C.J. McCollum is an American professional basketball player who plays as a shooting guard for the New Orleans Pelicans of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 10th overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft and played for them until 2022, when he was traded to the Pelicans. He won the NBA Most Improved Player award in 2016 and has been one of the most prolific scorers in the league. He is also the president of the National Basketball Players Association since 2021.
Career Earnings of C.J. McCollum:
C.J. McCollum has earned a total of $147,378,000 in his NBA career as of February 2024. His annual salary has increased from $2,316,720 in his rookie season to $35,800,000 in his current season. His career earnings rank 63rd among active NBA players and 113th in NBA history.
- Rookie Contract: C.J. McCollum signed a four-year rookie contract with the Portland Trail Blazers worth $10,894,480 on July 10, 2013. The contract included two guaranteed years and two team options for the third and fourth years. He earned $2,316,720 in his first year, $2,525,160 in his second year, $2,525,160 in his third year, and $3,219,579 in his fourth year.
- Second Contract: C.J. McCollum signed a four-year contract extension with the Portland Trail Blazers worth $106,633,450 on July 27, 2016. The contract was fully guaranteed and had no options or incentives. He earned $23,962,573 in his fifth year, $25,759,766 in his sixth year, $27,556,959 in his seventh year, and $29,354,152 in his eighth year.
- Third Contract: C.J. McCollum signed a three-year contract extension with the Portland Trail Blazers worth $100,000,000 on July 30, 2019. The contract was fully guaranteed and had no options or incentives. He earned $33,333,333 in his ninth year, $35,800,000 in his tenth year, and $38,266,667 in his eleventh year.
- Fourth Contract: C.J. McCollum signed a four-year contract extension with the New Orleans Pelicans worth $120,000,000 on August 5, 2022. The contract was fully guaranteed and had no options or incentives. He will earn $40,733,333 in his twelfth year, $43,200,000 in his thirteenth year, $45,666,667 in his fourteenth year, and $48,133,333 in his fifteenth year.
- Current Contract: C.J. McCollum is currently in the second year of his third contract extension, which he signed with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2019 and was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2022. He is earning $35,800,000 for the 2023-24 season and is under contract with the Pelicans until the 2026-27 season.
Contract Milestones and Salary Growth of C.J. McCollum:
C.J. McCollum has achieved several milestones and experienced significant salary growth throughout his NBA career. Some of them are:
- He became the first player from Lehigh University to be drafted in the NBA and the highest draft pick in Patriot League history.
- He signed the largest contract extension for a player with less than four years of NBA experience in 2016.
- He became the first player in NBA history to average at least 20 points per game on 40% three-point shooting in each of his first four seasons as a starter.
- He became the president of the National Basketball Players Association in 2021, succeeding Chris Paul.
- He was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in 2022, along with Robert Covington and a 2024 first-round pick, in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and a 2023 second-round pick.
- He signed the largest contract extension for a player over 30 years old in 2022.
- He has increased his annual salary by more than 15 times from his rookie season to his current season, from $2,316,720 to $35,800,000.
Key Seasons and Achievements of C.J. McCollum:
C.J. McCollum is a talented shooting guard who has been playing in the NBA since 2013. He has had several key seasons and achievements in his career, such as:
- He won the NBA Most Improved Player award in 2016, after averaging 20.8 points per game, which was a career high at the time.
- He was named to the NBA All-Star Game for the first time in 2017, joining his teammate Damian Lillard as the first Blazers duo to make the All-Star team since 1994.
- He averaged 21.4 points per game and 4.7 assists per game in 2019, helping the Blazers reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2000.
- He averaged 23.1 points per game and 4.2 assists per game in 2022, before being traded to the New Orleans Pelicans in a blockbuster deal that involved Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, and draft picks.
- He became the first player in NBA history to average at least 20 points per game on 40% three-point shooting in each of his first four seasons as a starter.
- He became the president of the National Basketball Players Association in 2021, succeeding Chris Paul.
Endorsement Deals and Brand Partnerships of C.J. McCollum:
C.J. McCollum has also secured several lucrative endorsement deals and brand partnerships throughout his career, such as:
- He signed a five-year deal with Chinese sneaker brand Li-Ning in 2017, after spending four seasons with Nike. He also launched his first signature shoe, the Li-Ning CJ1, in 2021.
- He became a brand ambassador for Banana Republic in 2017, appearing in various product campaigns and commercials.
- He partnered with Dockers in 2019, promoting their “khakis” labels and featuring in several product advertisements.
- He has also worked with other brands such as AT&T, Jamba Juice, Levi Strauss & Co, Moda Health, and LaceClips.
Business Ventures and Investments of C.J. McCollum:
C.J. McCollum is not only a basketball player, but also a savvy businessman and investor. He has diversified his portfolio with various business ventures and investments, such as:
- He created his own wine label, McCollum Heritage 91, in 2020, which features a pinot noir from Oregon’s Willamette Valley. He is also a wine connoisseur and collector.
- He launched a journalism-based mentorship program for high-schoolers in the Portland area, using his journalism degree from Lehigh University and his experience as a radio host and podcaster.
- He has invested in several alternative investments, such as tech startups, real estate, and cryptocurrency. He has said that he has about 30 alternative investments as of 2023.
C.J. McCollum Estimated Net Worth of 2024:
According to various sources, C.J. McCollum’s net worth as of 2024 is estimated to be around $14 million. This is based on his NBA career earnings, endorsement deals, and business investments. His net worth is expected to increase in the future, as he is still under contract with the Pelicans until the 2026-27 season, earning an average of $44 million per year. He is also likely to earn more from his off-court endeavors, such as his wine label, his sneaker deal, and his investments.
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