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Portland Trail Blazers: 3 NBA records the Blazers could to break in 2020-21

By Marlow Ferguson Jr.

PORTLAND, OREGON - DECEMBER 23: Carmelo Anthony #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers warms up before the game against the Utah Jazz at Moda Center on December 23, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OREGON - DECEMBER 23: Carmelo Anthony #00 of the Portland Trail Blazers warms up before the game against the Utah Jazz at Moda Center on December 23, 2020 in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /
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Portland Trail Blazers
CJ McCollum, Portland Trail Blazers (Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports) /

No. 2: CJ McCollum joining the 10K club

Currently: 9,024 points
What’s needed: 976 points (at least 14.3 points per game over next 68 games)

Here’s a development that’s almost surprising when one thinks about it. CJ McCollum has played in 94.7 percent of his team’s games since becoming a featured star in 2015-16, and has averaged at least 20 points in each of the last five seasons. And somehow, math has it that he’s about 1,000 points away from the 10,000-point club.

He’s certainly accelerated the curve with his 2020-21 season thus far, playing at an All-Star level. And just for what it’s worth, he’s No. 8 on Basketball Reference’s Most Valuable Player five games in.

It’s unclear as to if McCollum will be able to maintain the torrid pace he’s set himself on thus far. But as long as he does what he’s always done and he remains healthy, cracking the 10,000 point list is just a few pull-up jumpers away.

Assuming Portland’s ship doesn’t sink to the point where trade rumors again begin to circulate, McCollum would also be setting himself up with a chance to become just the eighth player in Portland Trail Blazers history to score at least 10,000 points with just that franchise.

If the Blazers reciprocate McCollum’s loyalty, there’s a legitimate window in which he joins Drexler and Lillard in the 15,000-point club, too. But that’s a few years now. For now, call it another potential chapter in his story. Should the cards fall right, 2021 could be the year to remember for the talented two-guard.