Ja Morant and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are up-and-coming stars with loyal fanbases voting daily. I understand the work he puts in and he understands the work I put in, and we continue to empower each other., CJ McCollum says he doesnt care if he never makes an All-Star Game, heres why, McCollum looked like a bonafide All-Star before suffering a left mid-foot fracture that sidelined him for nearly two months. 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. Despite. Once Williamson and Ingram are back in the lineup, he should get more quality looks off of kick-outs. CJ McCollum will be in attendance for NBA All-Star Weekend in February. 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. Lillard could offer some advice on how to deal with it. Steph and Klay have missed a big chunk of Golden State road games. McCollum played high school basketball for the Golden Eagles at GlenOak High School in his native city of Canton, Ohio. Its going to be a roller coaster. 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. Will Guillory is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering the New Orleans Pelicans. Itll be what its going to be.. [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. Both are generational talents with name recognition having good to outstanding seasons so that cache and respect goes a long way with NBA fans. 6. [20], Exercising their fourth-year team option on September 30, 2015, the Trail Blazers extended McCollum's rookie scale-contract through the 201617 season. [19] During a first-round playoff loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Game 5, McCollum scored a then career-high of 33 points. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The two provided multiple avenues for which the fanbase could connect. For reference: the Blazers had gone 1-12 in the 13 postseason games prior, leaving them short on confidence among the national media. The days and weeks to come wouldnt be as celebratory. [19] In the season-opener on October 25, he put up 25 points to help defeat the Utah Jazz, 113104. 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. 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. 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. CJ McCollum averages 21.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. 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. It paid off tonight, Ingram told The Athletic. To open the 2020-21 campaign, the talented two-guard played as if that stat was on his psyche. 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. [49] On December 12, he matched his season high with 40 points during a 9283 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. 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. 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. But I think its about team success. It remains the biggest shot of his career. 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. We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. 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. Steph Curry and Luka Doncic as the top two backcourt options makes complete sense. 2. [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. [18] For his sophomore season, he played 15.7 minutes per outing while averaging 6.8 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1 assist across 62 games. As a freshman in 2005, he was considerably undersized, standing at only 5ft 2in (1.57m). Damian Lillard. If you are having difficulty accessing any content on this website, please visit our Accessibility page. (Top photo of CJ McCollum dribbling against Damian Lillard: Soobum Im / USA Today). Right, Born: McCollum began last season playing the best basketball of his life for the Portland Trail Blazers. [15] He was recalled by the Blazers on January 5 and made his NBA debut three days later, during which he notched 4 points as Portland beat the Orlando Magic, 11094. Join our linker program. 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. The historic, 68-point, 23-assist game the two had against Sacramento on Jan. 14, 2021. We kind of had it in our back pocket. And, as the old saying goes, the best ability is availability. I am going to make plays. 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. Find out more. [72] On December 30, McCollum scored 42 points on 11 three-pointers in a 127116 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Lillard finished with 29 points and six assists, McCollum with 33 points, eight rebounds and five assists. Christian James McCollum Shaquille ONeal and Kobe Bryant (2001-02), Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant (17, 18, 19), and Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown (2020-21). John Amis/Associated Press. Christian James McCollum (born September 19, 1991) is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). 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. A wave to instruct the crowd to get loud followed. [39] The Blazers finished the regular season with a 4141 record and entered the playoffs as the eighth seed. It . In these cases, the average was taken. So, why not? CJ McCollum has started the 2021 season on a high. In his season debut on October 20, he put up 28 points on 12-of-18 shooting to lead his team past the Indiana Pacers, 11496. The Pelicans star forward finished the win with a season-high 40 points while also chipping in six rebounds and five assists. Still, McCollum not even making the top ten? He played and started in 31 contests and shot 39.9 percent from the field. If not, I am treated very well on the 1st and the 15th. 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. [48], Across 70 games, starting in all of them, McCollum would average 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists for the season. 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. It's about respecting the game, playing hard and giving all you've got.". the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. [70], On September 24, 2022, McCollum agreed to a two-year, $64 million extension with the Pelicans. Jonas Valanciunas also missed Wednesdays game with a left calf contusion, and McCollum is playing through a thumb injury. Lillard, ultimately named the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Restart in the Orlando bubble, wasnt lacking in motivation. 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. Im always focused on getting to my spots and knocking down the shots I work on every day in the gym. [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. 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. 0:23; Here are a few factors that will affect his All Star chances next season. Subscribe to Stathead Basketball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Basketball Reference Database. 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. 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. Dubs' Curry (leg) could return as soon as Sun. [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. 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. Theres: (1) The Rodney Hood Game, the 4OT thriller in Game Three, (3) The CJ McCollum Game, the Game 7 comeback. [33] On November 20, McCollum scored 33 points and hit a career-high 6 three-pointers, to defeat the Brooklyn Nets 129109. McCollum knows he is enough. If Im going to be an elite guard, Ive got to pick up full court sometimes and do whatever it takes, McCollum said. I get paid like an All-Star, McCollum said. But desperation also provides a much-needed opportunity to think outside the box and generate positive results. "Me knowing him the way I know him, I wanted to make sure we set the tone early.". 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. The only thing holding CJ back from being an allstar is Dame. Off the court, McCollum has long taken a keen interest in journalism. "@CJMcCollum speaks with the crew after Portland's win. As such, he saw his minutes increase to 34.8 per contest, and he started in all 80 games that he played. On defense, the lead guard has snatched 13 steals and even gotten 8 blocks. inCanton,Ohio But he doesnt need anyones validation, acknowledgement or praise to fuel his passion for basketball. pic.twitter.com/URZ0mDnBD0. 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. NBA.com is part of Warner . I just do my job. The other names on the list are questionable at best. He never made an All-NBA Team. If it happens, thats great. Among some highlights: The chemistry proved tangible. 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. Im here to win games. 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. That means sometimes I might have it going, but hes the closer. 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. 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). He is one of the best players of his generation to have never earned a nod. March 4, 2023, 12:40 AM. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Buthe is the only member of the Trail Blazers to make the cut. Zion Williamson is sitting fourth in the Western Conference frontcourt tallies. McCollum scored a season-high 42 points to go along with a franchise-record 11 made three-pointers. 10). 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. The 3.9 pull-up jumpers hes making per contest are the 10th-most in the NBA. 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. 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. once 30-8 and No. You dont get to have these moments forever. I think we all care about each other, Alvarado said. All eyes were on McCollum and Lillard going into this game as they shared the court for the first time since last Februarys trade. Staying confident in everything that Im doing. Towards the climax of that stretch, Lillard, in the middle of the 51-point game against Utah (of course), stepped to the free throw line, awaiting the ball before a familiar chant orchestrated by McCollum and Carmelo Anthony broke out: The entire arena gives Dame MVP chants after his 51-point game pic.twitter.com/kUZ4Fpv692. [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. 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. All rights reserved. CJ McCollum is on Instagram at 3jmccollum. It's an undeserving slight given McCollum's career and current season. [67], On February 8, 2022, Portland traded McCollum, Larry Nance Jr. and Tony Snell to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for Josh Hart, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Tom Satoransk, Didi Louzada, a protected 2022 first-round draft pick, the better of New Orleans' and Portland's 2026 second-round draft picks and New Orleans' 2027 second-round draft pick. Throwing different looks, scrambling (and) multiple efforts.. The New Orleans Pelicans are in California to face off with the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday evening, and for the game they could be without their star shooting guard. Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. From 2015-16 to 2020-21, Lillard was No. Ingram's personal update explained how it would be hard to tell exactly when he'd be ready. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. 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. 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 . 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. McCollum deserves the honor and has time to prove it this season. '. 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. While on the sidelines during a break in the action, McCollum caught a glimpse of the Smoothie King Center jumbotron. [16] On February 8, McCollum posted a season-high 19 points in a 117110 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. 1 in the Western Conference, 51-point performance against Golden State, 41-point second half takeover from Lillard and McCollum, McCollums comments about load management. As New Orleans continues to scrounge for ways to win games amid its injury woes, Green discovering this lineup could be a significant development. I mean. Mar 27, 2022 4:52 PM EDT. Final #NBAAllStar Fan Voting Results pic.twitter.com/Ijz1dswNho. 7 in minutes played (15,030). [62] McCollum matched his season-high on March 2, scoring 41 points in a 130107 win over the Orlando Magic. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. 20 of ESPNs analysts made picks for this series, 19 of them siding with Oklahoma City. While we're not even close to seeing who earns a spot on the annual squad, one player who has seemingly been on the fringes of the roster for years is Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum. CJ McCollum's career-high 9TH three-pointer wins it for the @trailblazers pic.twitter.com/4gEBbFU6HZ. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. 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. We present them here for purely educational purposes. 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. Obviously, thats a tough matchup for anybody. Per NBA.com, the lineup of McCollum, Ingram, Jones, Naji Marshall and Trey Murphy outscored the Pelicans by nine points in the eight minutes it played. Damian Lillard spoke about the Blazers trading CJ McCollum pic.twitter.com/KGgKUasAex. McCollum is shooting a healthy 40.1% on catch-and-shoot 3s this season. I guess we got lucky. [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. Before Wednesdays matchup, McCollum said the Pelicans were desperate for a win after losing four in a row amid an epic nosedive in the standings. "It felt like practice a little bit, a couple of the matchups.". Ingram also made his presence felt on defense with active off-ball rotations and solid on-ball work 1-on-1. [51] On December 30, he broke out of a six-game funk by hitting 13 of 18 shots in a 35-point performance as the Trail Blazers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 12995. 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. 'Whatever seed we are, we're ready': Is there room for Cleveland among the East elite? Blazers Play Like Field Mice Against Hawks, Get Eaten Up. Vote here: https://n. 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. On a contending Rockets team, Harden is one of the most popular players in the game and already a seven-time All-Star. I am going to make shots and am going to help us win.. He has still played in 38 of a possible 43 games. You know what Im saying? That spring of 2019 was something else, was it not? Big-time stuff. Its all the work I put in. Zion Williamson (9) and Brandon Ingram (23) have missed a combined 32 games and counting. 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. There was a problem saving your notification. Talk about Blazers vs. Hawks First Half Here! C.J. The Rachel Nichols interview ahead of the 2019 Playoffs. 1 in the Western Conference had become more of an unfortunate What If story. "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. [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. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. McCollum's 'Healthy Habits': Yoga, Wine and Podcasting", "CJ McCollum reacts to NBA suspending season, remains hopeful that season will resume", "New Orleans Pelicans' CJ McCollum joining ESPN as an NBA analyst", "CJ McCollum and Elise Esposito's Wedding Was an Intimate Affair in Oregon Wine Country", "CJ and Elise McCollum welcome son Jacobi James McCollum", "C.J.

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