And if not, Ill be out there for some meetings anyway. CJ McCollum has started the 2021 season on a high. When that swap with the Portland Trail Blazers was finalized on Feb. 8, New Orleans record was 22-32. 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. Depending on your preferred story arc, its likely that everyone has a different favorite. [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. 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. 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. 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 is one of the best players of his generation to have never earned a nod. Final #NBAAllStar Fan Voting Results pic.twitter.com/Ijz1dswNho. Poole has not and the Warriors still sport a 3-16 record away from home. 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. The NBPA President has 21 games to change minds. One of the most durable scorers in the game, he finished second in west guard voting last year. Circumstances are undoubtedly different since that culture-changing Feb. 6, 2022 deal that sent McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans. Its difficult to argue that Damian Lillard isnt, at the current moment, playing some of the best basketball of his career. Hes done just that over his last 10 outings, averaging 29.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.5 assists on 51 percent shooting from the field, 39 percent from 3 and 88 percent from the free-throw line, Just playing free. Ingram put on a shot-making clinic against a Portland defense that could not prevent him from getting anywhere he wanted. 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. If not, I am treated very well on the 1st and the 15th. New Orleans is in the midst of a season-long five-game road trip. 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. 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. Ingram shot a tidy 18-of-29 from the field and didnt record a single turnover in 38 minutes of game action. Over the first 11 games, McCollum averaged 28.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game on 47-44-84 splits. Despite his stature, McCollum played varsity as a freshman for the Golden Eagles, relying on his athleticism. Right, Born: McCollum had to sit out four games due to being in the NBA's health and safety protocol program but he has led the New Orleans Pelicans with an unquestionable leadership style and scoring savvy that deserves recognition. Vote here: https://n. 5. For everything thats changed, much has also remained the same: both players remain tasked with the expectation of leading the offensive charge for their respective franchises, each of which remaining heavily invested in this seasons Western Conference postseason race. 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). Two nights later, he had 38 points in a loss to the Boston Celtics. He never made an All-NBA Team. 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? 5 in games played (436) and No. Will Guillory is a staff writer for The Athletic, covering the New Orleans Pelicans. [25] On April 5, he posted his eighth 30-point game of the season, during a 115107 win over Sacramento. 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. Do you have a blog? [5] Also, he was an Associated Press honorable mention All-American. So I was just trying to take it all in.. CJ McCollum - Basketball-Reference.com 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. I think that was the desperation we need to play with moving forward. The only thing holding CJ back from being an allstar is Dame. To get his team over the hump, Ingram must consistently play at a superstar level the rest of the way. The first-ever Playoffs series win vs. the Clippers in 2016. Desperate times may call for desperate measures. If you would like to customise your choices, click 'Manage privacy settings'. 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. He attended Glendora High School in Glendora, California, where he played basketball. Obviously, thats a tough matchup for anybody. Ive got to set the precedent on how we got to compete on both ends. 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. [54] On March 1, he scored 35 points and matched a career best by making seven 3-pointers in a 119117 loss to the Toronto Raptors. Note, this is done in an automated way, so we apologize for any errors, & please. It's an undeserving slight given McCollum's career and current season. If its in Gods plan for it to happen, so be it, McCollum said. Last Call for Blazers Edge Night Help (Please?). 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. A wave to instruct the crowd to get loud followed. He spent half his six-year (plus three games of a seventh season) career coming off the bench. As such, he saw his minutes increase to 34.8 per contest, and he started in all 80 games that he played. CJ McCollum on potentially making the All-Star game this year: "I get paid like an All-Star" 12 Jan 2023 03:28:42 The Pelicans handled that pressure and played like the more desperate team, withstanding a 41-point outburst from Lillard to hold on to a 121-110 victory. 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. 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. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. [3] In his very first game as a junior, McCollum came away with 54 points to set both school and Stark County records. Unfortunately CJ McCollum has fallen victim of being one of the outsiders looking at the All-Star Game through a pane of glass unfairly. 7 in minutes played (15,030). [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. MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred moved this year's All-Star game from Atlanta to protest new voting laws in Georgia. It . Steph and Klay have missed a big chunk of Golden State road games. [27] McCollum would subsequently earn NBA Most Improved Player honors for his breakout 201516 season. McCollum: 'More than just a basketball player', "Magic's Oladipo among rookie favorites to stand out in 201314", "Trail Blazers assign CJ McCollum to D-League", "Trail Blazers Exercise Team Options On Meyers Leonard And CJ McCollum", "Grizzlies advance, beating Trail Blazers 9993 in Game 5", "Trail Blazers Exercise Team Options On McCollum, Plumlee and Vonleh", "McCollum scores 37 as Blazers down Pelicans 11294", "McCollum scores 35 as Trail Blazers beat Kings 9894", "Randolph leads Grizzlies to 9178 win over Trail Blazers", "CJ McCollum to Compete in Foot Locker Three-Point Contest at NBA All-Star Weekend", "McCollum has 30 as Trail Blazers beat Kings 115107", "Playoff destination sealed, Blazers beat Nuggets 10799", "Blazers' McCollum named Kia NBA Most Improved Player", "Splash Brothers Curry, Thompson send Warriors to West finals", "Trail Blazers Sign CJ McCollum to Contract Extension", "Lillard scores 39, Blazers run home-opening win streak to 16", "Lillard hits floater, Blazers beat Nuggets 115113 in OT", "McCollum matches career high, Blazers beat Grizzlies 10094", "McCollum scores 33 points, Trail Blazers beat Nets 129109", "George has 37 points to lead Pacers over Blazers 118111", "McCollum has 43 points, Trail Blazers top Timberwolves 9589", "Vucevic's season-high 30 lead Magic past Blazers, 115109", "McCollum's winner sends Blazers past Mavs 114113", "Blazers beat Nuggets to take 1-game lead for 8th seed", "Durant shines in Warriors playoff debut in Game 1 win", "Blazers hand Suns worst loss ever in season opener, 12476", "McCollum's scores 28 in Blazers' 11496 win over Pacers", "Evans, Conley help Grizzlies hold off Trail Blazers 9897", "McCollum helps Blazers to 108105 comeback win over Wizards", "McCollum scores 32, leads Blazers over Bulls 124120 in OT", "McCollum scores 50 in 3 quarters, Blazers beat Bulls 124108", "MarShon Brooks scores 21 as Grizzlies beat Blazers 108103", "Davis' 47 points leads Pelicans to sweep of Trail Blazers", "McCollum scores 40 as Trail Blazers beat Bucks 118103", "Conley leads late rally as Grizzlies defeat Portland 9283", "Lillard scores 33, Trail Blazers top Mavericks 121118 in OT", "McCollum leads Trail Blazers in 12995 rout of 76ers", "George nets 36, Westbrook 29 as Thunder tops Blazers 123114", "McCollum has triple-double, Trail Blazers beat Hawks 120111", "Leonard hits winner, Raptors beat Trail Blazers 119117", "Lillard scores 30 points, Trail Blazers beat Nuggets 115108", "Blazers go up 21 after 140137 win in 4 OTs over Denver", "Blazers force Game 7 with 119108 victory over Denver", "McCollum leads Blazers past Nuggets 10096", "Warriors beat Blazers 119117 in OT for NBA Finals berth", "Trail Blazers vs. I dont know what it is. 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. CJ McCollum Stats, News, Bio | ESPN [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. CJ McCollum was drafted by Portland Trail Blazers, 1st round (10th pick, 10th overall), 2013 NBA Draft. [57] In Game 6, he scored 30 points in a 119108 win, helping the Blazers tie the series against the Nuggets at 33. You know what Im saying? "Obviously, that's a tough matchup," McCollum said. Steph Curry and Luka Doncic as the top two backcourt options makes complete sense. That's what the game is about. He picked apart every coverage the Blazers threw at him and turned in one of the most efficient scoring performances of his career. [48], Across 70 games, starting in all of them, McCollum would average 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists for the season. Jonas Valanciunas also missed Wednesdays game with a left calf contusion, and McCollum is playing through a thumb injury. Shooting Guard It wasthe main reason they were able to close out this win. Remembering Damian Lillard and CJ McCollums Greatest Blazers Hits, Blazers Cant Stop Hawks Guards, Fall in Atlanta, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors Make Transactions as Season Concludes. Long pigeonholed into the very good but not-good-enough category of a team's second-best . That, along with a disruptive defender in Jones, led to remarkable results. McCollum led New Orleans in scoring with 25 points, but the team's offense floundered in the second half. Tonight marks the first-ever game between Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. [16] On February 8, McCollum posted a season-high 19 points in a 117110 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. 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. With so many to choose from, its likely that many slipped through the cracks or have more significant backstories than others. McCollum knows what its like to play in big games at Moda Center. CJ is big on that, backup point guard Jose Alvarado said. CJ McCollum is playing like the second All-Star Damian Lillard needs McCollum deserves the honor and has time to prove it this season. CJ McCollum Getting Snubbed By NBA All-Star Game Voters Email Christian Clark at cclark@theadvocate.com. McCollum is shooting a healthy 40.1% on catch-and-shoot 3s this season. Throwing different looks, scrambling (and) multiple efforts.. 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. 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. once 30-8 and No. The Bulls add by subtraction while the Raptors bring on a sneaky good addition to their second unit. Taking care of business for the players. [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. props to bro, he tried to stop B.I. "It felt like practice a little bit, a couple of the matchups.". Because so many special moments followed each other, one after another in the 2019 Western Conference Semifinals, well cheat. [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. And, as the old saying goes, the best ability is availability. No Blazer had recorded numbers on par with McCollum's near triple-double in the last 29 years (Clyde Drexler posted 34 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists or more on five occasions. Im always focused on getting to my spots and knocking down the shots I work on every day in the gym. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. CJ McCollum Game by Game Stats and Performance | ESPN All rights reserved. [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. 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. [84] He has his own label, McCollum Heritage 91, named after the street he grew up on and his birth year. 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. 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. 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. Odds & lines subject to change. 0:23; Its going to be a roller coaster. Im going to be more consistent. All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. In tandem, they tallied up 32 second half points, resuscitating the Blazers long time postseason streak in the process. [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. The Portland Trail Blazers have started the year with a steady three and two record, but CJ McCollum has been the team's best player. So, why not? From 2015-16 to 2020-21, Lillard was 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. Among players to log at least 500 games, McCollums 19.4 points per game scoring average ranks No. The fact that each guard played in 90+ percent of the games they shared together. CJ McCollum diary: 'This is happening far too often in our society