About
CJ McCollum (full name Christian James McCollum) is an American professional basketball player who currently plays for the Portland Trail Blazers. McCollum was born on September 19, 1991 in Canton, Ohio in the United States.
McCollum has established himself as one of the deadliest marksmen in the NBA, as he forms one of the most potent backcourts in the league with Blazers superstar point guard Damian Lillard.
CJ McCollum High School/College Career
Growing up, McCollum was not the tallest player around. He was actually considered an undersized guard during his early years as a high school basketball varsity player for GlenOak High School in his native town of Canton, Ohio. He relied on his athleticism and his shooting to stand out from the crowd.
By the time his high school career ended, McCollum was the all-time leading scorer in GlenOak history with 1,405 career points. He was also named as the Gatorade Ohio Player of the Year his senior year.
In college, McCollum was recruited to play for Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The Mountain Hawks played in the Patriot League, and it was clear early on that McCollum was set to dominate the league. He bagged Conference Rookie of the Year honors as a freshman, while also winning the Player of the Year award twice and the Tournament MVP trophy once. McCollum also holds the all-time scoring record in Patriot League history with 2,361 career points.
CJ McCollum Professional Career
After a very successful college career, McCollum was selected 10th overall in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Blazers. Portland needed a sharp-shooting two-guard to compliment Damian Lillard in the backcourt and McCollum fit the bill.
After averaging just 6.8 points per game in his second NBA season, McCollum made a significant leap in year three. The 6-foot-3 guard put up 20.8 points and 2.5 three-pointers per game during the 2015-16 season, which resulted in McCollum winning the Most Improved Player of the Year award.
In 2019, McCollum signed a big-money extension with the Blazers that will keep him in Portland until 2024. He is set to pocket $29.4 million in 2019-20, with his salary growing to a whopping $35.8 million in 2023-24.
