Portland Trailblazers shooting guard C.J. McCollum has established himself as one of the most exciting scorers in the NBA. He and star point guard Damian Lillard anchor the backcourt for a Blazers team looking to find its place in the powerhouse Western Conference.
His rise to NBA stardom seemingly came out of nowhere. However, it is a dream McCollum says he could just as easily been somewhere overseas like his older brother Errick McCollum, according to Jon Wertheim of Sports Illustrated:
“That could easily have been me. Similar stories, except he went to a Division II school and I went to a Division I school. I was a later bloomer. They said I didn't have a position. Can I create a shot against elite defenders? Same stuff. He struggled at first and then found his way in Europe. Now he’s one of the best players in Europe and, miraculously, he’s making a lot more money than some NBA guys.”
It should go without saying that the elder McCollum is certainly no slouch. He finished as Goshen College's all-time leading scorer before going on to become a star in Europe.
The McCollum brothers prove that there is such a fine line between true NBA players and their overseas counterparts. Sometimes all it takes is the right preparation along the way.
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