Age: 30
NBA experience: Nine seasons (one with Pelicans)
Games played/games started: 26/26
Key stats: 24.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 5.8 apg, 49.3 FG percentage, 39.4 three-point percentage
CJ McCollum 2021-22 Pelicans Season Overview
The scoring punch CJ McCollum provided to his new team over a three-month span was easy to calculate: The shooting guard tallied 30-plus points nine different times for New Orleans, including during wins over Denver and Phoenix, as well as in Game 3 of the playoffs vs. the Suns. McCollum’s playmaking and distributing were also simple to compute: He led the Pelicans in assists (5.8 per game) from his Feb. 10 debut vs. Miami through the end of the regular season.
More difficult to measure, but perhaps just as important long term for the Crescent City, when the nine-year pro knew a midseason trade from Portland was imminent, McCollum chose the Pelicans as his preferred next team. New Orleans is where he hopes to spend the rest of his NBA career. The message that sent was resounding, as one of the league’s most respected players recognized that his best option was the Big Easy, for a variety of reasons.
Whether it was his leadership and experience (63 career playoff games, most on NOLA’s roster), or what he provided on the court as a much-needed, dangerous three-point weapon, McCollum proved to be a snug fit for the Pelicans. While other trade-deadline deals received significantly more hype and media attention – particularly those involving the NBA’s biggest markets – perhaps no transaction was as impactful as New Orleans landing the longtime Trail Blazer. McCollum helped lead the Pelicans to a 13-10 record after the All-Star break (12-8 when he played) and a trip to the playoffs, maintaining a run of perfection since he was drafted 10th overall in 2013.
“You make nine straight playoff runs, you’re doing something right, just starting there,” Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin said of McCollum. “He was exactly what we needed in every way, on and off the court. His fit with our group as a human couldn’t have been better.”
McCollum helped dig the Pelicans out of a standings deficit that was created before his arrival. He’s now looking forward to being part of the squad from Day 1 next season and opening the campaign 0-0.
“I can assure you we won’t start (next season) however we started (this season), based on experience, understanding and preparation,” McCollum said after the team’s narrow Game 6 playoff loss to Phoenix. “I’m excited to go through a full training camp and really be with the team from the beginning, as opposed to coming in on the fly.
“The future is very bright. I’m thankful to be here. (The organization) welcomed me with open arms. I think we hit the ground running. We hit some bumps along the way – I got Covid (in March), we had some injuries – but I think we learned a lot about ourselves, this team, this city, this organization. Obviously we have an All-World player (Zion Williamson) coming back next season. We’re going to welcome him well and hit the ground running.”
McCollum already had plenty of playoff battles under his belt when he arrived in New Orleans, but the first-round clash with Phoenix helped many of his teammates get their first taste of that level of intensity. McCollum believes it will pay off for the Pelicans down the road.
“I’m excited about the future, I’m excited to get back to work,” he said. “For all of us the motivation is there, understanding how close we were (vs. the Suns), but how far we have to go. Playing against a championship-caliber team is always an eye-opening experience and kind of shows you how to get to that point.”
Highlights: CJ McCollum 2021-22 Pelicans Season Recap
CJ McCollum By the Numbers
24.3: McCollum scoring average for New Orleans, a higher total than what he produced in any of his eight-plus seasons with Portland (23.1 was his top tally). McCollum owns a vineyard in Oregon and – like the wines he will be producing – is getting better with age.
9: Rank among all NBA players this season in mid-range baskets. McCollum averaged 2.1 (shooting 47.4 percent). The only players with more mid-range hoops were DeMar DeRozan, Kevin Durant, Brandon Ingram, Devin Booker, Chris Paul, Joel Embiid, LaMarcus Aldridge and Paul George.
2: Rank for McCollum in career points (11,341) among the 60 players picked in the 2013 NBA Draft, behind only Giannis Antetokounmpo (14,321). According to Basketball Reference, 20 players from that draft class have played in all nine NBA seasons since they were selected.
CJ McCollum's Three Most Notable Games
No. 1: April 13, New Orleans 113, San Antonio 103
The NBA postseason was a new setting for many of his teammates, but McCollum took the bull by the horns in the first half of the play-in tournament opener vs. the Spurs, pouring in 27 points on scorching 10/12 shooting. He finished with 32 points, six rebounds and seven assists.
No. 2: April 1, New Orleans 114, LA Lakers 111
McCollum’s 32 points helped lift the Pelicans to a vital regular season win, which simultaneously dealt a major blow to the purple and gold’s chances of staying in the play-in race. After LeBron James’ three-point miss at the buzzer, McCollum also finished with seven rebounds and two steals.
No. 3: Feb. 25, New Orleans 117, Phoenix 102
In a win that seemed to propel the Pelicans to big things after the All-Star break, McCollum (32 points) and Brandon Ingram combined for 60 points. McCollum was 11/18 from the field, dropping in 16 points in each half. NOLA reeled off four straight wins, with the next three by a total of 92 points.
Photos: CJ McCollum 2021‑22 Season in Review
1 / 50Get a look at CJ McCollum's 2021-22 NBA season with the New Orleans Pelicans.
From the 12
Each player review will include a poll or question directed to the New Orleans fan base. For McCollum, the query was: From your perspective, what was the best aspect(s) of acquiring him in a February trade? There were a multitude of responses on Twitter. Here is a sampling of them:
@PBoudreauxNews: I remember thinking after that trade we were a playoff team and that’s exactly what ended up happening.
@whodatfan88: He gave us a chance. Embraced New Orleans from the start. He wanted to be a part of making something out of this team.
@briharrell: Honestly, I knew he would be great on the court seeing him play for Portland all those years. The best surprise has been his total buy-in to the city and team. It’s amazing to see a guy embrace New Orleans like he has, especially given all the shade we often get from the media.
@BigFella112: He brings leadership and veteran experience, something a young team always needs in today's league but him embracing the city instantly is what I enjoy the most. He’s making it known that he’ll be here and wanted to be here from the jump.
@FreakyPeezy: It’s the public show of the culture change in New Orleans. We knew prior to CJ being traded here and even after CJ was traded how special the locker room and team was and will be, but CJ actively promoted it and brought it to national media’s attention.
@grapplereport: A time when national media was (making digs against) New Orleans and the fan base, he chose to come here and immediately said “y’all got it all wrong.”
@IanAlvarado25: Having a great veteran presence and having another weapon to relieve the attention that teams were putting into Brandon Ingram.
@knechtwithme18: The president of the NBPA telling people NOLA is a great place to play. After CP3 and AD, it became a trampoline place for stars. Now? We may have a chance for long-term stars.
@the1nonlycoop: He brings professionalism to young people that haven’t learned it yet. And work ethic.
@retro_pels: A leader who can connect with old and young players.
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