Pelicans Guard CJ McCollum's Value Extends Further Than Just Making An All-Star Team

Pelicans guard CJ McCollum is working hard on and off the court to make New Orleans a winner.

New Orleans, LA - Pelicans guard CJ McCollum is having a career year. The 32-year-old veteran is the oldest player on the New Orleans roster, yet he's been the most consistent player on the team this year. This year should be a season where McCollum gets serious All-Star consideration. He's never made an All-Star game in his ten previous seasons in the league. 

McCollum is averaging career-highs in three-point percentage (44.8%), effective field goal percentage (59.9%), steals (1.2), and blocks (0.8). During January, CJ has been on a tear shooting the basketball, averaging 19.9 points on 50% shooting from the floor and 48% from beyond the arc. Despite McCollum's gaudy numbers, initial fan voting didn't have him in the Top 10 guards in the Western Conference for the All-Star game. 

Jan 23, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) celebrates a three-point basket against the Utah Jazz during the second half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports

New Orleans Pelicans coach Willie Green thinks an All-Star nod would be nice for CJ, but McCollum and the Pelicans have loftier goals. "We would definitely love the opportunity for CJ to be an All-Star," Coach Green told reporters after McCollum's 33-point performance on Tuesday. "I think he'll (McCollum) agree that more importantly, we want to have a deep run into the postseason and playoffs and have an opportunity to do some damage in May and June."

McCollum's long summer this past offseason is fueling his terrific start to the year. Last season marked the first time in CJ's career that he missed the playoffs. The extra time off during the summer was used to refine his already proficient skill set and take his game to the next level for the upcoming year. That hard work did not go unnoticed by the Pels front office. Pelicans vice president of basketball operations David Griffin said that McCollum was "far and away the best player in our gym this off-season.”

The hard work over the summer yielded immediate results, with McCollum starting the year as the team's leading scorer in four of the first five games, with the Pels jumping out to a 4-1 record. On the year, New Orleans is 7-1 when McCollum is the leading scorer on the team, and 20-10 overall when he plays this year. In-season work for McCollum is just as important as his preparation allows him to perform at the highest level.

"I sacrifice a lot to be able to do this," McCollum recently told local reporters. "I spend a lot of time working on my game, reading, writing, going to sleep early, PT (personal trainer), massage, in the gym at night. In the gym in the morning, work out after practice. I sacrifice a lot to be great at basketball." CJ is also doing his part to be great off the court and in the community.

McCollum recently pledged support for ten kids from Louisiana who wanted to attend college. The McCollum Scholars program will financially enable current high school juniors in Orleans Parish to get assistance in applying for college, as well as provide mentorship throughout their college years and past graduation. Each McCollum Scholar can receive up to $80,000. 

An All-Star nod would individually be a nice accolade for McCollum. However, the work he's doing on and off the court in New Orleans is already making him a star. The prize McCollum and the Pelicans ultimately want is a championship trophy hoisted in June.