[21] With four of Portland's previous startersLaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum, Wesley Matthews, and Robin Lopezhaving departed, only star point guard Damian Lillard remained; thus McCollum was elevated to starting shooting guard to join Lillard in the backcourt for the 201516 campaign. Had he stayed healthy, he surely would be a top-10 guard in the Western Conference. 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. 1991 Gabor won zero championships. Ive got to set the precedent on how we got to compete on both ends. Use without license or authorization is expressly prohibited. If its in Gods plan for it to happen, so be it, McCollum said. During the Pelicans win against the Wizards, Alvarado kept telling McCollum what he was seeing on the court during stoppages in play. Pick Your Poison The 2019 Western Conference Semifinals Duel vs. DEN. There are 21 games over the next 6 weeks to garner some more fan votes. [39] The Blazers finished the regular season with a 4141 record and entered the playoffs as the eighth seed. Watch our How-To Videos to Become a Stathead, Subscribe to Stathead and get access to more data than you can imagine. In celebration for those, we look back at eight-and-a-half of their greatest moments in tandem. closest McCollum's come to the All-Star courts were the 2016 and 2017 three-point contests. 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. Lillard finished with 29 points and six assists, McCollum with 33 points, eight rebounds and five assists. As a freshman in 2005, he was considerably undersized, standing at only 5ft 2in (1.57m). Im always focused on getting to my spots and knocking down the shots I work on every day in the gym. But me knowing him the way I know him and having to compete against him, I wanted to make sure I got out front and set the tone early.. [10] McCollum went on to graduate from Lehigh University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.[11][12]. Dynamic duos dont survive nearly a full decade together without learning how to reach peak performance simultaneously. For nearly a full decade, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum shared the backcourt for the Portland Trail Blazers, staking their claim as one of the NBAs most potent 1-2 punches. Damian Lillard and Devin Booker are totally understandable choices. Off the court, McCollum has long taken a keen interest in journalism. As McCollum dressed at his locker, Jaxson Hayes screamed, Second team All-Defense, CJ McCollum! Liddell (right knee ACL injury recovery). In subsequent press conferences, the two would even grow to develop similar mannerisms, complementing one another along the way. CJ McCollum is one of the most under-appreciated stars in the NBA. 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. It's about respecting the game, playing hard and giving all you've got.". That didnt stop the Blazers duo from putting together signature moments in the process. In a considerably superior environment with more talent, the Warriors often got the better end of the stick. [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. Circumstances are undoubtedly different since that culture-changing Feb. 6, 2022 deal that sent McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans star forward finished the win with a season-high 40 points while also chipping in six rebounds and five assists. A small-market team and a mid-major star: There's no more perfect union in the NBA. Join us for a March Madness Webinar on Tuesday, March 7 at 8pm ET. There was a problem saving your notification. Listed as out for the Pelicans are Zion Williamson (right hamstring strain), Dyson Daniels (right ankle sprain) and E.J. [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. 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. We believed in the gameplan, and it wasnt about who gets the credit. The Last Hurrah OT Duel vs. Hardens Rockets Dec. 26, 2020. That didn't stop Lillard from scoring 41 points, his 13th time this season with 40-plus. Though, it shouldnt be forgotten what Lillard and his co-star did together in this one. 4. He just doesn't know if he will be there solely to take meetings as the president of the NBA Players Association or. The year after the Blazers drafted Lillard No. He scored 34 points in Mondays win over the Washington Wizards. [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. 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. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Among some highlights: The chemistry proved tangible. Talk about Blazers vs. Hawks First Half Here! All logos are the trademark & property of their owners and not Sports Reference LLC. Its going to be a roller coaster. 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. McCollum, who is in his 10th season, has never been named an All-Star. [57] In Game 6, he scored 30 points in a 119108 win, helping the Blazers tie the series against the Nuggets at 33. As New Orleans continues to scrounge for ways to win games amid its injury woes, Green discovering this lineup could be a significant development. Find out more about how we use your personal data in our privacy policy and cookie policy. "At first, it was weird," Lillard said after the 121-110 loss to New Orleans. McCollum's own teammate Damian Lillard is a four-time All-Star who is also at the height of his ability. "Obviously, that's a tough matchup," McCollum said. It's an undeserving slight given McCollum's career and current season. Despite. [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. But as long as we remain solid and be us, then we are going to be all right.. MLB Pulls All-Star Game From Atlanta, Georgia, in Response to Voting 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. 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. CJMcCollum Buthe is the only member of the Trail Blazers to make the cut. Just long, athletic guys all over the place. That spring of 2019 was something else, was it not? You could argue I should have made it in previous years. And, as the old saying goes, the best ability is availability. Big-time stuff. The Bombs Away Game Game 2, 2019 West First Round vs. OKC. Tonight marks the first-ever game between Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. Find out more. Among players to log at least 500 games, McCollums 19.4 points per game scoring average ranks No. CJ McCollum's For Pelicans-Lakers Game - Fastbreak on FanNation [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. 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. He smiled, folded his hands together, and took a bow of appreciation. 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. McCollum played college basketball for the Lehigh Mountain Hawks and was named the Patriot League Player of the Year in both 2010 and 2012. The Center aims to provide a safe and inspiring space for underserved youth to learn, explore, create, and grow. Carmelo Anthony, CJ McCollum snubbed as reserves in 2021 NBA All-Star Game CJ McCollum was born on September 19, 1991, making him 28 years old as of 2019. 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. 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. McCollum knows he is enough. 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. pic.twitter.com/xg2mvYWjBX. 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. [51] On December 30, he broke out of a six-game funk by hitting 13 of 18 shots in a 35-point performance as the Trail Blazers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 12995. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. MLB pulls All-Star Game from Atlanta in protest of restrictive new Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum Had Epic Duel In First Ever Matchup I am going to make plays. Be sure to share some of your favorite Lillard-McCollum memories below as well. I Broke My Back, Spinal! Play-In Game, 2020 vs. MEM. 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. Desperate times may call for desperate measures. Portland Trail Blazers Damian Lillard, who was snubbed as an All-Star starter, was a shoe-in. He spent half his six-year (plus three games of a seventh season) career coming off the bench. (31-33, 10th place in NBA Western Conference). McCollum led the Mountain Hawks to the 2010 NCAA tournament, where he put up 26 points in a first-round loss to a top-seeded Kansas team. . As the prime of his career reaches its zenith, its likely that CJ McCollum will go down as one of leagues greatest players to never earn an NBA All-Star nomination. The win moved New Orleans to 1.5 games ahead of Portland in the West. 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. Game One of the 2021 series against Denver, in which the two combined for 55. 1 all-time for players never making an appearance in the star-studded exhibition game. You can get full details here or simply visit the Trail Blazers ticket site and click Buying Options to donate a ticket or two! [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. We present them here for purely educational purposes. McCollum knows what its like to play in big games at Moda Center. [19] In the season-opener on October 25, he put up 25 points to help defeat the Utah Jazz, 113104. He is averaging 13.3 points per game, and has helped the Blazers maintain an 18-12 record so far. 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. McCollum looked like a bonafide All-Star before suffering a left mid-foot fracture that sidelined him for nearly two months. Vote CJ McCollum 2023 NBA All-Star - YouTube Im here to win games. CJ McCollum has made at least $147,980,107 playing professional basketball. 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. CJ McCollum attended Glen Oak in Canton, Ohio and Lehigh. The loss eliminated Portland from the playoffs, the last in a four-game sweep. CJ is big on that, backup point guard Jose Alvarado said. Portland Trail Blazers, 1st round (10th pick, 10th overall), 2013 NBA Draft, More CJ McCollum pages at Sports Reference. All rights reserved. Fighting merely to avoid being swept at the Moda Center, the Blazers brought pride and energy, largely through their talented guard grouping. CJ McCollum was drafted by Portland Trail Blazers, 1st round (10th pick, 10th overall), 2013 NBA Draft. Shooting Guard Jonas Valanciunas also missed Wednesdays game with a left calf contusion, and McCollum is playing through a thumb injury. Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson have combined to miss 42 games. CJ McCollum is on Instagram at 3jmccollum. 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. Data Provided By 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. 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. [76], On May 30, 2022, McCollum signed a multiplatform deal with ESPN to be an NBA analyst. He picked apart every coverage the Blazers threw at him and turned in one of the most efficient scoring performances of his career. 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 diary: 'This is happening far too often in our society 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.