Pull Up with CJ McCollum

Top college prospect James Wiseman is leaving Memphis to prepare for the 2020 NBA draft and the NCAA is at risk of it happening again with other collegiate athletes. CJ has been one of the league’s best defenders this season and happens to be the top shot blocker amongst all guards. He breaks down what he’s doing to contribute on the defensive end of the floor. With Luka Doncic out, Kristaps Porzingis has been elevating his play for the Dallas Mavericks. All that and more on this week’s Pull Up podcast!

Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks have been on a roll lately and there are several reasons for that outside of Giannis’ MVP level play. The Brooklyn Nets are surging without Kyrie Irving, but make no mistake, they are a better team with him on the floor. Vince Carter becomes the fifth player to appear in 1,500 games, the 2020 NBA Hall of Fame class is insane, and CJ’s brother Errick has been tearing up the court in Europe this year. Follow us on Instagram - @PullUpPod

The Portland Trail Blazers are determined to turn the corner as their roster is beginning to find chemistry with Carmelo Anthony. The San Antonio Spurs are off to a slow start even though they have a talented roster and great coaching. On the flip side, the Miami Heat are off to one their best starts to a season in years and there are several reasons for that. The NBA is still struggling with the James Harden’s dunk fiasco, both of Los Angeles’ teams are looking poised for memorable seasons, and Draymond Green has his jersey retired at Michigan State University. Follow us on Instagram, @PullUpPod!

Jordan is off for Thanksgiving, but he’ll be back next week! In the interim, CJ talks with Yahoo Sports Writer Chris Haynes about the new proposal by the NBA to create a new mid-season tournament. They also discuss possible reseeding of the playoffs, play-in games, and the NBA’s memo on “Load Management.” Plus, Luka Dončić continues his incredible level of play and CJ explains what foods everyone needs to eat at Thanksgiving!

Carmelo Anthony is back in the NBA and joins a Portland Trail Blazers team who couldn’t be more excited to have him on the court! CJ talks about how he’s acclimating into the roster and the roles he can fill for the Trail Blazers this season. Plus, back-to-backs in the NBA can be both mentally and physically draining for players in the NBA. CJ breaks down how he manages his schedule during tough stretches and how he recovers after playing such demanding games back-to-back. CJ and Jordan also discuss the skill of Luka Doncic and how a 20-year-old player can already be this good. All that and more on this week’s episode!

The Portland Trail Blazers travel the most of any other team in the NBA. On this week’s pod, CJ breaks down what it’s like to log so many miles in an NBA season and what he does to counteract fatigue from demanding travel. The guys also break down the hot start Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins has had and whether he can sustain his early season success. Finally, CJ and Jordan speculate about Colin Kaepernick’s future with the NFL and whether his most recent workout will lead to a comeback in professional football.

The season is still young and the Portland Trail Blazers are forging ahead after another injury to their front court. The Clippers are being cautious with Kawhi Leonard and are already instituting “load management” with their star player. LeBron James is on a mission to prove he is still the best player in the world after recording three consecutive triple-doubles. The Phoenix Suns are off to a hot start, Derek Rose and Isaiah Thomas are the comeback kids of the NBA, and Dwight Howard’s resurgence is sparking the Los Angeles Lakers. All that and more on this week’s episode of Pull Up!

Karl Anthony Towns and Joel Embiid got into what CJ calls the “million dollar hug.” CJ and Jordan react to the fight in Philadelphia on Tuesday and what the suspensions mean for both the 76ers and the Timberwolves. The 2019 rookies are living up to their hype, but there are a certain few that have really impressed the guys. Plus, is CJ getting into acting? Listen to what he has to say about his cameo on ABC’s “Stumptown.”

The NBA is back as regular season games kicked off this week! CJ and Jordan talk about Kyrie Irving’s huge opener, Karl Anthony Town’s offensive prowess, and which veterans had the biggest impact on CJ when he first started out in the league. CJ also reflects on how players can maintain longevity throughout their careers and what habits are important to adopt when entering the NBA.

The regular season is about to begin and CJ couldn’t be more excited! On this week’s episode, CJ and Jordan discuss the biggest NBA storylines heading into the 2019-2020 season, including which teams are under the most pressure to perform at a high level. Plus, CJ shares what he learned from his conversation with the legendary Scottie Pippen after the two sat down earlier this week to talk about Social Media and the evolution of the NBA. After CJ and Jordan speak with CJ’s new teammate, Kent Bazemore, to talk about his career and it’s like to be playing in Portland!