CJ McCollum Inducted Into Lehigh Hall Of Fame

McCollum is one of six members inducted into the Lehigh Athletics Hall of Fame.

NEW ORLEANS - New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum has impacted basketball at all levels in his playing career. Last week, Lehigh University inducted him into their athletics hall of fame. He's one of six to be bestowed the honor at the institution.

McCollum played for the Mountain Hawks from 2019-2013. His college highlights include:

• Being a 2x Patriot League Player of the Year.
• A 3x Patriot League First Team member.
• Leading Lehigh to their first-ever Division I Tournament victory.

McCollum's college accomplishments drew the eye of the Portland Trail Blazers, who drafted him with the 10th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.

During his induction speech, CJ spoke on being doubted as a scrawny 6-foot-1, 150-pound kid. "I think you start off with the chip," McCollum said. "You have these goals, you have these dreams, you have these aspirations as to what you want to accomplish, and usually people are doubting you along the way. Once I've accomplished them, I've just chased the work and allowed that to determine my success on and off the court."

Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

That same determination and work ethic has transitioned into his NBA career. He's averaged 20 or more points in eight straight seasons, tying him with NBA greats like Tracy McGrady, Paul Pierce, and David Robinson. McCollum also focuses on his off-the-court efforts to make a positive contribution to his community and those around him. 

McCollum is the current President of the NBA Players Association. He owns a wine brand, McCollum Heritage 91, and he uses his Leigh degree in journalism to host a podcast and write multiple articles featured on ESPN and the Players Tribune. Fans eager to see McCollum on the court have multiple avenues such as Live Sports on TV to see all 82 games of CJ on the hardwood. 

"It's so much more than just my performance on the court," McCollum said. "It's the things that we (the inductees) are doing off the court: the impact in the community, the character, the leadership, the values, the ethics. It just shows the well-roundedness that we have as Lehigh alums."

McCollum is entering his 11th season in the NBA and his second full year with the New Orleans Pelicans. Last season was his first year missing the playoffs since entering the NBA. He's hard at work this offseason, ensuring he can make a similar indelible mark on the Pelicans as he did at Lehigh.