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CJ McCollum

CJ McCollum is an American professional basketball player known for his scoring and playmaking as a guard in the NBA.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

CJ McCollum is an American professional basketball player known for his scoring and playmaking as a guard in the NBA. He was selected 10th overall in the 2013 NBA draft after playing college basketball at Lehigh, and he won the NBA Most Improved Player Award in 2015–16. Although not Canadian, McCollum has relevance to Canadian readers due to the NBA's large Canadian audience and his games against Canadian teams.

Early life and college career

McCollum was born in Canton, Ohio, and later played college basketball at Lehigh. His college career established him as a standout scorer and helped him become a first-round NBA draft pick.

NBA career

McCollum was selected 10th overall in the 2013 NBA draft and went on to become one of the NBA’s more productive guards. He won the league’s Most Improved Player Award in 2015–16. During his career, he has played for multiple NBA teams, including the Portland Trail Blazers.

Playing style

McCollum is listed as a guard at 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, and is known for scoring, ball-handling, and creating offence.

Awards and recognition

His most notable league honour is the NBA Most Improved Player Award, and NBA player bios also list additional recognition such as a Player of the Week award.

Key facts

  • CJ McCollum played college basketball at Lehigh before entering the NBA.
  • He was drafted 10th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in 2013.
  • He won the NBA Most Improved Player Award for the 2015–16 season.
  • He is recognized as a high-scoring perimeter player and playmaker.
  • He has played for multiple NBA teams during his career, including the Trail Blazers.
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Canadian context

McCollum has relevance to Canadian readers because the NBA has a large Canadian audience and his career has included games against Canadian teams and regular coverage in Canadian sports media, though he is not Canadian.

Frequently asked questions

Who is CJ McCollum?
CJ McCollum is an American NBA guard known for his scoring and playmaking, and for winning the NBA Most Improved Player Award in 2015–16.
What college did CJ McCollum attend?
He played college basketball at Lehigh.
When was CJ McCollum drafted?
He was selected in the first round of the 2013 NBA draft, 10th overall.
What is CJ McCollum’s full name?
His full name is Christian James McCollum.
What position does CJ McCollum play?
He is listed as a guard.

References

  1. NBA — https://www.nba.com/player/203468/cj-mccollum
    Supports: Current player bio, position, height/weight, birthdate, draft details, and awards recognition.
  2. ESPN — https://www.espn.com/nba/player/bio/_/id/2490149/cj-mccollum
    Supports: Player bio including team, position, birthdate, college, draft info, and status.
  3. Lines.com — https://www.lines.com/nba/players/cj-mccollum-620
    Supports: Career overview, college background, draft selection, and Most Improved Player award.
  4. Lehigh Sports — https://lehighsports.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/cj-mccollum/5675
    Supports: College roster profile and collegiate scoring notes.
  5. Wikipedia (Polish) — https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/C.J._McCollum
    Supports: Full name, birth date, birthplace, and career notes.