The New Orleans Pelicans have announced that guard CJ McCollum has been diagnosed with a small pneumothorax in his right lung. McCollum had undergone imaging on Sunday morning to determine the cause of his discomfort. A pneumothorax occurs when air leaks into the space between the lung and chest wall, causing the lung to collapse partially or completely.
This is not the first time McCollum has dealt with a pneumothorax. He previously suffered from the condition in December 2021 while playing for the Portland Trail Blazers. It took him 2½ weeks to fully recover from the initial diagnosis, and he didn’t return to play for another three weeks following that. In total, McCollum missed 18 games that season.
McCollum made his return to the court on January 17, 2022, after recovering from his previous pneumothorax. However, just three weeks after his return, he was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans. Now, less than two years later, he is dealing with the same issue again.
The Pelicans have not provided a timeline for McCollum’s return, but based on his previous experience, it is possible that he could miss a significant amount of time. The team will likely take a cautious approach to his recovery to ensure that he is fully healed before returning to play.
The loss of McCollum is a significant blow to the Pelicans, who were already dealing with several injuries to key players. McCollum has been a reliable scorer for the team, averaging 18.5 points per game this season. His absence will put additional pressure on the rest of the roster to step up and fill the scoring void.
The Pelicans have struggled early in the season, currently sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference standings. The loss of McCollum will make it even more difficult for the team to turn their season around and make a push for the playoffs.
It is unclear what the future holds for McCollum and his recurring pneumothorax. If this becomes a chronic issue for him, it could have long-term implications for his career. While pneumothorax can be treated and managed, repeated occurrences can be concerning and may require further medical intervention.
In the meantime, the Pelicans will have to rely on their depth and the remaining healthy players to fill the void left by McCollum’s absence. It will be a challenging task, but injuries are a part of the game, and teams must find ways to adapt and overcome. The Pelicans will need contributions from unlikely sources and a collective effort to keep their playoff hopes alive. Only time will tell how McCollum’s situation will unfold and how it will impact the team’s season.
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