Trail Blazers: Counting down the 10 greatest moments of CJ McCollum’s career

No. 10: Dropping Steph Curry with a behind-the-back in the Playoffs (2016)

The freshest Warrior-induced wound came when the Trail Blazers made history by blowing three leads of 15-or-more points in successive games in the 2019 Western Conference Finals. The ragtag 2016 bunch had arguably an even better chance, leading Game 2 for 40 minutes, Game 3 for 31 minutes, Game 4 for 36 minutes, and Game 5 for 29 minutes, and only came away from it with one victory.

Even as his team fell short, McCollum added a few highlights to his clip collection, including one brilliant behind-the-back midrange shot that put then back-to-back Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry his own floor seat.

CJ McCollum saved his best for last in this Game 5, hitting on 27 points on 11-of-23 shooting, among the first of many great elimination game performances.

No. 9: The offensive fireworks without Lillard (2020)

For the first (and only) instance of this countdown, will be coronating an assemblage of moments, instead of one individual one. It would be remiss to not include what CJ McCollum did during the brief stretch without Damian Lillard.

In 29 games without Lillard, McCollum has averaged 28.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 6.2 assists on an 47-38-80. He put that on steroids over a stretch from Feb. 12 to Mar. 2, where Lillard was sidelined. Over that time, he averaged:

— 31.9 PPG
— 5.0 RPG
— 7.9 APG
— 46.6% FG, 39.7% 3P, 77.8 FT%

In essence, he displayed the playmaking chops that most other Trail Blazers fans had longed to see. He showcased his ability to put up Beal / Booker-type numbers as the alpha dog, and for that, it deserves a spot on the list.

No. 8: The “he can’t f—ing guard me” game

One problem with being as consistent as CJ McCollum has been since entering his prime is that so many of the games where he has 20 points, and hits the clutch shot to put the Blazers over the top get uncategorized and forgotten. His game-winner against the Grizzlies to officially clinch the No. 8 seed this past season immediately forms to mind.

In great irony, McCollum went for 29 points on 11-of-19 shooting, including the bubble-bursting midrange stop-and-pull from the left elbow (where else?) over Ja Morant. And that game will never count on a box score, since it was a Play-In Tournament game.

Nonetheless, the shot added to McCollum’s “legend” in crunch-time moments. After the shot, he could be seen yelling into the camera, “He can’t f—ing guard me.” That’s the kind of late-game brilliance and confidence that can’t be left off this list.