With each NBA draft featuring an increasingly large group of prospects who spent just one year in college, the league continues to get younger. On the other hand, NBA rosters also include more quality players at age 35 and up than they once did – consider the important roles still filled by LeBron James (38), Chris Paul (38), Steph Curry (35), Brook Lopez (35) and Kevin Durant (35).
Having celebrated his 32nd birthday last month, New Orleans guard CJ McCollum is a few years away from joining the 35-and-over club, but he’s long understood the importance of adjusting his preparation as his career progresses. There are actually a few dozen active NBA players older than McCollum, but only single-name elite stars like LeBron and Steph remain as productive as the 11-year veteran, who averaged 20.9 points per game in 2022-23. McCollum shot 39 percent from three-point range, sinking 211 treys despite battling injuries, including to his right thumb and shoulder. He connected on the fifth-most triples of any NBA player over age 30, behind only Klay Thompson (301), Curry (273), longtime Portland teammate Damian Lillard (244) and Tim Hardaway Jr. (212).
Not coincidentally, none of those perimeter gunners rely heavily on top-tier athleticism or speed, instead depending on skill and veteran savvy to varying degrees. That’s one piece of how McCollum has continued to be an NBA top-50 scorer. He’s also been highly durable, playing 665 games over his 10 previous seasons. Since cementing a rotation role with Portland in 2015-16, he’s appeared in 70-plus games six times, including one three-year stretch of 241 games (out of a possible 246). Pelicans head coach Willie Green has frequently complimented McCollum on his conditioning during training camp and preseason.
“Historically, I always take good care of myself and put myself in the best position to be successful,” McCollum explained of maintaining his body. “As I get on the other side of 30, I understand the importance of making sure you’re in shape, making sure I’m eating right, doing the little stuff to prolong my career as long as possible. This is Year 11, so I kind of know exactly what I need to get ready. I wanted to make sure I was ahead of the curve to hit the ground running.”
Guards whose biggest strength is quickness tend to decline rapidly in their mid-30s, but for McCollum and several of his fellow technical tacticians, a lengthier career is possible. McCollum has averaged 20-plus points and been an above-average three-point percentage shooter for eight consecutive seasons.
“A lot of players who are skill-based, their games age really well,” he said. “For my game, I don't really dunk on people, so I have to think the game. I have to be able to play angles, manipulate pick-and-rolls, and really just be sound with my skill and decision-making. That’s where you get growth as you get more years of experience.”
One thing McCollum had never experienced in the NBA prior to last season was a non-playoff year, after New Orleans was eliminated in the play-in tournament by Oklahoma City. He took advantage of a longer-than-expected offseason to recuperate from his injuries and prepare for what the Pelicans hope will be a return to late-April hoops.
“As a team, we understand what’s at stake and what we left behind last season,” said McCollum, alluding to New Orleans being at the top of the Western Conference standings, before faltering. “I think everyone is pretty hungry and motivated. This was the longest summer I’ve ever had in my life, where I could really work on stuff and really rest, grow physically and mentally, after a long year of playing through (injuries).”