Zion Williamson (9) and Brandon Ingram (23) have missed a combined 32 games and counting. Given the mounting pressure, Manfred believed the least political solution was to . You can change your choices at any time by clicking on the 'Privacy dashboard' links on our sites and apps. CJ McCollum was born on September 19, 1991, making him 28 years old as of 2019. Theres no easy pick which game led to the fastest heartbeat; each was packed with pressure and high-stakes implications. Then Ill enjoy a nice vacation with my wife. 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. Like Lillard, McCollum compared the experience to playing against each other in scrimmages. The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. We came out and just competed, played hard. After . He has nine years of those experiences working alongside Damian Lillard. 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. [60], On November 21, 2019, McCollum scored a then season-high 37 points, along with 6 rebounds and 10 assists, in a 137129 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks. pic.twitter.com/URZ0mDnBD0. The former NBA Most Improved Player in 2015-16 has. Enter Game Two. Talk about Blazers vs. Hawks Second Half Here! 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. 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. Lillard, ultimately named the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Restart in the Orlando bubble, wasnt lacking in motivation. 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. McCollum is still finding his rhythm since returning to the Trail Blazers lineup. [17], On October 27, 2014, Portland exercised their third-year team option to extended McCollum's rookie scale contract through 201516. 4. 3. [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. )[23] McCollum was able to resume his starting shooting guard role on January 4 as Lillard was back on his feet, returned from injury. He is averaging 21.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists. Over the first 11 games, McCollum averaged 28.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game on 47-44-84 splits. 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. [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. Desperate times may call for desperate measures. We look back on their greatest moments together. 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. 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. "At first, it was weird," Lillard said after the 121-110 loss to New Orleans. 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. 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. [33] On November 20, McCollum scored 33 points and hit a career-high 6 three-pointers, to defeat the Brooklyn Nets 129109. [77], McCollum has been married to his college sweetheart Elise Esposito since October 27, 2020. If Im going to be an elite guard, Ive got to pick up full court sometimes and do whatever it takes, McCollum said. #NBAPlayoffs #RipCity pic.twitter.com/jT0rBQgcJS. McCollum evolved with the Pull-Up podcast and as a wine connoisseur, to name a few of his interests. Im going to be more efficient. He was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the tenth overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft. Despite not elevating Portland to a championship, Dame and CJ provided the small-market Blazers relevance within the national media, highlighted by their hour-long, exclusive sit down with Yahoo Sports Senior NBA Insider (then of ESPN) in Chris Haynes. [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. 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. 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. Long pigeonholed into the very good but not-good-enough category of a team's second-best . [62] McCollum matched his season-high on March 2, scoring 41 points in a 130107 win over the Orlando Magic. For better or worse, there havent been many duos quite like them. "It felt like practice a little bit, a couple of the matchups.". 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. 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. The only thing holding CJ back from being an allstar is Dame. It has been almost one year since the Pelicans traded for McCollum and Larry Nance Jr. "Obviously, that's a tough matchup," McCollum said. Locked in on defense! from a few chairs down. CJ McCollum attended Glen Oak in Canton, Ohio and Lehigh. [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. [55] McCollum missed 10 games over late March and early April with a left knee injury. 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. 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. The championship window seemed shattered on the ruptured Achilles of Wesley Matthews, and within weeks, the talented two-guardalong with fellow starters Aldridge, Nicolas Batum, and Robin Lopezwould become a thing of the past. The days and weeks to come wouldnt be as celebratory. Damian Lillard. "At first, it was weird," Lillard said following the game.. "It felt like practice a little bit, a couple of the matchups." NBA NEWS: Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers, CJ McCollum & New Orleans Pelicans Updates The Pelicans made a visit to the great northwest last season after the trade deadline, but Lillard was sidelined following surgery on his abdominal. Email Christian Clark at cclark@theadvocate.com. Depending on your preferred story arc, its likely that everyone has a different favorite. [66] On January 17, 2022, he made his return from the injury, logging 16 points in a 9888 win over the Orlando Magic. Just staying consistent in playing super hard all the time, forward Herb Jones told The Athletic. 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. McCollum played high school basketball for the Golden Eagles at GlenOak High School in his native city of Canton, Ohio. There will be no Jamal Murray jokes today. Big-time stuff. 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. 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. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. During his third year in the league in 201516, he was named the NBA Most Improved Player.[1]. 1 all-time for players never making an appearance in the star-studded exhibition game.. [25] On April 5, he posted his eighth 30-point game of the season, during a 115107 win over Sacramento. And, as the old saying goes, the best ability is availability. Ingram put on a shot-making clinic against a Portland defense that could not prevent him from getting anywhere he wanted. The historic, 68-point, 23-assist game the two had against Sacramento on Jan. 14, 2021. Do you have a sports website? He was a 201213 Senior CLASS Award finalist. So I was just trying to take it all in.. A wave to instruct the crowd to get loud followed. 'I get paid like an All-Star. [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. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. During his third year in the league in 2015-16, he was named the NBA Most Improved Player [1] . Ingram shot a tidy 18-of-29 from the field and didnt record a single turnover in 38 minutes of game action. 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. 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. 6. He is a willing listener. pic.twitter.com/fI7cgRCzYK. Among players to log at least 500 games, McCollum's 19.4 points per game scoring average ranks No. Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, & Rodney Hood combined for 87 PTS as the Blazers won at home last night to force a Game 7! [46] On March 28, McCollum had a 42-point effort, which came in a 108103 loss to the Grizzlies. [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. Fighting merely to avoid being swept at the Moda Center, the Blazers brought pride and energy, largely through their talented guard grouping. As a freshman in 2005, he was considerably undersized, standing at only 5ft 2in (1.57m). As a senior, he was named a McDonald's All-American, averaging 24.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.7 steals per game. CJ McCollum shows off vision with nice pass vs. Atlanta Hawks. NBA.com is part of Warner . Instagram: And if not, Ill be out there for some meetings anyway. I want him to be the best version of himself, McCollum said of his backcourt mate. [28], McCollum helped the Blazers claim victory over the Los Angeles Clippers, 42, in the first round of the playoffs. 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. 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. Two nights later, he had 38 points in a loss to the Boston Celtics. If it happens, thats great. 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. [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. Austin Reaves and Russell Westbrook are All-Stars but the Los Angeles Lakers only have a 17-21 record? If you look at the numbers, Pelicans guard CJ McCollum is easily an All-Star caliber player. CJ McCollum has started the 2021 season on a high. The year after the Blazers drafted Lillard No. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Learn more and register. McCollum is not an out-of-the-blue candidate either. In sickness and health, McCollum rains jumpers. And of course, its well-known how this series ended. March 4, 2023, 12:40 AM. [79] McCollum's older brother, Errick, is also a professional basketball player. All eyes were on McCollum and Lillard going into this game as they shared the court for the first time since last Februarys trade. McCollum played college basketball for the Lehigh Mountain Hawks and was named the Patriot League Player of the Year in both 2010 and 2012. [57] In Game 6, he scored 30 points in a 119108 win, helping the Blazers tie the series against the Nuggets at 33. McCollum's own teammate Damian Lillard is a four-time All-Star who is also at the height of his ability. 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. You could argue I should have made it in previous years. Every Sports Reference Social Media Account, Site Last Updated: Saturday, March 4, 4:50AM. A glimpse into the future Game 4, 2015 West First Round vs. MEM. [10] McCollum went on to graduate from Lehigh University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.[11][12]. 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. Major League Baseball on Friday pulled this year's All-Star Game out of Atlanta in protest of Georgia's new restrictive voting law.