C.J. McCollum, the Portland Trailblazers' promising young combo guard, will miss at least six weeks after undergoing a non-operative ultrasound procedure to repair a bone in his left foot. He is officially listed as out "indefinitely."
NBA news roundup: CJ McCollum sidelined at least 6 weeks, Kobe reflects on career
The Blazers rookie is scheduled to miss some time thanks to an injured left foot.
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
From the Blazers’ press release:
Portland guard CJ McCollum successfully underwent a non-operative ultrasound procedure today to repair the fifth metatarsal fracture in his left foot. The procedure, which is designed to promote bone growth, was performed at the OrthoCarolina Foot and Ankle Institute in Charlotte, North Carolina by Dr. Robert Anderson. McCollum will remain sidelined indefinitely and will be reevaluated in six weeks.
McCollum, 22, injured his foot during training camp a little over a week ago. The former Lehigh star figured to play big minutes as part of Portland’s deep back court. A six-week timetable would put December as a possible return date, but the Blazers haven’t announced any official timetable.
McCollum suffered an injury to his left foot that sidelined him from the final two months of his senior season at Lehigh. Here’s to hoping for a speedy recovery and an otherwise healthy NBA career.
The Sixers sign Daniel Orton
Daniel Orton's NBA career continues to carousel as the 6'10, 255-pound big man has signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers, who will be without 2013 lottery pick Nerlens Noel for a large portion of the season, will need Orton to fill in as a reserve big man off the bench.
Philadelphia could be exactly what Orton needs to find footing in the NBA. He has appeared in just 29 NBA games -- 16 with the Orlando Magic, 13 with the Oklahoma City Thunder -- but he should find playing time in a thin Sixers front line.
Orton was a five-star recruit coming out of high school and the Sixers are surely hoping he will be able to tap into at least some of the potential he flashed as a youth.
Kobe Bryant reflects on career
Bryant, 35, has had one of the most illustrious careers in NBA history, and Sports Illustrated’s Lee Jenkins got the 16-year veteran to open up about the highs and lows of the entire time.
“I don’t know how I’m going to come back from this injury,” Bryant told Jenkins. “Maybe I’ll be horses -- then again, maybe I won’t, because no matter what, my belief is that I’ll figure it out. Maybe not this year or even next year, but I’m going to stay with it until I figure it out.”
Bryant goes on to reflect on lessons he learned growing up -- karate as a 4-year-old, his workouts as a high schooler, struggles as a rookie -- and how those lessons affect him today. The timeline takes us all the way through his Achilles injury and the rehab that he’s going through now.
ESPN continued its #NBArank today with Bryant coming in at 25. I don’t know if you were lucky enough to avoid social media today, but the #HotSportsTakes were flowing in. Some said he was too low, some said it was just right and a lot of people trolled.
Bryant really is about as polarizing as it gets.
Michael Jordan talks one-on-one game, Bobcats offseason
Second-year Memphis Grizzlies owner Robert Pera, 35, challenged Michael Jordan to a game of one-on-one with $1 million going to charity. Jordan, 50, responded by telling Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer that Pera's challenge was "comical."
“I think that’s comical,” Jordan told the Charlotte Observer. “It didn’t make any sense.”
Jordan went on to talk actual Bobcat things. He said that new head coach Steve Clifford knows how to "position himself with players." He also talked highly about rookie Cody Zeller and newly acquired big man Al Jefferson.
Bill Russell statue
The Bill Russell statue will be unveiled Nov. 1 at City Hall Plaza, tweets Paul Flannery. There will also be a ceremony to honor him, emcee’d by TNT NBA analyst Kenny Smith.
From the Celtics press release:
He aims towards a low-standing, open stone engraved with Mr. Russell’s quote, “The most important measure of how good a game I’d played was how much better I’d made my teammates play.” As visitors step up on the open base, ready to catch the pass, they become a teammate, not only in the game of basketball, but in continued advocacy for human rights and mentorship programming.
The statue was created by Ann Hirsch, a Somerville, Mass., artist. It depicts Russell about to pass a basketball to a teammate. Russell is one of the most recognizable names in Celtic and NBA history, so like Flannery said, this was a long time coming.
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