CJ McCollum, the prominent guard for the New Orleans Pelicans, has been diagnosed with a small pneumothorax in his right lung, as reported by ESPN’s Andrew Lopez. This medical setback comes after McCollum underwent imaging on Sunday morning, revealing the condition characterized by an abnormal presence of air in the pleural space, causing the lung to collapse. This condition, as described by the Mayo Clinic, can result in a full or partial collapse of the lung.
McCollum is no stranger to this ailment, having previously endured a similar episode in December 2021 while playing for the Portland Trail Blazers. At that time, McCollum’s recovery spanned over five weeks—recovering fully in approximately two and a half weeks and then spending an additional three weeks before making a return to the court, totaling 18 games out in that season.
The Pelicans are navigating challenging waters with McCollum’s health, as they announced plans for him to have further examinations within the next two days to monitor his recovery. This development is a significant concern for the team, particularly given McCollum’s strong performance early in the season, with averages of 21.7 points, 5.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.5 steals over six games.
McCollum’s leadership and productivity have been instrumental in the Pelicans’ 4-2 start. However, the Pelicans have been contending with numerous player absences already this season, including injuries to Trey Murphy, Jose Alvarado, and Naji Marshall. The recent return of Brandon Ingram, following a three-game hiatus due to knee tendinitis, is a silver lining as the team looks to maintain its momentum. Yet, the potential loss of McCollum adds to the mounting adversity facing the Pelicans as they look to maintain their strong performance in the competitive Western Conference.
