Though he doesn't have a signature sneaker like his starting backcourt mate, Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum has been endorsed by Nike since entering the NBA in 2013. And as is the case with many players who go on to make it to the NBA, McCollum's relationship with Nike goes back to high school, when the 6-4 guard played AAU ball for the King James Shooting Stars.
Now that McCollum is making a name for himself in the NBA, he's in position to be featured more prominently in Nike ad campaigns thanks to his exciting style of play, polished public persona and accumulation of accolades, which includes winning the 2016 NBA Most Improved Player award. Best I can tell, this "Hard Work Pays" Nike spot, which was shot this summer in Las Vegas, is McCollum's first with the sportswear giant, though hopefully not his last...
An apt message from a player who recently signed a four-year, near-max extension, which kicks in next season.