In a cruel blow for the Portland Trail Blazers, CJ McCollum has been ruled out for a month with a fracture to his foot. McCollum was in career-best form.
Things keep getting tougher for the Portland Trail Blazers. This time, it’s an injury to star shooting guard CJ McCollum. McCollum, who was in career-best form to start the season, had another played stand on his foot in the win over the Indiana Pacers.
He looked to be in some discomfort, but played on until the halftime break. When he didn’t return after the break, there was some concern. He missed the messy loss to the San Antonio Spurs, with the initial diagnosis of a sprained ankle before the extent of the injury was discovered via X-Ray.
The Blazers announced the news via their Twitter account.
INJURY UPDATE: Further imaging reveals CJ McCollum with a small hairline fracture to the lateral cuneiform in his left foot and a mid-foot sprain. McCollum will wear a walking boot and be re-evaluated in four weeks.
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) January 19, 2021
Though it is only a hairline fracture, McCollum has actually broken this left foot twice before, so there is a need for concern and caution when he returns.
This is a cruel blow for the organization, as the Blazers have already lost Zach Collins for the season, and then Jusuf Nurkic for eight weeks.
It is even tougher for McCollum though, as he was in career-best form, and was likely to be a first-time All-Star if this form continued.
Through 13 games, McCollum was averaging 26.7 points per game on a whopping 44 percent from three, and a career-high 5.0 assists and 1.3 steals as well.
The Blazers have cover for McCollum in the form of Gary Trent Jr. and Rodney Hood, but we hope that this injury isn’t more serious than the Blazers are letting on. One month without him and Nurkic is about all the Blazers could handle.