Long pigeonholed into the very good but not-good-enough category of a team's second-best . I think we all care about each other, Alvarado said. Pelicans Drop In The West At The Hands Of The Warriors Circumstances are undoubtedly different since that culture-changing Feb. 6, 2022 deal that sent McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans. Email Christian Clark at cclark@theadvocate.com. He played and started in 31 contests and shot 39.9 percent from the field. CJ McCollum not worried about an All-Star nomination. CJ McCollumhas averaged 32.4 points, 8.1 assists and 5.3 rebounds in 8 games without Damian Lillardthis season. McCollum was named First Team All-Conference. 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. 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. We, Yahoo, are part of the Yahoo family of brands. [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. 3 First Team All-Patriot League (20102012), 3 Patriot League All-Tournament team (20102012), Patriot League's all-time leading scorer (2361 points), Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 03:34. [8], On November 25, 2012, McCollum scored 26 points in a 9177 win over Sacred Heart to pass Rob Feaster as the Patriot League's all-time leading scorer. [27] McCollum would subsequently earn NBA Most Improved Player honors for his breakout 201516 season. 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. 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. [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. pic.twitter.com/URZ0mDnBD0. 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. [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. McCollum looked like a bonafide All-Star before suffering a left mid-foot fracture that sidelined him for nearly two months. 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. [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. The Bombs Away Game Game 2, 2019 West First Round vs. OKC. If not, I am treated very well on the 1st and the 15th. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). [63], On December 26, 2020, McCollum scored a season-high 44 points, along with a game-winning three-pointer, in a 128126 overtime win against the Houston Rockets. Pick Your Poison The 2019 Western Conference Semifinals Duel vs. DEN. Player stats broken down into various categories; i.e. Every ticket you donate goes to someone who wouldnt have been able to see the Blazers play without you! Per ESPN Stats & Information research, that pushed him past Michael Jordan in 1997-98 (12) for the most ever in a single season by a player age 32 or older. 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. In these cases, the average was taken. [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. Christian James McCollum (born September 19, 1991) is an American professional basketball player for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). 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. 6. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. Lillard, ultimately named the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Restart in the Orlando bubble, wasnt lacking in motivation. I want him to be the best version of himself, McCollum said of his backcourt mate. CJ McCollum has started the 2021 season on a high. Damian Lillard spoke about the Blazers trading CJ McCollum pic.twitter.com/KGgKUasAex. 1991 [5] Also, he was an Associated Press honorable mention All-American. And he didn't even spend his whole time with that team wearing the number they retired in his honor. CJ McCollum shows off vision with nice pass vs. Atlanta Hawks. us, High School: [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. 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. I guess we got lucky. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. 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. Find out more. CJ McCollum - Basketball-Reference.com 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. [81], McCollum is involved in his community as a radio personality and philanthropist. 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. [39] The Blazers finished the regular season with a 4141 record and entered the playoffs as the eighth seed. Ingram's personal update explained how it would be hard to tell exactly when he'd be ready. 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. Theres: (1) The Rodney Hood Game, the 4OT thriller in Game Three, (3) The CJ McCollum Game, the Game 7 comeback. Stepping Up to the Champs Game 1, 2017 West First Round vs. GSW. He is averaging 21.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists. The "Midsummer Classic" was set for July 13 at Truist Park, home . If it happens, thats great. 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. Jonas Valanciunas also missed Wednesdays game with a left calf contusion, and McCollum is playing through a thumb injury. A small-market team and a mid-major star: There's no more perfect union in the NBA. )[23] McCollum was able to resume his starting shooting guard role on January 4 as Lillard was back on his feet, returned from injury. [3] Even though he was already considered virtually destined to be a top NBA draft pick by his third year, he decided to finish his final year of college instead of leaving sooner for the NBA. McCollum named Kia NBA Most Improved Player", "C.J. The Thunder opened up a double-digit lead midway through the second and a 70.6 percent win probability at that before the Blazers star duo did what expectations suggested they should: This sequence by Damian Lillard is still iconic pic.twitter.com/yZfuiLLfWx. Will Guillory is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering the New Orleans Pelicans. Damian Lillard and Devin Booker are totally understandable choices. 0:23; He is a New Orleans native. He smiled, folded his hands together, and took a bow of appreciation. A wave to instruct the crowd to get loud followed. Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? Channeling his inner Mike Tyson, McCollum delivered one of his more entertaining moments, sharing a fun moment with Lillard and Lisa Salters. 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. '. [72] On December 30, McCollum scored 42 points on 11 three-pointers in a 127116 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. During the Pelicans win against the Wizards, Alvarado kept telling McCollum what he was seeing on the court during stoppages in play. Poole has not and the Warriors still sport a 3-16 record away from home. 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. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. If its in Gods plan for it to happen, so be it, McCollum said. [33] On November 20, McCollum scored 33 points and hit a career-high 6 three-pointers, to defeat the Brooklyn Nets 129109. McCollum doesnt only dispense advice. [84], 20182022: Conference Finals and last years in Portland, Last edited on 22 February 2023, at 03:34, "Lehigh Mountain Hawks 2009 Player Commits", List of National Basketball Association career 3-point scoring leaders, List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career scoring leaders, "CJ McCollum Named Kia Most Improved Player", "Blazers send thanks to Aldridge, Matthews, Batum, and Lopez", "Patriot League Men's Basketball All-League Teams and Awards Announced", "201112 Men's Basketball All-Patriot League Teams and Major Awards Announced", "NCAA basketball: Lehigh pulls off monumental upset of Duke", "C.J. For Lillard and McCollum, that cohesion was at its most prolific in the spring of 2019. All-Star honors stick on a resume forever and he might be the best active player without those bragging rights. Game Four remains a positive memory nonetheless. Fighting merely to avoid being swept at the Moda Center, the Blazers brought pride and energy, largely through their talented guard grouping.