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. [81], McCollum is involved in his community as a radio personality and philanthropist. Latest on New Orleans Pelicans shooting guard CJ McCollum including complete game-by-game stats on ESPN. [55] McCollum missed 10 games over late March and early April with a left knee injury. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:50AM. It has been almost one year since the Pelicans traded for McCollum and Larry Nance Jr. [19] On November 6, 2018, McCollum scored 40 points during a 118103 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. 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. [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 one of the best players of his generation to have never earned a nod. Lillard and McCollums relationship actually started because they both dealt with the same foot injury. Vote CJ McCollum 2023 NBA All-Star - YouTube 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. Talk about Blazers vs. Hawks Second Half Here! We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. It was the second time hes scored at least 40 points in a game without logging a turnover. If Im going to be an elite guard, Ive got to pick up full court sometimes and do whatever it takes, McCollum said. 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. [33] On November 20, McCollum scored 33 points and hit a career-high 6 three-pointers, to defeat the Brooklyn Nets 129109. CJ McCollum Game by Game Stats and Performance | ESPN Christian James McCollum NEW ORLEANS, La. By the time the year is over, he will have collected close to $180 million in career earnings. [25] On April 5, he posted his eighth 30-point game of the season, during a 115107 win over Sacramento. [71] On December 22, McCollum put up 40 points, eight rebounds, and nine assists in a 126117 win over the San Antonio Spurs. To get his team over the hump, Ingram must consistently play at a superstar level the rest of the way. Pick Your Poison The 2019 Western Conference Semifinals Duel vs. DEN. "Just like practice, only a longer game, a couple more foul calls and fans there," he said. It was kind of getting back to how we play.. On July 27, 2016, McCollum signed a four-year contract extension with Portland. CJ McCollum diary: 'This is happening far too often in our society Like Lillard, McCollum compared the experience to playing against each other in scrimmages. It wasthe main reason they were able to close out this win. 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. closest McCollum's come to the All-Star courts were the 2016 and 2017 three-point contests. Stepping Up to the Champs Game 1, 2017 West First Round vs. GSW. The teams record since then, including play-in tournament and playoff games, is 44-35. 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. Jordan Poole getting on the same star list as teammates Klay Thompson and Curry? Portland Trail Blazers: Will CJ McCollum be an All Star in 2021? [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. So I was just trying to take it all in.. CJ McCollum Getting Snubbed By NBA All-Star Game Voters Long before they teamed up in Portland, McCollum (Lehigh University) and Lillard (Weber State University) took turns leading the nation in scoring. Lillard, ultimately named the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Restart in the Orlando bubble, wasnt lacking in motivation. Ingram also made his presence felt on defense with active off-ball rotations and solid on-ball work 1-on-1. Do you have a blog? 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. 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. [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. CJ McCollum averages 21.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. 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. 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. 7. 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. [57] In Game 6, he scored 30 points in a 119108 win, helping the Blazers tie the series against the Nuggets at 33. He was a 201213 Senior CLASS Award finalist. Ingram shot a tidy 18-of-29 from the field and didnt record a single turnover in 38 minutes of game action. Portland Trail Blazers: CJ McCollum is a surefire All-Star in 2021 CJMcCollum NBA.com is part of Warner . us, High School: Major League Baseball on Friday pulled this year's All-Star Game out of Atlanta in protest of Georgia's new restrictive voting law. CJ McCollum is getting snubbed in the NBA All-Star Game fan vote. Staying confident in everything that Im doing. I want him to be the best version of himself, McCollum said of his backcourt mate. [3] In his very first game as a junior, McCollum came away with 54 points to set both school and Stark County records. CJ McCollum's For Pelicans-Lakers Game - Fastbreak on FanNation He deployed Herb Jones at center in small lineups for much of the fourth quarter and attempted to disrupt the Lillard pick-and-roll by throwing multiple coverages at him. CJ McCollum not worried about an NBA All-Star nomination | Pelicans Will Guillory is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering the New Orleans Pelicans. 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. C J McCollum: A Promising Young Star In The NBA The historic, 68-point, 23-assist game the two had against Sacramento on Jan. 14, 2021. 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. He spent half his six-year (plus three games of a seventh season) career coming off the bench. [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. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. Just long, athletic guys all over the place. March 4, 2023, 12:40 AM. When McCollum made his first visit back to Portland last March, Lillard was sidelined by season-ending surgery to repair an abdominal 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. It's about respecting the game, playing hard and giving all you've got.". 8. [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. 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. [61] On February 23, 2020, he would surpass that season-high with a 41-point, 9-rebound, 12-assist performance in a 107104 victory over the Detroit Pistons. Watch CJ McCollum drop 40 on Spurs, help Pelicans snap four-game losing 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. Lillard finished with 29 points and six assists, McCollum with 33 points, eight rebounds and five assists. 3jmccollum, Position: Steph Curry and Luka Doncic as the top two backcourt options makes complete sense. But he doesnt need anyones validation, acknowledgement or praise to fuel his passion for basketball. McCollum knows he is enough. Buthe is the only member of the Trail Blazers to make the cut. 8 (428) and No. 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. However lively the yearly trade-deadline chatter might be, there's a reason CJ McCollum is still in Portland. He smiled, folded his hands together, and took a bow of appreciation. come on! '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. In 2022, McCollum was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans, ending his nine year run with the Blazers. Dame Lillard (34) & CJ McCollum (41) combine for 75 @TrailBlazers points. If not, I am treated very well on the 1st and the 15th. If it happens, thats great. 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. There was a problem saving your notification. [68] Two days later, McCollum made his Pelicans debut, putting up 15 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in a 11297 loss to the Miami Heat. McCollum knows what its like to play in big games at Moda Center. He never made an All-NBA Team. [66] On January 17, 2022, he made his return from the injury, logging 16 points in a 9888 win over the Orlando Magic. 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. Our reasoning for presenting offensive logos. CJ McCollum has started the 2021 season on a high. Obviously, thats a tough matchup for anybody. That didn't stop Lillard from scoring 41 points, his 13th time this season with 40-plus. CJ McCollum was born on September 19, 1991, making him 28 years old as of 2019. "@CJMcCollum speaks with the crew after Portland's win. The other names on the list are questionable at best. [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. Ja Morant and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are up-and-coming stars with loyal fanbases voting daily. Listed at 6ft 3in (1.91m) and 165lb (75kg) as a freshman in 200910, he made an immediate impact for the Mountain Hawks. [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. [3], McCollum played at the private research school Lehigh University for four seasons. 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. [74] It is co-hosted by ESPN analyst Jordan Schultz. As a freshman in 2005, he was considerably undersized, standing at only 5ft 2in (1.57m). MLB moving All-Star Game from Georgia in response to new voting laws - CNN [19] During a first-round playoff loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Game 5, McCollum scored a then career-high of 33 points. John Amis/Associated Press. CJ McCollum with a 3-pointer vs the Golden State Warriors If the Portland Trail Blazers guard continues in this vein of form, he is a surefire All-Star selection. MLB swings and misses in political debacle to move All-Star game Vote for New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum and the rest of the team to help bring real jazz to Utah for the 2023 NBA All-Star game. McCollum was named First Team All-Conference. [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. 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. "At first, it was weird," Lillard said after the 121-110 loss to New Orleans. The ball was in his hands down the stretch, I had no problem with it win or lose. Game Four remains a positive memory nonetheless. 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. McCollum began last season playing the best basketball of his life for the Portland Trail Blazers. [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. Willie Green Wins Coach of the Month Award, Smoothie King Center Sell-Outs Now Normal, Pelicans Fans: NBA All-Star Voting Is Live, Pelicans Issue Update On Zion Williamson's Injury, CJ McCollum Shares Thoughts On Injury Bug, Pelicans Trade Market Index: Case For Keeping Current Squad. McCollum is not an out-of-the-blue candidate either. The "Midsummer Classic" was set for July 13 at Truist Park, home . He picked apart every coverage the Blazers threw at him and turned in one of the most efficient scoring performances of his career. CJ McCollum is playing like the second All-Star Damian Lillard needs During his third year in the league in 201516, he was named the NBA Most Improved Player.[1]. Austin Reaves and Russell Westbrook are All-Stars but the Los Angeles Lakers only have a 17-21 record? 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. 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. 5 in games played (436) and No. Vote for New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum and the rest of the team to help bring real jazz to Utah for the 2023 NBA All-Star game. CJ McCollum was drafted by Portland Trail Blazers, 1st round (10th pick, 10th overall), 2013 NBA Draft. Depending on your preferred story arc, its likely that everyone has a different favorite. If McCollum makes his first All-Star appearance next month, he would happily play. 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. 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. 1 in the Western Conference had become more of an unfortunate What If story. He consistently made the right play and was unbothered by Portlands attempts to run double teams or zone coverages to force him into mistakes. [24] On February 12, he was named among the invites to All-Star Weekend's Three-Point Contest. He came out with the kind of desperate mindset McCollum called for pregame, but he didnt allow that to translate into recklessness. [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 felt like practice a little bit, a couple of the matchups.". But we just care about each other. Meanwhile, Anthony has been playing fairly at 36-years-old with the Blazers. [38] In a 122113 victory over Denver on March 28, McCollum finished with a 39-point tally. Ive got to set the precedent on how we got to compete on both ends. Talk about Blazers vs. Hawks First Half Here! 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. CJ McCollum - Wikipedia Shoots: The first-ever Playoffs series win vs. the Clippers in 2016. McCollum, who is in his 10th season, has never been named an All-Star. 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 31-year-old guard battled the flu and COVID-19 early this season. For those who can remember at the time, it offered a look into sides of the Blazers duo that hadnt been seen as often. In sickness and health, McCollum rains jumpers. We were able to get to it and we liked what we saw. Email Christian Clark at cclark@theadvocate.com. If you look at the numbers, Pelicans guard CJ McCollum is easily an All-Star caliber player. Lillard helped bridge the gap between award-winning hip-hop artist and one of the faces of Adidas. If you would like to customise your choices, click 'Manage privacy settings'. [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. Given the mounting pressure, Manfred believed the least political solution was to . [77], McCollum has been married to his college sweetheart Elise Esposito since October 27, 2020. "Obviously, that's a tough matchup," McCollum said. 1 in minutes played (15,750) with McCollum at No. [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. 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. MLB Pulls All-Star Game From Atlanta, Georgia, in Response to Voting 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. Gambling problem? The Last Hurrah OT Duel vs. Hardens Rockets Dec. 26, 2020. 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. The 3.9 pull-up jumpers hes making per contest are the 10th-most in the NBA. McCollum deserves the honor and has time to prove it this season. 'Whatever seed we are, we're ready': Is there room for Cleveland among the East elite? Ingram put on a shot-making clinic against a Portland defense that could not prevent him from getting anywhere he wanted. What often goes forgotten in that game is that Portland, to borrow another boxing term, were very much so against the ropes, trailing 101-93 with nine minutes to play. 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. Igniting the rally, he and McCollum combined for 30 points in the second half on the way to a 114-94 win. 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 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. Be sure to share some of your favorite Lillard-McCollum memories below as well. His consistency is part of why teams value him. CJ McCollumhas averaged 32.4 points, 8.1 assists and 5.3 rebounds in 8 games without Damian Lillardthis season. CJ McCollum shows off vision with nice pass vs. Atlanta Hawks. 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. CJ is big on that, backup point guard Jose Alvarado said. CJ McCollum was born on September 19, 1991. 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. CJ McCollum with 25 Points vs. Golden State Warriors That's what the game is about. Ingram's personal update explained how it would be hard to tell exactly when he'd be ready. Lillard could offer some advice on how to deal with it. 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. The only thing holding CJ back from being an allstar is Dame. Liddell (right knee ACL injury recovery). Vote here: https://n. He signed his rookie scale contract with the franchise on July 11,[13] and he proceeded to play for them in the NBA Summer League, averaging 21 points and 4 rebounds per game. The Bulls add by subtraction while the Raptors bring on a sneaky good addition to their second unit. In subsequent press conferences, the two would even grow to develop similar mannerisms, complementing one another along the way. You can get full details here or simply visit the Trail Blazers ticket site and click Buying Options to donate a ticket or two! [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. [27] McCollum would subsequently earn NBA Most Improved Player honors for his breakout 201516 season. Once Williamson and Ingram are back in the lineup, he should get more quality looks off of kick-outs. 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. [28], McCollum helped the Blazers claim victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, 42, in the first round of the playoffs. 1 all-time for players never making an appearance in the star-studded exhibition game. You dont get to play forever. Is CJ McCollum now the best player to never make an all-star game? Jonas Valanciunas had 16 points and . CJ McCollum on potentially making the All-Star game this year: "I get Big-time stuff. 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. [5] Also, he was an Associated Press honorable mention All-American. Desperate times may call for desperate measures. McCollum played high school basketball for the Golden Eagles at GlenOak High School in his native city of Canton, Ohio. Data Provided By A consummate student of journalism, McCollum penned an article for Sporting News explaining why he opted to continue on with his education. He just doesnt know if he will be there solely to take meetings as the president of the NBA Players Association or if his trip to Salt Lake City will serve a dual purpose. Sports Illustrated's 38th-best player last season. A wave to instruct the crowd to get loud followed. That forced Green to try something different. Combining for 62 PTS, @CJMcCollum (33p/8r/5a) & @Dame_Lillard (29p/4r/6a) propel the @trailblazers to a 2-0 series lead! The two provided multiple avenues for which the fanbase could connect. 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). I mean. But its more about team success.. The Center aims to provide a safe and inspiring space for underserved youth to learn, explore, create, and grow. Every ticket you donate goes to someone who wouldnt have been able to see the Blazers play without you! [73], McCollum hosts a weekly podcast, Pull Up with CJ McCollum, that is produced by Cadence13. 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. On December 27, McColllum put up 35 points to go along with 11 rebounds and 9 assists during a 9894 win over the Sacramento Kings. While Lillard ended up scoring 41 points, he was less effective as the game progressed. It remains the biggest shot of his career. But as long as we remain solid and be us, then we are going to be all right.. [46] On March 28, McCollum had a 42-point effort, which came in a 108103 loss to the Grizzlies.