Introduction
On Tuesday, December 7th, 2021 the Portland Trail Blazers announced that their star veteran starting shooting guard, C. J. McCollum, was diagnosed with a collapsed right lung. McCollum will be sidelined due to this injury indefinitely, and he will most likely miss several of the upcoming basketball games for the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Injury
C. J. was initially injured during the 4th – quarter of the Portland Trail Blazers’ 145 to 117 loss to the Boston Celtics on Saturday, December 4th, 2021. McCollum was then listed as probable with a rib contusion for the Portland Trail Blazers’ following game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday, December 6th, 2021, but the sharp shooting guard of the Portland Trail Blazers was unable to go come game time last Monday night because of the discomfort he was feeling in his mid – section.
The Los Angeles Clippers ended up defeating the Portland Trail Blazers in that match up with a final score of 102 to 90. That was the Portland Trail Blazers most recent game, and it marked a 3 – game losing streak for the NBA team out of Oregon.
Following the Portland Trail Blazers last game vs. the L. A. Clips McCollum ultimately underwent a CT scan, and the results of that scan revealed that C. J. had endured a collapsed right lung as opposed to the previously thought rib contusions. The Portland Trail Blazers are not sure when McCollum will return to their starting line – up, but they sure will miss his on the court production. C. J. was averaging 20.5 points per game, 4.1 rebounds per game, and 4.5 assists per game prior to his absence due to this recent injury.
Other Injury Issues for the Portland Trail Blazers
Besides C. J. McCollum the Portland Trail Blazers have been dealing a large assortment of other injuries especially to some of their most valuable and core players on their team roster. Most importantly is that they have been forced to play the last 4 – games without their 6 – time NBA All – Star point guard, Damian Lillard. Lillard has been sidelined due to lower abdominal tendinopathy.
The Portland Trail Blazers back up point guard, Anfernee Simons, is presently out with a right ankle sprain, and their forward Nassir Little has also missed 4 – games with a left ankle sprain. The Portland Trail Blazers guard Ben McLemore had to leave the basketball game last Monday against the Los Angeles Clippers because of a bruised hip, and the Trail Blazers center Cody Zeller has a bruised right quad as well.
The Current NBA Standings (as of 12 / 8 / 2021)
At the moment the Portland Trail Blazers have compiled an overall record of 11 and 14 throughout the beginning of the current 2021 – 2022 season of the National Basketball Association. They are presently sitting in 10th – place out of the 15 – spots in the NBA’s Western Conference standings. Luckily for them there is still plenty of time left in the season, and hopefully the Portland Trail Blazers can turn things as soon as their key players get healthy and rejoin their team on the court. As bad as 10th – place sounds, Portland is only 2 - games behind the 5th – place in the Western Conference of the NBA where the Los Angeles Clippers sit.
McCollum’s Basketball Career Achievements, Honors, & Awards
- Voted the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2016.
- 2 - Time Associated Press Honorable Mention All - American in 2010 & 2012.
- 2 - Time Patriot League Player of the Year Award in 2010 & 2012.
- 3 - Time First - Team All - Patriot League in 2010, 2011, & 2012.
- Patriot League Tournament MVP Award in 2012.
- Patriot League Rookie of the Year Award in 2010.
- C. J. McCollum’s Number 3 Retired by the Lehigh Mountain Hawks
Sources:
“Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum out after CT scan reveals collapsed right lung”, espn.com, December 7, 2021.
“C. J. McCollum”, basketball-reference.com, December 8, 2021.
“NBA Standings 2021 - 22”, espn.com, December 8, 2021.
“Portland Trail Blazers Schedule 2021 - 22”, espn.com, December 8, 2021.