The New Orleans Pelicans knew they needed another lead guard.
Losing Lonzo Ball and Jrue Holiday were two major blows they struggled to get up from, and that’s why they targeted CJ McCollum.
The former Portland Trail Blazers combo/guard has fit in like a glove in the Big Easy.
He recently spoke about how comfortable he feels within the community and the organization, and that’s definitely also impacted his play on the court:
“The organization, front office has been fantastic,” McCollum said. “Everything they said they were gonna do, they’ve done. Everything I said I was gonna do, I’ve done. So it’s been a really happy relationship in terms of development, in terms of how I move around the locker room, how I move in the community, how I play and how they’ve coached me, how they’ve stayed on me and continued to try to get the best out of me.”
McCollum has been on a tear since joining his new team.
More recently, he’s averaging 30.8 points per game on 51% shooting from beyond the arc over the past five games, trying to keep the team’s hopes afloat while both Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram are out nursing injuries.
He’s getting hot at the right time, which is why some believe he’s already achieved All-Star status.
Over his last five games, @CJMcCollum is averaging 30.8 PPG and has shot 24-47 from three (51%) 🙌
Retweet and vote to push CJ to the #NBAAllStar game: https://t.co/sf63UmzpYP#Pelicans pic.twitter.com/nsCFKXJfeH
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) January 12, 2023
Over the season, McCollum has averaged 21.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 1.0 steals, and 3.0 three-pointers on 43/40/79 shooting splits, providing some much-needed veteran leadership as well.
So, why not?
Maybe, the former Most Improved Player will finally get the first All-Star nod of his career.
NEXT: Pelicans Fans Are Furious At Wednesday's Technical Fouls