C.J. McCollum once said, “You have to learn how to win in this league. It’s a process.” His words reflect the mindset of someone who understands that success doesn’t come overnight. Well, we remember when he first entered the NBA—he wasn’t the star. But over time, he mastered the small details, the gritty work, and the mental toughness required to thrive. His journey wasn’t about shortcuts; it was about embracing the grind. Today we explore his NBA journey and see how much he paid throughout.

What is CJ McCollum’s contract with the Pelicans?

After nine years of ups and downs with the Portland Trail Blazers, C.J. McCollum made a career-changing decision as he traded to the  New Orleans Pelicans. Talking about his contract here, he continued the same contract he signed in the Trail Blazers as part of his veteran extension in 2021 which was a three-year deal worth $100,000,000 and a graduated $33,333,333 average salary. However, whether for his rookie team or the new one, he played in his way.

In his debut for the Pelicans, against the Miami Heat, he made 15 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists. Well, that wasn’t just it, on April 13, he gave another stellar performance, during the NBA play-in tournament, as he scored 32 points, 6 rebounds, and 7 assists this helped the team to lead leaving the San Antonio Spurs behind. Now after such amazing games, it was obvious that the team would give him a new deal. And it happened the same way, on September 24, 2024, he signed a two-year, $63.99 million deal where he will earn $33.33 million in the 2024-25 season. This represents a big chunk of the Pelicans’ salary cap. That’s about 23.7% of their total cap, which is no small amount. The 2025-26 season sees his cap hit dropping slightly to $30.67 million, but still, it’s a solid paycheck. By the time his contract is up, he’ll have made over $63 million, locked in.

The contract is built using the Pelicans’ Bird Rights, which means they were able to re-sign the hooper without worrying about the salary cap limits. It’s a smart move on their part. They didn’t have to give up too much flexibility and kept McCollum, a veteran presence who brings leadership and skill.

Now, the way McCollum’s played over the last few games shows his commitment to him to the team. For example, 33 points against the Detroit Pistons or 50 points against the Washington Wizards. But, this is not what he’s doing just now, since being traded from Portland in 2022, McCollum has delivered when it matters.  Their decision to extend him for two more years really shows they’re backing him as a key player. Sure, they didn’t make it past the play-in tournament in 2023, but McCollum’s efforts—like his career-high 50-point game in January 2025—prove he still has plenty to give.

At 33 years old, the hooper is nearing to later stages of his career, but he’s still quite productive. His contract reflects that he’s viewed as a key piece for New Orleans. We think the team’s ability to keep him at that level of pay makes sense. He’s not just a scorer; he’s a leader on the court, a solid mentor to younger players, and an all-around stabilizing force.

But, of course, this contract will be put under scrutiny over the next couple of years. Will McCollum continue to deliver at a high level as he ages? Can he stay healthy? The team’s future and their overall success will depend, in part, on his performance. There’s still a lot to watch, but for now, New Orleans is happy to keep him on board, and McCollum seems like he’s ready to keep proving his worth. However, now that we have seen his current contract, let’s look at his part contract.

How much did the Portland Trail Blazers pay CJ McCollum? A look back to his rookie contract.

C.J. McCollum’s journey in the NBA, started by making a meaningful entry as being the first player to ever enter the league from his college Lehigh University. He was picked by the Trail Blazers in 2013, as they selected his as their 10th pick in the NBA draft. With them, he signed a rookie scale contract worth $10.48 million over four years. This meant he was with the team till the 2020 season. Now, the deal was pretty typical for a lottery pick, with a base salary of about $2.6 million in the first season.

His rookie contract also came with guaranteed money of $4.7 million, so the team was investing in his potential. But, the money invested seemed not worth it when he had to sit out the six weeks of his rookie season due to a foot injury, but McCollum was ready to show flashes of his future brilliance. His first big moment came in a game against the Timberwolves, where he scored 19 points in just 19 minutes. Now, it seemed all the money was worth it.

Portland believed in McCollum’s growth, so they picked up his third-year option, locking him in through the 2015-16 season. By this point, McCollum was already starting to make a name for himself. His breakout season came in 2015-16 when he averaged 20.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. He was playing a crucial role next to Lillard, and guess what? He was named the NBA’s Most Improved Player.

The following year, hooper’s play only improved, and in July 2016, the team rewarded him with a four-year, $106.6 million extension. This deal showed the Blazers’ belief in McCollum as a core piece of the team’s future. However, the season he rocked it again, in 2017, against the Bulls, he did something that made people become his ultimate fans. He scored a franchise-record 28 points. Now you may think this was normal, but those points were acquired in the first quarter alone. Later he even finished with a career-high 50 points in only three periods before heading to the bench for the fourth. After this, he joined Damian Lillard, Damon Stoudamire, Brandon Roy, Andre Miller, Clyde Drexler, and Geoff Petrie as Trail Blazers to score 50 points or more. This is why fans love him and he loves them back, ” I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Portland basketball fans are the best basketball fans in the world.”

Looking back at this contract, we think it was clear that Portland saw McCollum not just as a scorer but as a leader. Of course, the Blazers had playoff dreams during these years, but they always seemed to fall short. Still, McCollum’s ability to score in bunches and perform in high-stakes moments was never in question. From that rookie contract to the big extension, McCollum proved he was worth every penny Portland invested in him. So now that we have looked at all his contracts, let’s take a look at his net worth and brand deals.

What is CJ McCollum’s net worth? Does he have any brand deals?

C.J. McCollum’s net worth as of 2025 is not known but as of 2023, it was estimated to be around $14 million. Just like many hoopers, his net worth too comes from brand deals along with the NBA contracts. He has carved out a niche for himself in the world of endorsements and brand partnerships.

One of the hooper’s most notable moves came in 2017 when he signed a five-year deal with the Chinese sportswear company, Li-Ning. It was a big shift from his previous contract with Nike. “I think this partnership with Li-Ning will be great… It’ll give me exposure in the east and expose me to different opportunities,” he said. This move opened up a whole new market for him, especially in China, where basketball and the NBA was still been growing in popularity. He’s even talked about using his position to help both his brand and Li-Ning expand further globally. McCollum now has his signature sneaker line, starting with the Li-Ning CJ1, released in 2021, a huge milestone for any NBA player.

But his partnerships go beyond just a shoe brand. McCollum also formed relationships with other brands like Banana Republic and Dockers, which helped him reach a broader audience. In 2017, he became a brand ambassador for Banana Republic, and in 2019, he teamed up with Dockers for a campaign that promoted their khakis. It’s not all about sports gear—McCollum’s collaborations span lifestyle brands as well.

Then we have his Crocs deal. There’s this interesting part about the deal where he became the only NBA player to represent Crocs when he signed with the company in 2021. However, where most of the Hooper have with shoe brands his move to give Crocs a chance was his unique presence in pop culture. But it isn’t just about basketball shoes, it is also about him embracing fashion and comfort, making him a versatile figure off the court.

Other than these big brands he also backed brands like LaceClips, AT&T, Levi’s, and Jamba Juice. In conclusion, McCollum has found a way to leverage his NBA fame to secure brand deals that resonate beyond the basketball court. And with his growing profile, especially as he connects with international markets, do not be surprised if we see even more deals in the future. His ability to diversify his brand, while staying true to his roots, sets him apart. It’s smart business, and from his point of view, it probably feels like a win-win situation. Now that we have seen so much of his life off the court, let’s look at his house and cars too.

Where does C.J. McCollum lives? What cars does he drive?

CJ McCollum’s life off the court reflects his success in the NBA. But, we do not have information about where he lives now, but back in 2016, he bought a stunning $1.6 million mansion in Oregon. This 5,538-square-foot house seemed designed for him and it featured four bedrooms and five bathrooms also came as a perfect fit from his spacious living room with a double-sided fireplace, a sleek modern kitchen, and a fitness gym. The main highlight was its backyard with a pond and waterfall, that offered plenty of space for relaxation.

However, after being traded to New Orleans, McCollum has to list his first own brought home for $3.5 million, perhaps hoping for a quick sale. Unfortunately, it didn’t go as planned, and he eventually sold it for just $3.3 million. It’s no surprise that his home had such luxury. Players like him deserve a sanctuary with all the high-end amenities they could dream of. His mansion, with its resort-style features, was just that.

As for McCollum’s car collection, he doesn’t hold back either. He owns a fleet of top-tier cars, including a Mercedes Benz, Ford, and GMC. It’s a reflection of his success and taste. Living life like a true NBA star, McCollum’s house and cars certainly mirror his hard work on the court.