One of the newest additions to the Washington Wizards, CJ McCollum, recently completed a feat that’s only been accomplished by some of the league’s greatest players. While he isn’t considered one of the best three-point shooters of all time, this record could push him a little higher in the conversation.
Wizards Guard Completes Rare 3 Point Feat
McCollum is now just one of 18 players ever in league history to hit 2,000 threes in their career. While that’s an incredible achievement, when you look at his stats, it’s surprising it didn’t come sooner.
McCollum’s History
McCollum has played for three NBA franchises throughout his career. The Portland Trail Blazers drafted him, where he hit 1,297 of his threes in nine and a half seasons. After being traded to the New Orleans Pelicans, McCollum hit 692 threes in just three and a half seasons before being sent to the Wizards. Now in his first season in Washington, McCollum hit the 2,000 mark in just five games with the team.
Which means in total, McCollum has averaged right around 154 threes per season. However, McCollum hasn’t just made a lot of threes; his consistency rivals the greats from beyond the arc. Some may do it better than him, but he’s certainly one of the most consistent players the NBA has seen since he was drafted.
Consistency is Key
McCollum has been nothing but consistent since his rookie season in 2013-2014. He has shot at least 35% from three in each of his previous 12 seasons. This season, he’s shooting just under that mark at 34.3%. Additionally, McCollum has shot a true shooting percentage of over 50% every single season he’s been in the league. This season, he’s kept right around that number at 49.6%. Another telling of McCollum’s consistent nature is his scoring totals. Since his third NBA season, McCollum has averaged at least 20 points a game.
He started slow for Washington, but he’s starting to find himself as the season has progressed. The Wizards will no doubt utilize his veteran presence as long as they can. With his expiring contract, he most likely will not be returning to the DMV area. Or, at least not in a Wizards jersey.
How Many More?
McCollum is now 34, and as mentioned, is firmly in his 13th NBA season. The veteran may not have all that much longer in the NBA, unfortunately. However, let’s say he were to play another two seasons: how many more three’s could he hit, barring injuries? If we take his current total of 2,001 threes and look at his career average of makes in a season, McCollum could hit another 462 threes before calling it quits.
That would move him to 2,463 over his career, which would put him 13 three’s over Kyle Korver for eighth all-time. While this is merely a chance, McCollum certainly has the opportunity to put himself among some of the greats to ever take a shot from way downtown.
The Last Word
McCollum’s time in the league is slowly coming to an end. However, he’s proven that even “uncs” can compete at an elite level. If he can push himself a little longer, he can creep up into that top 10 and really give himself a case for one of the best shooters ever to play.
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