CJ McCollum returned to his former stomping ground for the first time on Wednesday since being traded to the New Orleans Pelicans. Unsurprisingly, the adoring home crowd made sure to give the former Portland Trail Blazers star a warm welcome in his return.

Here's the heartwarming moment as McCollum was introduced in the starting lineup (h/t Blazers on Twitter):

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That was indeed a special moment. You could clearly feel how much the Blazers supporters adore McCollum. The standing ovation went beyond a minute and a half and CJ himself looked like he was overwhelmed by the moment.

McCollum spent nine memorable seasons in Portland before being traded to the Pelicans during the February trade deadline. He was Damian Lillard's partner-in-crime for many years and together, they terrorized the league as one of the most explosive backcourts in the NBA. Blazers fans clearly remember the good old days with McCollum and they made sure to show him their appreciation on this special occasion.

Few players in the NBA will ever get this warm a welcome from supporters of their former team. This simply speaks volumes of how loved McCollum was/is in PortlandĀ  ā€” truly a legend of the franchise and of the city.