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CJ McCallumAt 31 and a decade into his NBA career, he does his best to keep his composure in the chaos. To be the voice of wisdom. teach the basics. But hey, kids can be stubborn. At this point, McCollum can’t help but cry a little over even this phone conversation.
“milk please‘ says McCallum quietly, his voice rising a half octave. “drink milk“
Jacobi James McCollum, 1, finally embraced coaching and his father was able to resume his thoughts on leadership, team building, winemaking, union leadership and fatherhood. He has new hopes with City after being traded from Portland to New Orleans last February. All of them suffered serious health hazards with their lungs collapsing in December 2021.
“This year has been the most complicated year of my life,” says McCollum. “It was a lot of character building, a lot of learning, a lot of trial and error, a lot of meditation, therapy sessions with a therapist. I’m trying to understand what you want.”
And basketball? Well, it’s a roller coaster ride.I got hurt on the day of this conversation pelican They are plagued by a losing streak and will soon reach seven games, the roughest stretch of the season. Brandon IngramTheir brilliant young All-Star. Zion WilliamsonIt’s their thermonuclear scoring machine.
After spending most of December in No. 1 or No. 2 in the West, the Pelicans team slipped to No. 4, its rotation spliced with youngsters and journeymen. And McCallum, who was acquired to be a fulcrum for Pels, a savvy playmaker who can keep the stars in rhythm and hum an offense, was pushed into a major scoring role out of necessity. rice field.
McCollum’s utilization was over 30% in January, up from 27% in December (when he still had Williamson) and 25% in November (when Pells was all out). .
“It was definitely tough,” says McCollum. “This was a unique challenge, and I had a conversation with [coach Willie Green] about it. And obviously there are different types of loads, different types of usage when BI and Zion are playing. “
While McCollum has a career-high 5.8 assists this season, he has more playmaking responsibilities than expected.
Rick Osentoski/USA TODAY Sports
Despite everything, McCollum produced at a rate that put him reasonably in the conversation for an All-Star Reserve spot. As of Sunday morning, he was one of his 11 players averaging at least 21 points, 4.5 rebounds and 5.5 assists, and in that group he has a . He was one of his four who surpassed McCallum’s All-Star case would surely have been strong had the Pelicans stayed healthy and placed in the top two in the West. As it stands, he may struggle to break out of a deep fielding range that includes Jai Morant, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, De’Aaron Fox, Anthony Edwards and, of course, his old running mate Damien Lillard.
Cue David Byrne mutters, “Same as ever.” McCallum spent his first nine seasons in the shadow of Lillard, posting his scores in the often overlooked star-class box, but notably Stephen Curry, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul and Klay Thompson.
“It’s an honor to even be mentioned in these conversations,” says McCollum. “Whether it’s first choice, second choice or third choice, I’m just grateful to be in the competition. I love competing. In that respect, I’d say I’ve consistently delivered, and I think a lot of coaches and teams across the league are seeing that.”
In any case, McCollum long ago got used to life on the frontier as a marginally recruited high school star who played four years for Lehi and a decade in two small markets in the NBA. And the most important thing at this stage of his career is winning, which is why McCollum was almost thrilled to land in New Orleans 12 months ago and was able to sign a contract extension there last fall. That’s why I’m so happy.
The Pelicans quickly revived the season after McCollum’s arrival, with an amazing run from a play-in tournament to a playoff team, terrorizing the No. 1-seeded Suns in the first round. Ingram, Williamson, and defensive ace Herb before his Jones injuries started to take their toll, they took another leap early in the season, diving into the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency.
With Ingram and Jones back and Williamson recovering, the Pelicans fully expect to replicate those results in the final 10 weeks of the season. All McCallum has to do is balance two precocious costars with proper scoring and playmaking, give this young roster as much wisdom as possible, and make the Pelicans a real force this spring. It is to bring out enough healthy play for
“I learned a lot from playing with Dame,” he says. “I think the leadership style, my approach, because of the fact that it’s a young team, was different than what it should be here. The fact that I’m playing more on the ball. I think the playoff experience is the most…. so I think it’s a different challenge, and it’s a unique challenge that I accept and I’m happy to be a part of. And it’s a journey, right?, I haven’t mastered it, but I think I’ve shown the fact that I can lead in many ways.”
Pelicans officials had all of this in mind when the Pelicans sent a package of players and draft picks to Portland for McCallum on Feb. 8. and a steady hand at point guard, a position Pells has needed since parting ways with Lonzo Ball and Drew Holiday in recent years.
Pelicans executive vice president David Griffin said of McCallum, “He was really who we thought he was.” I feel really good about it, and I think it’s been an adjustment for him in terms of understanding how much he can keep the ball and how quickly he can get off the ball.”
McCollum has shared ball-handling and scoring responsibilities since his Lillard days. An early partnership with Ingram came almost naturally. But Williamson’s return this season, though a welcome one, with his three ball-dominant stars looking to blend their respective talents, presented another dimension and another challenge. . With injuries and constant line-up changes, that dynamic remains a work in progress.
“Our season has been very volatile,” says Griffin. “I think it would have been harder [McCollum] to pick his spot. And he’s the perfect teammate. He is always looking for where and how he can help. And sometimes I think he paralyzes himself by the analysis. are doing.
McCollum seamlessly adjusted to his role as the Pelicans’ veteran leader, playing as many games as Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram combined.
Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports
Griffin has been chasing McCallum for years, but the Blazers under general manager Neil Orsey have consistently turned down all trade inquiries. That stance changed after Joe Cronin replaced Orsey in December 2021.
“It’s very rare to have a player available who checks all the boxes you’re going to check,” says Griffin. “CJ was it. His human element was very much in line with what we built.”
It’s been five years since this franchise had a winning record (behind Anthony Davis) and 15 years since the team (then known as the Hornets) beat the 50-win plateau (behind Chris Paul). has passed. This group has a chance to exceed all of that. With any luck, they could reach a place no New Orleans team has ever been before: the conference finals. In a year without a clear favorite in the West, it’s not hard to imagine.
“I like to keep my expectations within,” says Green. “I have a vision that I believe we can do. We weren’t healthy enough for that to happen.
It will require expert navigation, egos, expectations and a delicate massage of roles along the way, but much of that will be left to the second-year head coach and his veteran point guard.
If McCallum seems undaunted by the challenge, he’s already been through a lot in the past 18 months.
In August 2021, as the NBA and unions began preparing for a new collective bargaining agreement, he was elected President of the Players Association. The following month he purchased a winery in Oregon. Three months later, in a loss to the Celtics, McCallum injured a rib and caused a collapsed lung that kept him out for six weeks.Jacobi James came in on Jan. 10 while his father was still recovering at home. I was. McCollum returned to the Blazers’ lineup the following week and was traded three weeks after him, heading to New Orleans just after his son’s four-week checkup. It was last summer that CJ and his wife Elise were able to go shopping together in their new city. Oh, and he also signed on as a part-time analyst for ESPN while continuing his independent weekly podcast. Times Picayune.
I’m tired just doing type All of that, much less live it. (Hence, as McCallum puts it, “the most complicated year” of his life.)
“I think I’m very busy,” says McCollum. “My days are very calculated. Obviously, basketball comes first. Learning how to become, learning how to be a husband, learning how to transition, learning how to do business, learning how to negotiate on behalf of players, I think it’s all part of growing up.It’s all unique. It’s part of the challenge.”
He adds: i know who i am. I think it’s the most solid, healthy and comfortable I’ve ever had. “
It’s all going pretty well. McCallum Heritage 91 Pinot Noir wall street journal(Offering an occasional case of team dinners certainly helps team chemistry.) Labor talks with the league proceeded peacefully. And the Pelicans are getting healthy in time for their second-half comeback.
“This is a really good test for players who are currently healthy and playing and who are in mental distress. oh we almost had it. It was a game that had to be won‘ says McCallum. “It will all help us going forward. We will be healthy one day. You can actually build it.”
McCollum has now switched to speakerphone and has his hands free to change diapers while dashing the Pelicans’ hopes for the season. Jacobi walks mostly alone. That means he’s ready to hit a lob shot at a Fisher-Price basket with his dad. He’s just another young protégé who has to learn a few basics.
“It doesn’t get any better,” McCollum said before hanging up. “The best in the world.”
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