CJ McCollum Biography Facts, Childhood, Net Worth, Life

CJ McCollum Biography Facts, Childhood, Net Worth, Life
CJ McCollum with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2018. (Photo credit: clutchpoints.com)

C.J. McCollum is an American basketball player who plays in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Portland Trail Blazers. One of the top players in the NBA who continue to add to the thrill of the game, McCollum is a player with great dynamics and energetic gameplay abilities. In this CJ McCollum biography facts, childhood, net worth and personal life, we review the profile of one of NBA’s rising stars.

CJ McCollum Biography Facts, Age, Nickname, Family, Wife, Zodiac

  • Full Name: Christian James McCollum
  • Nicknames: CJ, Chef CJ
  • Date of Birth: September 19, 1991
  • Age: 32 years
  • Place of Birth: Canton, Ohio, United States
  • Nationality: American
  • Height: 6 feet, 3 inches
  • Shoe Size: 12.5
  • Weight: 190 lb (86 kg)
  • Education: GlenOak High School,  Lehigh University 
  • Parents: Errick McCollum I; Kathy Andrews
  • Sibling: Errick McCollum (brother)
  • Patner: Elise Esposito (fiancee)
  • Net Worth: $14 million
  • Occupation: Basketball Player
  • Current Team: Portland Trail Blazers
  • Playing Career: 2013–present
  • Zodiac Sign: Virgo

CJ McCollum Childhood Story & Early Life

Born on September 19, 1991, McCollum is the youngest of two children born to Errick McCollum I and Kathy Andrew. While much information about his early life is unknown, McCollum and his brother who both began playing basketball at a young age, went on to play basketball professionally.

CJ McCollum High School Career

Glenoak High School

In 2005, McCollum who stood at 5 feet 2 inches in his first year at high school played basketball despite not having his desired height. By the time, he was in his junior year, he had grown up to 6 feet. In his senior year in high school, he averaged 29.3 points and went on to become his high school all-time top scorer with 1405 points. At the conclusion of his senior year in high school, Gatorade named him Ohio Player of the Year. After he completed his high school education, McCollum went on to attend Lehigh University, where he played basketball for four seasons.

CJ McCollum College Career/Highlights

Lehigh University (2009–2013)

In his freshman year, McCollum averaged 19.1 points per game and became the first in the Patriot league to receive the Conference Player as well as Rookie of the Year honours. He led his side to the NCAA Championship, where they lost in the first round. In his second year, he averaged 21.8 points per game. Though he was not named the Conference Player of the Year, he received First Team All-Conference honour.

In his junior year, he received the Patriot League Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference honours. Though he could have left college and enlisted in the NBA Draft, McCollum who pundits viewed as a top pick in the NBA Draft went on to complete his University education. In his final year of college basketball, he became the Patriot League’s all-time top scorer. He also was among the final players shortlisted for the Senior CLASS Award. In May 2013, he graduated from Lehigh University with a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism.

CJ McCollum Professional/NBA Career/Highlights

Portland Trail Blazers (2013–present)

When McCollum entered the 2013 NBA Draft, he became the first Lehigh University student/alumnus to enter the draft. He was chosen by the Portland Trail Blazers as its tenth overall pick. After he signed his first contract with the Blazers, he went on to play in the NBA Summer League. Before the NBA regular season began he was voted by fellow rookies as most likely to win the Rookie of the Year award. A foot injury prevented McCollum from making his NBA debut as the season began, he was then sent on to the development league where he played for the Idaho Stampede. He was recalled back to the NBA in January 2014 and made his debut that month.

In his second season in the NBA, McCollum played in 62 games and recorded an average of 6.8 points and 1.5 rebounds. In the 2015/16 season, the Portland Trail Blazers exercised their fourth-year option on McCollum’s contract and decided to extend his contract to the 2016/17 season.

In the 2015/16 season, McCollum had more playing time, playing in about 80 games and recorded an average of 20.8 points, 4.3 assists and 3.2 rebounds. For his performance, he was named the NBA Most Improved Player. He then led his team to victory over the LA Clippers in the first round of the playoffs. In the second round, they suffered defeat in the hands of the Golden State Warriors. In June 2016, McCollum went on to sign a four-year contract extension with the Portland Trail Blazers. That season, he started for Portland in all of the 80 games he featured in, in the regular season. He went on to record an average of 23 points and 3.6 rebounds. After entering the playoffs as the eighth seed, McCollum recorded 41 points in Game 1 of the first round of the playoffs against the Golden State Warriors. He thus became the eight Portland player to ever score 40 points or more in a playoff game.

The Portland Trail Blazers eventually lost to the Warriors. After missing the season opener game of the 2017/18 season as a result of the suspension, McCollum went on to start in all 80 games he played in the regular season. He thus registered an average of 21.4 points and 4 rebounds. In the Playoffs, the Blazers lost to the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round.

In the 2018/19 season, McCollum started out in 70 games he played for the Blazers. He went to record an average of 21 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds. In March and April, he missed 10 games as a result of a knee injury. But he returned to action to help his side defeat the Denver Nuggets in Game 7 of the second-round playoff series. The Portland Trail Blazers then went on to the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2000. In the finals, they were defeated by the Golden State Warriors.

CJ McCollum Net Worth, Salary & Sponsorship

McCollum’s net worth is valued at $14 million. In 2019, he received $25.8 million in salary. Annually, McCollum receives as much as $3 million from sponsorship deals he has with top brands such as Moda Health, Beats Electronics, Panini and Like Ning.

CJ McCollum Personal Life

Photo of CJ McCollum with his fiancee, Elise Esposito
CJ McCollum with his fiancee, Elise Esposito in 2019. (Photo credit: 3jmccollum / Instagram)

McCollum is currently in a relationship and engaged to his partner Elise Esposito. Several photos of the couple together can be seen on his verified Instagram account via @3jmccollum.

His elder brother, Errick, plays basketball for the Russian BC UNICS of the VTB United League.

McCollum has shown interest in journalism and has written for numerous media outlets about the NBA.

He has several philanthropic projects via CJ McCollum Dream Center which he opened in 2016. One of such projects is known as the CJ’s Press Pass, which gives rising journalists, access to post-game conferences, as well as mentorship from established media acts and aid publication of their stories.

SEE MORE: Biography facts and profile of famous basketball/NBA players


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