CJ McCollum's thumb surgery was a success and it was determined that shoulder surgery would not be necessary.
The New Orleans Pelicans reported that C.J. McCollum underwent successful surgery on April 25 to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right thumb. The surgery was performed by Dr. Michelle Carlson at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York.
In addition to the success of the surgery, McCollum and the New Orleans Pelicans also received good news. After further consultation with Dr. David Check at HSS, it was determined that McCollum would not need surgery to repair the torn ligament in his right shoulder. McCollum will undergo an offseason rehabilitation program focused on stabilizing and strengthening the shoulder.
McCollum has played in 75 games this season and is averaging 20.9 points per night. The NBPA captain has averaged at least 20 points in nine straight seasons and his 5.7 assists per game is a career high. There were tough times, but injuries began to take their toll towards the end of the season.
© Posted by Pelicans Scoop for FanNation on March 30, 2023 . Denver, Colorado, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum (3) tackles forward Brandon Ingram (14) during the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets at the Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA Today Sports
McCollum averaged 21 points per game, made 7.4 three-point attempts and shot 79% from the free throw line before the NBA All-Star break. Those numbers equate to 20.4 points per game, 65% from the free throw line and just 6.8 three-pointers per game.
McCollum said the surgery should have been done "three months ago" after the season-ending NBA play-in home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
"(My thumb) has affected my game a lot. I'm probably going to have surgery next week. I had surgery three months ago. I pushed it again to help our team get to the playoffs and we didn't hurt anything. My shoulder, so I played long sleeve. I'll look at it again on Monday. "I did what I could to help the team make a positive contribution. I wish I had played better tonight," McCollum said.
McCollum is expected to fully recover from both injuries before retiring.
