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McCollum Talks New Contract, Journalism on The Chris Mannix Show

Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum joined The Chris Mannix Show on NBC Sports Radio Friday afternoon, fresh off signing a contract extension through the 2020-21 season earlier in the week. Among other topics, Mannix and McCollum discussed the guard's journalism pursuits and the emotions that come with signing a lucrative NBA contract. 

Read the highlights from McCollum's appearance and listen to the entire interview below (begins around the 20-minute mark). 

On his journalism aspirations…

"It’s definitely something I wanted to look into [while studying at Lehigh]. It’s funny, I actually started in the business school and switched over about two weeks into my freshman year because I realized I didn’t wanna work at a desk. I wasn’t really a fan of econ, finance and punching numbers… I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with journalism, but I knew I enjoyed writing. I enjoyed talking and I figured if my Plan A worked out the way it should, which was playing in the NBA, then Plan B would fall right into line as long as I had the resume to back it up. That’s kinda what I’ve done, just continue to build a resume so that I can go into whichever field I want when I retire."

On his current business card…

"I do a lot of stuff with the Players’ Tribune. We developed some business cards so I have my Players’ Tribune email on it, and it says “CJ McCollum” — actually, no… I don’t have one with me. That’s going to be my next assignment. I’m gonna send you a picture of my business card... I think it might say like 'NBA Basketball Player' or something. It might say something like that or it might say 'Journalist.' I think I have one that says like “Journalist” and one that’s like 'Player.'"

On singing his new contract extension to keep him in Portland through 2020-21…

"It’s a very, very unique feeling. Honestly, I’ve never experienced it before, although I was able to watch Dame [Lillard] go through the process. It’s just a blessing, man, to be able to put the work in, to go through the struggle of injuries, ups and downs, in and out of the rotation to getting an opportunity and taking advantage of it and seeing everything kinda fall into place. Better than a Lifetime Original,  better than a 30-for-30 ESPN original movie to just go from where I came from to signing a $100 million deal, man, it’s a really great feeling. I danced around a little bit after I did it and thanked the Lord and went and worked out right afterward, just because that’s kind of how I’m programmed: to continue to get better and never get complacent."