CJ McCollum has built a reputation as one of the most skilled and intelligent guards in the NBA. From his early days at Lehigh to his success with the Portland Trail Blazers and now the New Orleans Pelicans, his approach to the game has been defined by precision and adaptability.
In a recent conversation with NBA insider Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, McCollum opened up about the players who shaped his game. He credited several all-time greats as influences.
“Besides my brother? I watched a lot of Allen Iverson. I watched a lot of Steve Nash. I watched a lot of Rip Hamilton. I watched young Gilbert [Arenas] and obviously Kobe and Mike,” McCollum said. “I watched all those guys but really, you know, for me, it was like figuring how to be successful and how to be impactful and how to create space in the league where everybody’s athletic and everybody’s fast and everybody’s good.”
McCollum’s scoring style reflects elements of his inspirations, blending elite shot creation, footwork, and efficiency. He has consistently thrived as a go-to option, whether as Damian Lillard’s backcourt partner in Portland or as a veteran leader in New Orleans.
The NBA has evolved into a league dominated by high-scoring guards, but McCollum believes basketball operates in cycles.
“Basketball is a game of trends, and right now the trend is scoring athletic guards and that’s the way it’s going to be for a while. And at some point, as the players continue to mature, there’s a process where they’ll have growth and development and then guys will change.”
At 33, McCollum is averaging 20.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in 32.6 minutes per game. The Pelicans, however, have struggled this season. With a 19-53 record, they sit in 14th place in the Western Conference and have already been eliminated from playoff contention.
Despite New Orleans’ challenges, McCollum continues to be a key voice in the league, both as a player and as a media presence. His perspective on basketball’s trends reflects the experience of a player who has successfully navigated more than a decade in the NBA.
