Amid all the Portland Trail Blazers trade talk, the talk that has surrounded CJ McCollum and his trade market and availability to be moved, one fact stands clear, McCollum is one of the best shooters in the NBA.
Though his trade market may be up and down, McCollum’s pedigree as a shooter is always clear.
Year in year out, McCollum proves he is one of the best shot creators in the league. He can get his own shot in most situations, he can shoot off the dribble or off the catch, and he has a wicked floater.
At this point in time, because of Damian Lillard‘s pressure on the Blazers to keep the team competitive, the narrative around him isn’t great. Though he may be a great asset in a potential trade, McCollum still needs to be recognized as a Blazers great and an elite NBA player.
Here’s what separates him from most other players in the NBA
McCollum’s three-point shooting is of the highest standard, and as of last season, he raised his volume to a level that means he is right in the top tier.
McCollum is a career 39.8 percent shooter from three. The mark of 40 percent from three is considered elite in the NBA, and he is one season away from sitting in this for his career.
With a 500 made threes qualification, McCollum can join a club of just 41 players in NBA History who have achieved the 40 percent from three mark across their careers.
Even better, in 2021 he shot over 40 percent from three while attempting the highest volume of his career, at 8.9 attempts per game. The ability to increase your volume and stay efficient, is elite.
Next, is his floater. McCollum has one of the best floaters in the NBA, and he can get it off from either side of the floor, using the glass or straight on coming out of the pick and roll or in transition. Amazingly, McCollum has never shot under 43 percent on his floater in his nine-season in the NBA. This has meant he has finished in the top 20 percent of the league every year on floater efficiency, and has a 45.9 rate in his career. Again, like his three-point shooting, this mark is elite.
The other half of the mid-range is in the same boat. McCollum is one of the best mid-range shooters in the game.
He has never shot less than 40 percent from long-mid in his career, and his career rate is 46.4 percent. To put that in perspective, Kevin Durant shoots around 46 percent in his career from this distance.
McCollum is one of the best shooters in the league. Though his fit with Lillard may be criticized sometimes, there should be no questions around his skillset on the offensive end. Don’t let a potential trade sway your thinking on just how good McCollum is.