CJ McCollum suffers collapsed lung as things go from bad to worse for Blazers

Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum suffered a collapsed right lung according to CT scans, and there is no timeline for return.

Fans often talk about Damian Lillard’s loyalty to the Portland Trail Blazers, but a fellow starter drafted a year later has been just as devoted to Rip City.

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Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum has been in Portland since 2013, working alongside Lillard as an integral part of the Trail Blazers team. But as more and more struggles emerge from the Portland locker room, another devastating blow has landed on the Oregon team.

CT scans revealed that CJ McCollum is suffering from a collapsed right lung, and there is no timeline for his return.

CJ McCollum out indefinitely with collapsed lung

McCollum was injured in a 145-117 loss to the Boston Celtics on Saturday, but the injury was assumed to be a rib contusion at first. That’s what McCollum was listed out with during the Trail Blazers’ Monday night 102-90 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, but a CT scan on Tuesday revealed McCollum’s pulmonary condition.

Unlike other injury-induced conditions frequently seen in basketball, there is no timeline for a collapsed lung to heal. With the much-needed guard out indefinitely, the 11-14 Trail Blazers could fall even further in the conference rankings.

McCollum was averaging 20.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.5 assists so far this season. In the first game without him, the Trail Blazers scored 27 less points. As the team faces the Golden State Warriors, their recent injuries will likely plague Portland in an embarrassing loss.

In addition to McCollum, the Trail Blazers are currently without Damian Lillard, Anferneee Simmons, Nassir Little, Ben McLemore and Cody Zeller. On top of the injury issues, the recent firing of Neil Olshey and rumors surrounding Damian Lillard’s unhappiness make for a tumultuous locker room that’s already surrounded by potential trade talks.

It’s a loss that Portland fans will feel in the weeks to come — not only for McCollum’s renowned dedication to his fans, but also in the scoring he contributed to the Trail Blazers in every game.