CJ McCollum Makes Top 50 of SI’s Player Rankings

Sports Illustrated released the second installment of their ninth annual “Top 100 NBA Players” list, featuring players ranked from 50 to 31. After having four players featured on the first installment, the Portland Trail Blazers added a fifth member of their roster to Sports Illustrated’s top 100.

Portland’s CJ McCollum was ranked 38, and his increased three point volume and efficiency was noted by contributor Michael Pina as well as his injury contributing to a missed opportunity for McCollum’s first All-Star appearance.

Before he broke his foot in mid-January, McCollum was hoisting a ridiculous 11 threes per game, up from the 7.3 attempts he took the previous season. One of the game’s most potent midrange assassins had expanded his range in ways that would’ve surely resulted in an All-Star appearance, had he been able to stay healthy. — MP

McCollum dropped a few spots from his ranking at 35 heading into the 2020-21 season. His 38th ranking put him just above of Nikola Vucevic and just behind Deandre Ayton.

The third installment of Sports Illustrated’s list, ranking players 30 to 11, will be released on Wednesday.