(Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
The last few days have been tough ones for the New Orleans Pelicans but they may soon be witnessing the return of one of their biggest stars.
Marc J. Spears is reporting that CJ McCollum plans to take part in shootaround on Wednesday and could possibly play with his team again that evening against the Philadelphia 76ers.
McCollum has been out since the beginning of November due to a collapsed lung that he suffered during a game against the Atlanta Hawks.
Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (lung) plans to take part in shoot around Wednesday and could return to action as early as that night against the visiting Sixers if all goes well, a source told @andscape. McCollum last played on November 4th when he suffered a right collapsed lung.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) November 28, 2023
The game against the 76ers will be a big one for the Pelicans and they definitely want to claim a victory, especially after their last couple of days.
Even without McCollum, the team had won five of their last six games before heading into two against the Utah Jazz.
The Jazz overtook the Pelicans in both of those games, winning 105-100 on Saturday night and 114-112 on Monday evening.
When he’s healthy, McCollum is a massive part of the team’s lineup and its offensive plans.
He is averaging 21.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists on 44% from the floor in 2023-24.
He brings a high basketball IQ, experience, leadership, and strong shooting and shot creation to New Orleans.
The Pelicans are currently the ninth-best team in the West with a 9-9 record.
Last season, they climbed as high as the top seed for a brief time before yet another injury to Zion Williamson made them sink like a stone.
They are hoping that the return of McCollum could keep them on track and help them ascend toward the top again.
It’s a tough conference with some intense competition but McCollum could be the missing piece the Pelicans need.
The post Insider Reveals Potential Return Date For CJ McCollum appeared first on The Cold Wire.