Portland Trail Blazers: CJ McCollum Injury Prone or Freak Injuries
The Portland Trail Blazers have one of the best backcourts in the NBA. However, this tandem hasn’t played together as much over the last two years as they did in previous seasons. Is this because CJ McCollum is injury prone or the victim of freak injuries?
The Portland Trail Blazers have one of the best backcourts in the NBA. However, over the last two years, this tandem’s playing time together isn’t what it once was in previous seasons. This year marks the second year in a row that CJ McCollum has missed significant time with injury. Is this because McCollum is injury prone or the victim of freak injuries?
Injuries
Last season McCollum missed a quarter of the year due to a small hairline fracture of the lateral cuneiform in his left foot, along with a mid-foot sprain. Prior to the injury, he was on his way to a possible All-Star selection. This year McCollum is currently out of commission due to pneumothorax or, in simpler terms, a collapsed lung!
Both injuries occurred in 2021, the foot in January and the lung in December. What a way to bookend the year. Recently, the team announced that McCollum’s lung is fully healed, thus clearing him for shooting and non-contact drills. However, there is still no timeline for his return to games.
Team announces that @CJMcCollum's right lung is "fully healed" and that he's been cleared for non-contact activities. Doesn't sound like his return is imminent but it's progress.
— Casey Holdahl (@CHold) December 24, 2021
Going back to McCollum’s college days. In his senior year at Lehigh, he missed time with a fractured fifth metatarsal in his left foot. That makes two severe foot injuries to the same foot. Due to the severity of these injuries, there is the possibility of reinjuring or leading to other possible injuries.
McCollum is playing in his age-30 season this year. By the start of next season, he’ll be 31. As of now, he still has two more years left on his most recent contract extension. It pains me to say this, but maybe it’s time for the Portland Trail Blazers to look into trading McCollum. Obviously, this is a question the team’s new GM will have to make.