2025-26 Season
CJ MCCOLLUM
2025-26 Season
CJ MCCOLLUM
PBP Credit: Every play is analyzed from play-by-play data. Scorers get difficulty-adjusted credit, assisters get creation value based on the shot opportunity they created, and turnovers are classified by type. Shot difficulty is derived from 1M+ shots across 4 seasons. Full methodology
TEAM COMPARISON
of 16 teammates (10+ games, 10+ min)
Similar Players
Same position, closest production profile this season.
SKILL DNA
Percentile rank vs 245 Guards with 10+ games
THE SEASON SO FAR
CJ McCollum’s opening stretch of the season was defined by wild, unpredictable swings between nuclear shooting outbursts and actively damaging offensive slumps. Even when his scoring volume looked robust, hidden costs often ruined his actual value on the floor. Take 11/07 vs CLE as a prime example. He poured in 25 points, yet posted a -3.2 impact score because he hijacked the offense to launch a barrage of ill-advised, erratic attempts. He flipped the script completely on 11/25 vs ATL, erupting for 46 points and generating a staggering +22.6 impact score through an absolute clinic of perimeter marksmanship. However, those brilliant peaks were heavily offset by brutal valleys like 11/05 vs BOS, where a disastrous 1-for-10 shooting performance and a steady diet of early-clock contested jumpers resulted in a -13.5 impact. When he methodically exploits drop coverage, he remains a lethal offensive weapon. Unfortunately, his penchant for forcing bad looks and dying on screens at the point of attack makes him a wildly volatile veteran presence.
This stretch was defined by a painful transition to a bench role and a frustrating string of empty-calorie scoring nights. Look at his outing vs ATL on 12/06, where he poured in 28 points on 7-of-12 shooting from deep, yet posted a catastrophic -11.1 impact score because his perimeter fireworks merely masked a total defensive collapse. He repeated this damaging pattern vs LAL on 01/13. Despite dropping 25 points off the bench, he logged a -4.9 impact due to a heavy reliance on contested mid-range pull-ups that severely capped his offensive efficiency. However, McCollum occasionally found bizarre ways to contribute when his jumper abandoned him. During his matchup vs PHX on 12/29, he went a miserable 0-for-5 from three-point range but still managed a +3.0 impact score by delivering a surprising defensive masterclass to salvage his overall value. Ultimately, his demotion to the second unit reflects a harsh reality about his aging game, as his defensive bleeding and isolation-heavy habits are simply too costly to ignore.
This stretch of the season was defined by extreme volatility, with McCollum oscillating wildly between serving as an unstoppable offensive flamethrower and a hollow, empty-calorie scorer. His tendency to bleed value despite filling the box score was glaringly obvious on 01/29 vs HOU. He dropped 23 points that night, yet posted a -1.8 impact because defensive exploitation entirely erased his scoring output. The same frustrating dynamic surfaced on 02/20 vs MIA, where a highly efficient 20-point performance yielded a -4.1 impact due to defensive apathy and a total lack of secondary playmaking. However, when his shot selection tightened and he fully engaged, his ceiling remained remarkably high. He erupted as a starter on 02/09 vs MIN, carrying the offensive load with 38 points and generating a massive +13.1 impact through aggressive, lethal shot-making. He also showed he could dominate through facilitation, driving a stellar +10.6 impact on 02/19 vs PHI through masterful pick-and-roll navigation rather than sheer scoring volume alone. Ultimately, McCollum is a high-variance weapon whose nightly worth hinges entirely on whether his jumper is falling enough to mask his defensive lapses.
IMPACT TIMELINE
Game-by-game performance vs average. Green = above average, red = below.
Very consistent. McCollum posts positive impact in 77% of games — you almost always get a productive night. Scoring varies by ~8 points, but the overall contribution stays positive.
Middle-of-the-road efficiency — shoots 45%+ from the field in 56% of games. Not automatic, but not a problem either.
Defensive difference-maker. McCollum consistently forces tough shots and protects the rim — opponents shoot worse when he's guarding them.
Tends to go on runs. Longest hot streak: 9 games. Longest cold streak: 3 games.
MATCHUP HISTORY
Based on 70 games with tracking data. Shows who guarded this player on offense and who he guarded on defense, with their shooting stats in those matchups.
ON OFFENSE: WHO GUARDED HIM
His shooting stats against each primary defender this season
ON DEFENSE: WHO HE GUARDED
How opponents shot when he was the primary defender. Lower FG% = better defense.
SEASON STATS
GAME LOG
78 games played
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