CJ McCollum Posts Instagram Message For Damian Lillard
![Nov 15, 2021; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum (3) speaks with guard Damian Lillard (0) during the second half of the game against the Toronto Raptors at Moda Center. The Blazers won 118-113.Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports Nov 15, 2021; Portland, Oregon, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum (3) speaks with guard Damian Lillard (0) during the second half of the game against the Toronto Raptors at Moda Center. The Blazers won 118-113.Mandatory Credit: Steve Dykes-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4684,h_2634,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/fastbreak/01j2yd7cj8vhvw5e7g1h.jpg)
CJ McCollum and Damian Lillard were teammates for part of nine seasons on the Portland Trail Blazers.
The star duo led the Trail Blazers to the NBA playoffs eight times, and they reached the 2019 Western Conference finals.
On Monday, Lillard celebrated his 34th birthday.
McCollum made a post to his Instagram story with a message for Lillard.
McCollum wrote: "Happy birthday brotha. 🤝
Ya getting old 🤣🤣🤣"
McCollum was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans during the middle of the 2021-22 season.
He has spent part of three years playing for New Orleans.
This past season, the former Lehigh star averaged 20.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 4.6 assists per contest while shooting 45.9% from the field and 42.9% from the three-point range in 66 games.
Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum were a DYNAMIC DUO in the Pelicans' victory in Phoenix!
— NBA (@NBA) April 8, 2024
McCollum: 31 PTS, 5 AST, 7 3PM
Williamson: 29 PTS, 10 REB, 7 AST
NOP is tied with PHX for the 6th seed in the West 👀 pic.twitter.com/PThaTYTqG5
The Pelicans were the eighth seed in the Western Conference with a 49-33 record.
They made the NBA playoffs for the second time in the previous three years, but got swept by Chet Holmgren and the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.
CJ McCollum caps the Pels' 11-2 run to extend their Game 1 lead on TNT! pic.twitter.com/LNxxWNDI1H
— NBA (@NBA) April 22, 2024
On the other hand, Lillard still remains among the best point guards in the league.
He was traded to the Bucks last offseason and finished the year with averages of 24.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.0 steals per contest while shooting 42.4% from the field and 35.4% from the three-point range in 73 games.
The Bucks were the third seed in the Eastern Conference with a 49-33 record but lost to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs.