The New Orleans Pelicans injury list is about as crazy as it could get this season. While teams such as the Memphis Grizzlies and Philadelphia 76ers have dealt with their fair share of injuries, nobody has been hit by the injury bug worse than the Pelicans. That is a large reason why New Orleans resides last in the Western Conference at 4-13. Well, at least one player could make their return back to the court on Monday. CJ McCollum, who hasn’t played since October 29, is listed as questionable for Monday’s game on the road against the Indiana Pacers.
Perennial 20-Point Scorer Could Return For Pelicans On Monday
CJ McCollum May Return After Missing Last 13 Games
The 33-year-old McCollum has been sidelined due to a right adductor strain. He has missed the Pelicans last 13 games in which the team has gone just 2-11. It looks as if McCollum may not miss his 14th straight outing. He went through a full-contact practice on Saturday and has now been upgraded to having a questionable tag for Monday’s contest.
Certainly, the Pelicans can use all the help they can get. McCollum can surely be beneficial for a New Orleans team that needs more capable bodies. Prior to his injury, McCollum appeared in four games this season. He posted per game averages of 18.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.3 steals.
Now in his 12th NBA season, McCollum was named the 2015-16 Most Improved Player. That season began a stretch of nine-straight for the 6-foot-3 guard where he averaged at least 20 points for the year. The first six full seasons McCollum did that was while with the Portland Trail Blazers. In February of 2022, Portland dealt McCollum to New Orleans.
Last season, McCollum appeared in 66 games for the Pelicans. He averaged 20.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.6 assists with a shooting split of .459/.429 (career-high)/.827.
Injuries Galore For New Orleans
As mentioned, the Pelicans have been ravaged by injuries. Only two players have played each of the Pelicans first 17 games: Javonte Green and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl. No offense to them, but a fully-healthy Pelicans would likely struggle to find minutes for either of them on certain nights.
Brandon Ingram is really the only core piece that has remained relatively healthy as he has missed only one game. Otherwise, trade pickup Dejounte Murray hasn’t played since the season opener. He has been upgraded to doubtful for Monday, so perhaps a return is coming soon. Star forward Zion Williamson hasn’t played since November 6. Defensive stalwart Herbert Jones has been out since October 29. Trey Murphy III didn’t make his season debut until November 11 and has only appeared in five games. Backup point guard (although he started seven games due to injury) Jose Alvarado hasn’t been available since November 11. Jordan Hawkins missed seven straight games from November 8 until November 20.
What made matters worse is that there were games in which everyone of these players are out. In others, maybe just one of them were available. CJ McCollum making his return is a boon, but have the Pelicans already fallen too far out of the race in a stacked Western Conference?
