[57] In Game 6, he scored 30 points in a 119108 win, helping the Blazers tie the series against the Nuggets at 33. CJ McCollum is on Instagram at 3jmccollum. CJ McCollum will be in attendance for NBA All-Star Weekend in February. Things got even more difficult as Lillard repeatedly roasted Willy Hernangomez, forcing the replacement Pelicans center to move his feet out in space. I think we all care about each other, Alvarado said. I think that was the desperation we need to play with moving forward. Do you have a blog? The Pelicans star forward finished the win with a season-high 40 points while also chipping in six rebounds and five assists. Im always focused on getting to my spots and knocking down the shots I work on every day in the gym. 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. Dame Lillard (34) & CJ McCollum (41) combine for 75 @TrailBlazers points. Just long, athletic guys all over the place. 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. The loss eliminated Portland from the playoffs, the last in a four-game sweep. 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. 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. Blazers Play Like Field Mice Against Hawks, Get Eaten Up. 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. He smiled, folded his hands together, and took a bow of appreciation. CJ McCollum was born on September 19, 1991. pic.twitter.com/fI7cgRCzYK. Two nights later, he had 38 points in a loss to the Boston Celtics. Shooting Guard Shaquille ONeal and Kobe Bryant (2001-02), Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant (17, 18, 19), and Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown (2020-21). Theres: (1) The Rodney Hood Game, the 4OT thriller in Game Three, (3) The CJ McCollum Game, the Game 7 comeback. September 19, Lillard, ultimately named the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Restart in the Orlando bubble, wasnt lacking in motivation. If its in Gods plan for it to happen, so be it, McCollum said. 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. 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. He picked apart every coverage the Blazers threw at him and turned in one of the most efficient scoring performances of his career. The Bulls add by subtraction while the Raptors bring on a sneaky good addition to their second unit. As McCollum dressed at his locker, Jaxson Hayes screamed, Second team All-Defense, CJ McCollum! Lillard and McCollums relationship actually started because they both dealt with the same foot injury. Listed at 6ft 3in (1.91m) and 165lb (75kg) as a freshman in 200910, he made an immediate impact for the Mountain Hawks. The peak of the powers game, simultaneously, would likely be Game Six, in which McCollum (30 points, six rebounds) and Lillard (32 points, five assists, six 3-pointers) matched both efficiency and a feel for the moment, the former of which they sometimes struggled with. 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. The 3.9 pull-up jumpers hes making per contest are the 10th-most in the NBA. 2. 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. Of those most high-profile, Game Four against the Grizzlies proved to be the most enticing. [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. Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, & Rodney Hood combined for 87 PTS as the Blazers won at home last night to force a Game 7! Theres no easy pick which game led to the fastest heartbeat; each was packed with pressure and high-stakes implications. New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (left) high-fives CJ McCollum (right) during the second half of a preseason game against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on Oct. 4, 2022, in Chicago. It wasthe main reason they were able to close out this win. The former Portland Trail Blazers star was also an AP All-American in college and the 2016 NBA Most Improved Player. The Rachel Nichols interview ahead of the 2019 Playoffs. [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. The other names on the list are questionable at best. McCollum has a podcast studio in his home and brings portable recording equipment with him when he is out of town. 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. CJ is big on that, backup point guard Jose Alvarado said. After starting the game 5/8 from the three-point line, the Pelicans finished just 5/21. Talk about Blazers vs. Hawks First Half Here! Ingram shot a tidy 18-of-29 from the field and didnt record a single turnover in 38 minutes of game action. Among players to log at least 500 games, McCollums 19.4 points per game scoring average ranks No. 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 . [81], McCollum is involved in his community as a radio personality and philanthropist. I know this is something that doesnt last forever, McCollum shared after the victory. McCollum scored a season-high 42 points to go along with a franchise-record 11 made three-pointers. Zion Williamson (9) and Brandon Ingram (23) have missed a combined 32 games and counting. When one didnt have it, the other did, as evidenced by each of them averaging 25+ over the seven-game series. The Last Hurrah OT Duel vs. Hardens Rockets Dec. 26, 2020. For better or worse, there havent been many duos quite like them. [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. 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. Find out more. 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. And he didn't even spend his whole time with that team wearing the number they retired in his honor. home/away, monthly, etc More CJ McCollum Basketball Reference pages, 2022-23 Pelicans [35] He set another career-high for points scored with 43 on January 1 during a 9589 win over the Timberwolves. He is a New Orleans native. 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 win moved New Orleans to 1.5 games ahead of Portland in the West. 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. 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. [64] On August 7, 2021, McCollum was elected president of the National Basketball Players Association, succeeding Chris Paul who had served since 2013. 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. (Top photo of CJ McCollum dribbling against Damian Lillard: Soobum Im / USA Today). [74] It is co-hosted by ESPN analyst Jordan Schultz. 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. Ingram also made his presence felt on defense with active off-ball rotations and solid on-ball work 1-on-1. 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. It's about respecting the game, playing hard and giving all you've got.". 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 ended up scoring 41 points, he was less effective as the game progressed. Its going to be a roller coaster. 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. During his third year in the league in 2015-16, he was named the NBA Most Improved Player [1] . [62] McCollum matched his season-high on March 2, scoring 41 points in a 130107 win over the Orlando Magic. props to bro, he tried to stop B.I. "It's cool to compete against your peers and your friends and people that you respect and you worked with. McCollum named Kia NBA Most Improved Player", "C.J. 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. Jordan Poole getting on the same star list as teammates Klay Thompson and Curry? 20 of ESPNs analysts made picks for this series, 19 of them siding with Oklahoma City. Afterward, Alvarado said New Orleans stars not having inflated egos is part of why the team has a strong locker room. After . We were able to get to it and we liked what we saw. 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. Can you help us send children in need to see the Blazers play the Sacramento Kings on Wednesday, March 29th? While they are out, the Pelicans rely heavily on McCollums ability to create something out of nothing. inCanton,Ohio [71] On December 22, McCollum put up 40 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists in a 126117 win over the San Antonio Spurs. CJMcCollum [79] McCollum's older brother, Errick, is also a professional basketball player. [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. Gabor won zero championships. [3], McCollum played at the private research school Lehigh University for four seasons. For reference: the Blazers had gone 1-12 in the 13 postseason games prior, leaving them short on confidence among the national media. He played and started in 31 contests and shot 39.9 percent from the field. We kind of had it in our back pocket. 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. 4. Though, it shouldnt be forgotten what Lillard and his co-star did together in this one. That means sometimes I might have it going, but hes the closer. 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. There was a problem saving your notification. 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. [31] Only four days later, he posted 23 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, and a career-high 3 blocks as Portland beat the Denver Nuggets, 115113, in an overtime contest. CJ McCollum on potentially making the All-Star game this year: "I get paid like an All-Star" 12 Jan 2023 03:28:42 McCollum doesnt only dispense advice. 1 in the Western Conference had become more of an unfortunate What If story. He is a willing listener. Twitter: In celebration for those, we look back at eight-and-a-half of their greatest moments in tandem. And, in one of the more high-consequence games in recent Blazers memory, his running mate CJ McCollum all the while playing through a L3 vertebral transverse process fracture in his back was just as scintillating as the two combined for 60 points. McCollum, who is in his 10th season, has never been named an All-Star. Steph Curry and Luka Doncic as the top two backcourt options makes complete sense. I am going to make plays. Dynamic duos dont survive nearly a full decade together without learning how to reach peak performance simultaneously. [58] In the deciding Game 7, he scored a game-high 37 points in a 10096 win, including the game-sealing step back jumper with 15 seconds remaining, to help the Blazers advance to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2000. Im going to be more efficient. 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. [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. "Obviously, that's a tough matchup," McCollum said. 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. [46] On March 28, McCollum had a 42-point effort, which came in a 108103 loss to the Grizzlies. When the NBA on TNT crew asked the Trail Blazers star about his mentality and supporting his teammates despite not getting an All-Star nod, McCollum said he doesnt need others to validate his body of work. '. McCollum played high school basketball for the Golden Eagles at GlenOak High School in his native city of Canton, Ohio. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. 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. That's what the game is about. Final #NBAAllStar Fan Voting Results pic.twitter.com/Ijz1dswNho. Still, McCollum not even making the top ten? Jonas Valanciunas had 16 points and . [32] During a 10094 win over the Memphis Grizzlies on November 6, he matched his earlier career-high by racking up 37 points. 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? [7], Over his four collegiate years, McCollum added 30 pounds of muscle to fill out his frame. Find out more about how we use your personal data in our privacy policy and cookie policy. Gambling problem? 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. If McCollum makes his first All-Star appearance next month, he would happily play. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. Jonas Valanciunas also missed Wednesdays game with a left calf contusion, and McCollum is playing through a thumb injury. I am going to make shots and am going to help us win.. Latest on New Orleans Pelicans shooting guard CJ McCollum including complete game-by-game stats on ESPN. McCollum's own teammate Damian Lillard is a four-time All-Star who is also at the height of his ability. 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. [19] During a first-round playoff loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Game 5, McCollum scored a then career-high of 33 points. McCollum is not known for his defense, but he said he has so much familiarity with Lillards game that he wanted to take on that responsibility early on. 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. During his third year in the league in 201516, he was named the NBA Most Improved Player.[1]. 3. That didn't stop Lillard from scoring 41 points, his 13th time this season with 40-plus. Sports Illustrated's 38th-best player last 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. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. There are 21 games over the next 6 weeks to garner some more fan votes. In 2016, he opened up the CJ McCollum Dream Center, which is an innovative learning room at the Blazers Boys & Girls Club outfitted with new computers, books, art, and learning tools. NEW ORLEANS, La. He is averaging 13.3 points per game, and has helped the Blazers maintain an 18-12 record so far. And of course, its well-known how this series ended. McCollum evolved with the Pull-Up podcast and as a wine connoisseur, to name a few of his interests. I just do my job. pic.twitter.com/xg2mvYWjBX. The year after the Blazers drafted Lillard No. On defense, the lead guard has snatched 13 steals and even gotten 8 blocks. [22] After injury decommissioned Lillard in late December, McCollum filled in as the primary point guard. Stepping Up to the Champs Game 1, 2017 West First Round vs. GSW. 8. Taking care of business for the players. "Obviously, that's a tough matchup," McCollum said. Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. [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. 'Whatever seed we are, we're ready': Is there room for Cleveland among the East elite? 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. 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. To get his team over the hump, Ingram must consistently play at a superstar level the rest of the way. Glen Oak in Canton, Ohio, Draft: If the Portland Trail Blazers guard continues in this vein of form, he is a surefire All-Star selection. He hit a franchise-record 11 3-pointers in a Dec. 30 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, and he is now up to 40.3% shooting from distance on 7.4 attempts per game. [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. [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. Meanwhile, Anthony has been playing fairly at 36-years-old with the Blazers. Among players to log at least 500 games, McCollum's 19.4 points per game scoring average ranks No. CJ McCollumhas averaged 32.4 points, 8.1 assists and 5.3 rebounds in 8 games without Damian Lillardthis season. A small-market team and a mid-major star: There's no more perfect union in the NBA. [27] McCollum would subsequently earn NBA Most Improved Player honors for his breakout 201516 season. To open the 2020-21 campaign, the talented two-guard played as if that stat was on his psyche. 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. Combining for 62 PTS, @CJMcCollum (33p/8r/5a) & @Dame_Lillard (29p/4r/6a) propel the @trailblazers to a 2-0 series lead! The fact that each guard played in 90+ percent of the games they shared together. Then Ill enjoy a nice vacation with my wife. The 31-year-old guard battled the flu and COVID-19 early this season. The two used to guard each other during Portland practice sessions when they wanted to light a fire under their teammates, and McCollums effort had the same effect on his new club. 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. [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. [5] Also, he was an Associated Press honorable mention All-American. CJ McCollum was born on September 19, 1991, making him 28 years old as of 2019. Logos were compiled by the amazing SportsLogos.net. 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. 7 in minutes played (15,030). 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. CJ McCollum not worried about an All-Star nomination. During the Pelicans win against the Wizards, Alvarado kept telling McCollum what he was seeing on the court during stoppages in play. 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. Instagram: [76], On May 30, 2022, McCollum signed a multiplatform deal with ESPN to be an NBA analyst. He is one of the best players of his generation to have never earned a nod. Liddell (right knee ACL injury recovery). 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. That forced Green to try something different. 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. 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. March 4, 2023, 12:40 AM. 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. [55] McCollum missed 10 games over late March and early April with a left knee injury. 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. Pick Your Poison The 2019 Western Conference Semifinals Duel vs. DEN. "It felt like practice a little bit, a couple of the matchups.". 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. 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. 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. For those who can remember at the time, it offered a look into sides of the Blazers duo that hadnt been seen as often. The organization is doing a good job of picking its characters up.. You could argue I should have made it in previous years. With so many to choose from, its likely that many slipped through the cracks or have more significant backstories than others. 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. [24] On February 12, he was named among the invites to All-Star Weekend's Three-Point Contest. But desperation also provides a much-needed opportunity to think outside the box and generate positive results. 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 He has made 55/114 (48%) of his three-pointers but has committed 46 turnovers. He also missed the Blazers' Nov. 10 trip to New Orleans because of injury management, meaning it took a while for the two longtime teammates to play as opponents. The former NBA Most Improved Player in 2015-16 has. So I was just trying to take it all in.. Be sure to share some of your favorite Lillard-McCollum memories below as well. Off the court, McCollum has long taken a keen interest in journalism. Austin Reaves and Russell Westbrook are All-Stars but the Los Angeles Lakers only have a 17-21 record? McCollum is sinking 1.4 pull-up 3s per game this season, almost one more than the next-closest Pelican. (31-33, 10th place in NBA Western Conference). The peak of that stretch came in a 128-126 thriller over the Houston Rockets, in which McCollum poured in 44 points, eight assists and nine 3-pointers, and Lillard provided reinforcement with 32 points, five rebounds and nine assists, the last of which proved to be the most important.
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