CJ McCollum shall be in attendance for NBA All-Star Weekend in February. He simply doesn’t know if he shall be there solely to take conferences because the president of the NBA Gamers Affiliation or if his journey to Salt Lake Metropolis will serve a twin goal.
McCollum, who’s in his Tenth season, has by no means been named an All-Star. He is among the finest gamers of his technology to have by no means earned a nod.
“I receives a commission like an All-Star,” McCollum stated. “If it occurs, that’s nice. If not, I’m handled very effectively on the first and the fifteenth. I simply do my job. You may argue I ought to have made it in earlier years. Nevertheless it’s extra about crew success.”
McCollum is making $33.3 million this season. By the point the yr is over, he may have collected near $180 million in profession earnings. His consistency is a part of why groups worth him. In illness and well being, McCollum rains jumpers.
The 31-year-old guard battled the flu and COVID-19 early this season. He has nonetheless performed in 38 of a attainable 43 video games. He’s averaging 21.2 factors, 4.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists. He hit a franchise-record 11 3-pointers in a Dec. 30 win over the Philadelphia 76ers, and he’s now as much as 40.3% taking pictures from distance on 7.4 makes an attempt per recreation.
Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson have mixed to overlook 42 video games. The Pelicans (26-17) nonetheless sit in third place within the West.
“Some would argue if I used to be within the East, I might have been a multi-time All-Star,” McCollum stated. “However I believe it’s about crew success. I’m right here to win video games. I’m going to be extra environment friendly. I’m going to be extra constant. I’m going to make performs. I’m going to make pictures and am going to assist us win.”
McCollum is taking pictures a wholesome 40.1% on catch-and-shoot 3s this season. As soon as Williamson and Ingram are again within the lineup, he ought to get extra high quality seems to be off of kick-outs.
Whereas they’re out, the Pelicans rely closely on McCollum’s capability to create one thing out of nothing. He scored 34 factors in Monday’s win over the Washington Wizards. Two nights later, he had 38 factors in a loss to the Boston Celtics.
McCollum is sinking 1.4 pull-up 3s per recreation this season, virtually another than the next-closest Pelican. The three.9 pull-up jumpers he’s making per contest are the Tenth-most within the NBA.
New Orleans is within the midst of a season-long five-game highway journey. Up to now, it’s 2-2 although three of its regular starters — Williamson, Ingram and Herb Jones — have all missed a number of video games. McCollum has repeatedly careworn not being too reactive to the ebbs and flows of the NBA season, a message that has permeated all through the roster.
“CJ is huge on that,” backup level guard Jose Alvarado stated. “It’s going to be a curler coaster. However so long as we stay stable and be us, then we’re going to be all proper.”
McCollum doesn’t solely dispense recommendation. He’s a keen listener. Throughout the Pelicans’ win in opposition to the Wizards, Alvarado saved telling McCollum what he was seeing on the courtroom throughout stoppages in play. Afterward, Alvarado stated New Orleans’ stars not having inflated egos is a part of why the crew has a robust locker room.
“I believe all of us care about one another,” Alvarado stated. “We’ve got nice human beings in right here. Not simply nice basketball gamers. However we simply care about one another. I assume we received fortunate. I don’t know what it’s. The group is doing an excellent job of choosing its characters up.”
It has been virtually one yr for the reason that Pelicans traded for McCollum and Larry Nance Jr. When that swap with the Portland Path Blazers was finalized on Feb. 8, New Orleans’ document was 22-32. The crew’s document since then, together with play-in event and playoff video games, is 44-35.
If McCollum makes his first All-Star look subsequent month, he would fortunately play. If not, then he’ll deal with his duties as NBPA president after which escape the Mountain West chilly for just a few days along with his household.
“If it’s in God’s plan for it to occur, so be it,” McCollum stated. “And if not, I’ll be on the market for some conferences anyway. Caring for enterprise for the gamers. Then I’ll take pleasure in a pleasant trip with my spouse. It’ll be what it’s going to be.”
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