C.J. McCollum

C.J. McCollum
All-Pro Reels · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	C.J. McCollum
Position	Shooting guard / point guard
Weight lb	190
League	National Basketball Association
Team	New Orleans Pelicans
Birth date	March 5, 1991
Birth place	Canton, Ohio
High school	GlenOak (Canton, Ohio)
College	Lehigh (2009–2013)
Draft year	2013
Draft pick	10
Draft team	Portland Trail Blazers

C.J. McCollum is an American professional basketball player known for his scoring, shooting, and off-court media work. He played collegiate basketball at Lehigh University before being selected in the 2013 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers, later joining the New Orleans Pelicans. McCollum has been recognized with individual awards and has participated in multiple NBA All-Star Game conversations while contributing to playoff campaigns and community initiatives.

Early life and high school

McCollum was born in Canton, Ohio and raised in a family involved in athletics and education, attending GlenOak High School where he played alongside teammates who pursued collegiate careers at schools like Akron and Kent State. In high school he competed in Ohio state tournaments and faced programs such as St. Vincent–St. Mary High School under coaches with connections to The University of Akron and Ohio State University. Scouts from institutions including University of Pittsburgh, Syracuse University, Villanova University, and Marquette University observed him, but he committed to Lehigh University, joining a Patriot League roster that had previously featured players with ties to Army and Bucknell.

College career

At Lehigh University McCollum emerged as a leading scorer and playmaker in the Patriot League, earning comparisons to guards from Duke, North Carolina, and Villanova. He led Lehigh to an upset over Duke in the 2012 NCAA Tournament, joining earlier giant-killing moments involving David vs. Goliath wins such as NC State's 1983 run and Providence challengers. McCollum collected accolades including Patriot League Player of the Year and selections to All-Conference teams alongside contemporaries who later played in the NBA and EuroLeague, drawing attention from USA Basketball scouts and front offices of franchises like the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Chicago Bulls.

Professional career

Drafted tenth overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2013 NBA draft, McCollum joined a backcourt featuring players from Syracuse, Kentucky, and Stanford. Early in his career he had assignments with the Idaho Stampede of the NBA G League and developed under coaches linked to Oregon State and Gonzaga. McCollum became a starter and an integral scorer on teams that faced opponents such as the Golden State Warriors, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, and Houston Rockets in regular season and playoff series. He posted career-high scoring performances versus players including Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant and recorded playoff games that drew comparisons to performances by guards like Deron Williams and Dwyane Wade.

In Portland, McCollum earned Western Conference Player of the Week nods while playing with teammates from programs like Michigan State, North Carolina, and Gonzaga. After a decade with the Trail Blazers, he was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans, joining a roster with stars who played collegiately at Gonzaga, Duke, Kentucky, and Michigan State. With the Pelicans he competed in matchups featuring franchises such as the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Philadelphia 76ers, and Miami Heat, contributing veteran scoring and secondary playmaking while adapting to coaching staffs influenced by leaders from College Basketball Hall of Fame pedigrees.

Playing style and achievements

McCollum's offensive game blends pull-up shooting, off-ball movement, and pick-and-roll execution reminiscent of guards from UConn, Louisville, and Marquette. He is noted for three-point shooting comparable to guards who won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award and for midrange efficiency like players coached through systems used at Texas, Arizona, and Syracuse. Achievements include All-Rookie recognition conversations, multiple 30-point games, and franchise scoring records shared in historical lists alongside Clyde Drexler, Damian Lillard, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Terry Porter. His statistical contributions have been studied in analytics communities connected to Basketball-Reference, ESPN, and The Athletic, and he has participated in league-wide events including NBA All-Star Weekend activities and international exhibitions involving FIBA-aligned competition.

Personal life

Off the court, McCollum has engaged in media and entrepreneurial ventures including podcasting and writing, collaborating with personalities linked to The Ringer, ESPN, Barstool Sports, and platforms featuring journalists from outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Athletic. He has participated in philanthropy and community programs that partner with organizations such as UNICEF, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and local foundations in Portland, Oregon and New Orleans, Louisiana. McCollum's interests include film and literature, and he has supported initiatives in cities associated with teams like the Portland Trail Blazers and New Orleans Pelicans, working alongside athletes connected to franchises such as the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Golden State Warriors on charitable campaigns.

Category:1991 births Category:Living people Category:American basketball players Category:Lehigh Mountain Hawks men's basketball players Category:Portland Trail Blazers players Category:New Orleans Pelicans players