the fourth quarter. Staying confident in everything that Im doing. As New Orleans continues to scrounge for ways to win games amid its injury woes, Green discovering this lineup could be a significant development. Among players to log at least 500 games, McCollum's 19.4 points per game scoring average ranks No. His shooting percentages dipped to 39.9 percent from the field, as did Lehigh's record, and McCollum was edged out for conference Player of the Year honors by Mike Muscala of the Bucknell Bisons. [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. "Just like practice, only a longer game, a couple more foul calls and fans there," he said. But Brandon Ingram turned out to be the most dominant figure in Moda Center Wednesday. Gabor won zero championships. [32] During a 10094 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on November 6, he matched his earlier career-high by racking up 37 points. Enter Game Two. [25] On April 5, he posted his eighth 30-point game of the season, during a 115107 win over Sacramento. The loss eliminated Portland from the playoffs, the last in a four-game sweep. 1 all-time for players never making an appearance in the star-studded exhibition game.. In a considerably superior environment with more talent, the Warriors often got the better end of the stick. [38] In a 122113 victory over Denver on March 28, McCollum finished with a 39-point tally. 8 (428) and No. 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. 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. [35] He set another career-high for points scored with 43 on January 1 during a 9589 win over the Timberwolves. I think that was the desperation we need to play with moving forward. And, as the old saying goes, the best ability is availability. The only thing holding CJ back from being an allstar is Dame. In these cases, the average was taken. The Center aims to provide a safe and inspiring space for underserved youth to learn, explore, create, and grow. 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. The days and weeks to come wouldnt be as celebratory. [59] Portland went on to lose the Conference Finals in a four-game sweep to the Warriors. [76], On May 30, 2022, McCollum signed a multiplatform deal with ESPN to be an NBA analyst. The "Midsummer Classic" was set for July 13 at Truist Park, home . pic.twitter.com/GRbo89wKhV, New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 2, 2023. McCollum knows he is enough. 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. When that swap with the Portland Trail Blazers was finalized on Feb. 8, New Orleans record was 22-32. CJ McCollum ( New Orleans Pelicans) with a 3-pointer vs the Golden State Warriors, 03/03/2023. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. Itll be what its going to be.. 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. 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. To two undersized mid-major guards who had made a career out of outpunching their weight, though, odds meant little. 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. Igniting the rally, he and McCollum combined for 30 points in the second half on the way to a 114-94 win. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. It paid off tonight, Ingram told The Athletic. 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. Austin Reaves and Russell Westbrook are All-Stars but the Los Angeles Lakers only have a 17-21 record? 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. If Im going to be an elite guard, Ive got to pick up full court sometimes and do whatever it takes, McCollum said.