McCollum has averaged 25.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 6.5 assists on 119/257 shooting from the field in the last 13 games (46%). He never made an All-NBA Team. Had he stayed healthy, he surely would be a top-10 guard in the Western Conference. It was kind of getting back to how we play.. "It felt like practice a little bit, a couple of the matchups.". 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. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. Find out more. Defense for offense typifies this fantasy trade. Steph and Klay have missed a big chunk of Golden State road games. Latest on New Orleans Pelicans shooting guard CJ McCollum including complete game-by-game stats on ESPN. Find out more about how we use your personal data in our privacy policy and cookie policy. 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. [5] Also, he was an Associated Press honorable mention All-American. 3. All rights reserved. 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. The teams record since then, including play-in tournament and playoff games, is 44-35. "Obviously, that's a tough matchup," McCollum said. CJ McCollum is one of the most under-appreciated stars in the NBA. Things got even more difficult as Lillard repeatedly roasted Willy Hernangomez, forcing the replacement Pelicans center to move his feet out in space. Jonas Valanciunas had 16 points and . [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. When one didnt have it, the other did, as evidenced by each of them averaging 25+ over the seven-game series. 7. "It's cool to compete against your peers and your friends and people that you respect and you worked with. 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. 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. 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. September 19, us, High School: Im here to win games. Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, & Rodney Hood combined for 87 PTS as the Blazers won at home last night to force a Game 7! He has nine years of those experiences working alongside Damian Lillard. Copyright 2000-2023 Sports Reference LLC. 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. If the Portland Trail Blazers guard continues in this vein of form, he is a surefire All-Star selection. 1 in minutes played (15,750) with McCollum at No. I just do my job. 7 in minutes played (15,030). He is a willing listener. Lillard and McCollums relationship actually started because they both dealt with the same foot injury. Ingram shot a tidy 18-of-29 from the field and didnt record a single turnover in 38 minutes of game action. Damian Lillard spoke about the Blazers trading CJ McCollum pic.twitter.com/KGgKUasAex. The two provided multiple avenues for which the fanbase could connect. The Rachel Nichols interview ahead of the 2019 Playoffs. [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. 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. Will Guillory is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering the New Orleans Pelicans. And of course, its well-known how this series ended. Ja Morant and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are up-and-coming stars with loyal fanbases voting daily. I want him to be the best version of himself, McCollum said of his backcourt mate. It wasthe main reason they were able to close out this win. Im always focused on getting to my spots and knocking down the shots I work on every day in the gym. 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. McCollum doesnt only dispense advice. In sickness and health, McCollum rains jumpers. #RipCity #NBAPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/gx5FvsyBgy. He came out with the kind of desperate mindset McCollum called for pregame, but he didnt allow that to translate into recklessness. Coaches, players, and the media already have the utmost respect for McCollum. Enter Game Two. 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. He is one of the best players of his generation to have never earned a nod. On defense, the lead guard has snatched 13 steals and even gotten 8 blocks. And, as the old saying goes, the best ability is availability. He spent half his six-year (plus three games of a seventh season) career coming off the bench. 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. props to bro, he tried to stop B.I. 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. 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. 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. Austin Reaves and Russell Westbrook are All-Stars but the Los Angeles Lakers only have a 17-21 record? With so many to choose from, its likely that many slipped through the cracks or have more significant backstories than others. 1991 While Lillard ended up scoring 41 points, he was less effective as the game progressed. [30] McCollum would start in all 80 games that he played and would average 23 points as well as 3.6 rebounds and as many assists. He smiled, folded his hands together, and took a bow of appreciation. During the Pelicans win against the Wizards, Alvarado kept telling McCollum what he was seeing on the court during stoppages in play. But he doesnt need anyones validation, acknowledgement or praise to fuel his passion for basketball. 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. pic.twitter.com/fI7cgRCzYK. 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. Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. 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! Over the season, McCollum has averaged 21.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 3.0 three-pointers on 43/40/79 shooting splits, providing some much-needed veteran leadership as well. NBA.com is part of Warner . CJ McCollum is getting snubbed in the NBA All-Star Game fan vote. Damian Lillard and Devin Booker are totally understandable choices. You know what Im saying? [75] Guests on the show have included Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony. McCollum is making $33.3 million this season. Twitter: Over the first 11 games, McCollum averaged 28.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game on 47-44-84 splits. The "Midsummer Classic" was set for July 13 at Truist Park, home . Despite his stature, McCollum played varsity as a freshman for the Golden Eagles, relying on his athleticism. Bleacher Report Floats Bridges, ONeale Trade to the Trail Blazers. closest McCollum's come to the All-Star courts were the 2016 and 2017 three-point contests. While they are out, the Pelicans rely heavily on McCollums ability to create something out of nothing. [47] In Game 4 of the Trail Blazers' first-round playoff series against the New Orleans Pelicans, McCollum scored 38 points in a 131123 loss. As such, he saw his minutes increase to 34.8 per contest, and he started in all 80 games that he played. He has still played in 38 of a possible 43 games. pic.twitter.com/GRbo89wKhV, New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 2, 2023. The other names on the list are questionable at best. Vote here: https://n. McCollum is still finding his rhythm since returning to the Trail Blazers lineup. If McCollum makes his first All-Star appearance next month, he would happily play. As a freshman in 2005, he was considerably undersized, standing at only 5ft 2in (1.57m). 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 . CJ . Stepping Up to the Champs Game 1, 2017 West First Round vs. GSW. CJ McCollum was born on September 19, 1991, making him 28 years old as of 2019. In a considerably superior environment with more talent, the Warriors often got the better end of the stick. Dame Lillard (34) & CJ McCollum (41) combine for 75 @TrailBlazers points. Liddell (right knee ACL injury recovery). If you do not want us and our partners to use cookies and personal data for these additional purposes, click 'Reject all'. CJ McCollum Getting Snubbed in NBA All-Star Voting - Sports Illustrated New Orleans Pelicans News, Analysis, and More CJ McCollum Getting Snubbed By NBA All-Star Game Voters CJ. [19] In the season-opener on October 25, he put up 25 points to help defeat the Utah Jazz, 113104. [22] After injury decommissioned Lillard in late December, McCollum filled in as the primary point guard. While on the sidelines during a break in the action, McCollum caught a glimpse of the Smoothie King Center jumbotron. Its going to be a roller coaster. A key component that made the Lillard-McCollum pairing so alluring came in just how available they made themselves in off-court settings. [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. (Top photo of CJ McCollum dribbling against Damian Lillard: Soobum Im / USA Today). [46] He joined Damian Lillard, Damon Stoudamire, Brandon Roy, Andre Miller, Clyde Drexler and Geoff Petrie as Trail Blazers to score 50 points or more. This was no longer the case in 2019-20, with the unorthodox, truncated NBA Restart leaving teams unable to play over a four-month span from mid-March to late-July. 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. [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. It . All eyes were on McCollum and Lillard going into this game as they shared the court for the first time since last Februarys trade. The fans obliged and the Pelicans saw out a 127-116 home win over the Philadelphia 76ers. McCollum knows what its like to play in big games at Moda Center. Jordan Poole getting on the same star list as teammates Klay Thompson and Curry? Odds & lines subject to change. Even beyond the emotional stakes of McCollum and Lillards first meeting as opponents, New Orleans needed this win to hold off a team now neck-and-neck with them in the playoff race. Yet the closest McCollum's come to the All-Star courts were the 2016 and 2017 three-point contests. For better or worse, there havent been many duos quite like them. 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. Combining for 62 PTS, @CJMcCollum (33p/8r/5a) & @Dame_Lillard (29p/4r/6a) propel the @trailblazers to a 2-0 series lead! You dont get to have these moments forever. [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. pic.twitter.com/xg2mvYWjBX. [33] On November 20, McCollum scored 33 points and hit a career-high 6 three-pointers, to defeat the Brooklyn Nets 129109. But I think its about team success. 6 overall in 2012, they took McCollum with another lottery pick (No. '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. There will be no Jamal Murray jokes today. Some would argue if I was in the East, I would have been a multi-time All-Star, McCollum said. After starting the game 5/8 from the three-point line, the Pelicans finished just 5/21. [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. [46] On March 28, McCollum had a 42-point effort, which came in a 108103 loss to the Grizzlies. 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. McCollum led the Mountain Hawks to the 2010 NCAA tournament, where he put up 26 points in a first-round loss to a top-seeded Kansas team. Portland Trail Blazers, 1st round (10th pick, 10th overall), 2013 NBA Draft, More CJ McCollum pages at Sports Reference. McCollum played college basketball for the Lehigh Mountain Hawks and was named the Patriot League Player of the Year in both 2010 and 2012. Sports Illustrated's 38th-best player last 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. We believed in the gameplan, and it wasnt about who gets the credit. 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. Email Christian Clark at cclark@theadvocate.com. 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. If it happens, thats great. In celebration for those, we look back at eight-and-a-half of their greatest moments in tandem. The loss eliminated Portland from the playoffs, the last in a four-game sweep. 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. Given the mounting pressure, Manfred believed the least political solution was to . A wave to instruct the crowd to get loud followed. [84] He has his own label, McCollum Heritage 91, named after the street he grew up on and his birth year. )[23] McCollum was able to resume his starting shooting guard role on January 4 as Lillard was back on his feet, returned from injury. 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. 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. With Valanciunas and Nance Jr. both sidelined due to injuries, Pelicans coach Willie Greens frontcourt options were already limited. 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. [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. CJ McCollum's career-high 9TH three-pointer wins it for the @trailblazers pic.twitter.com/4gEBbFU6HZ. But its more about team success.. 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 the NBA 2K series, this would lead to a 10 percent increase in teammate chemistry. Sure, there were bigger on-court moments, but it proved full-circle for two teammates who always seemed to root on one anothers successes. [81], McCollum is involved in his community as a radio personality and philanthropist. Dubs' Curry (leg) could return as soon as Sun. 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. There are 21 games over the next 6 weeks to garner some more fan votes. The only other player to pull off this feat in Pelicans franchise history is Anthony Davis, who did it five times. 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]. My job is to take advantage of them.. CJ McCollum on potentially making the All-Star game this year: "I get paid like an All-Star" 12 Jan 2023 03:28:42 And he didn't even spend his whole time with that team wearing the number they retired in his honor. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. He attended Glendora High School in Glendora, California, where he played basketball. Among some highlights: The chemistry proved tangible. Jonas Valanciunas also missed Wednesdays game with a left calf contusion, and McCollum is playing through a thumb injury. [17], On October 27, 2014, Portland exercised their third-year team option to extended McCollum's rookie scale contract through 201516. 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. NEW ORLEANS, La. My teammates did a good job of finding me and giving me those opportunities. The organization is doing a good job of picking its characters up.. I am going to make shots and am going to help us win.. [57] In Game 6, he scored 30 points in a 119108 win, helping the Blazers tie the series against the Nuggets at 33. Vote here: https://n. 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. I think that was the desperation we need to play with moving forward. Poole has not and the Warriors still sport a 3-16 record away from home. 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. [7], Over his four collegiate years, McCollum added 30 pounds of muscle to fill out his frame. [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. 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. In subsequent press conferences, the two would even grow to develop similar mannerisms, complementing one another along the way. 'Whatever seed we are, we're ready': Is there room for Cleveland among the East elite? [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. Meanwhile, Anthony has been playing fairly at 36-years-old with the Blazers. To begin the night, the Pelicans had McCollum guarding the red-hot Lillard, who entered the game averaging 38.7 points over the previous 20 games. 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. 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. [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. The NBPA President has 21 games to change minds. He is averaging 21.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists. Afterward, Alvarado said New Orleans stars not having inflated egos is part of why the team has a strong locker room. Im going to be more efficient. [73], McCollum hosts a weekly podcast, Pull Up with CJ McCollum, that is produced by Cadence13. 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. 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. [74] It is co-hosted by ESPN analyst Jordan Schultz. [42] He recorded as many as 36 points during a 9897 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on November 7. Decade-long rulers of the Western Conference, the Warriors and more specifically, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson became the litmus test the Lillard-McCollum pairing would be based judged against. [83], McCollum is a wine enthusiast. authenticate users, apply security measures, and prevent spam and abuse, and, display personalised ads and content based on interest profiles, measure the effectiveness of personalised ads and content, and, develop and improve our products and services. We kind of had it in our back pocket. McCollum is sinking 1.4 pull-up 3s per game this season, almost one more than the next-closest Pelican. [32] During a 10094 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on November 6, he matched his earlier career-high by racking up 37 points. 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. Im going to be more consistent. In tandem, they tallied up 32 second half points, resuscitating the Blazers long time postseason streak in the process. McCollum played high school basketball for the Golden Eagles at GlenOak High School in his native city of Canton, Ohio. 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. 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. Maybe, the former Most Improved Player will finally get the first All-Star nod of his career. 1 all-time for players never making an appearance in the star-studded exhibition game.. CJ McCollum was born on September 19, 1991. Javascript is required for the selection of a player. [3], McCollum played at the private research school Lehigh University for four seasons. 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. The former Portland Trail Blazers star was also an AP All-American in college and the 2016 NBA Most Improved Player. McCollum's own teammate Damian Lillard is a four-time All-Star who is also at the height of his ability. Averaging 21.3 points, 5.8 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game on 40% shooting from three,. The series itself wasnt anything to speak of, but it served as one of the many times in which anything felt possible because both players were on at the same time. -The first set of fan votes are in for the 2023 NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City. [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. 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. 8 (428) and No. [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. [70], On September 24, 2022, McCollum agreed to a two-year, $64 million extension with the Pelicans. 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.