McCollum: 'I'll Be Able to Shoot When I'm 40' After 45 Points in Pels' Historic Win

After leading the New Orleans Pelicans to their largest comeback victory in franchise history by overcoming a 25-point deficit on their way to a 123-119 overtime win over the Utah Jazz, veteran shooting guard CJ McCollum believes he hasn't missed a step.

McCollum, who is in his 12th NBA season, dropped 45 points on 18-of-31 shooting from the field to spearhead the comeback. It was the second time in the last 10 games that he reached the mark, as he scored 50 points in a win over the Washington Wizards on Jan. 3.

After the win, the 33-year-old said he believes his skills will "age well" and he's confident in his ability to continue producing at a high level for many more years.

"I ain't out here dunking on people," McCollum told reporters. "It's skill. It's strategy. It's angles. It's footwork. It's a jump shot that never leaves. I'll be able to shoot when I'm 40."

McCollum has appeared in 31 games this season for the injury-riddled Pelicans, who have the second-worst record in the Western Conference at 12-32. His average of 22.4 points per game is his highest since he averaged 24.3 points in 26 games in New Orleans in the 2021-22 campaign after being traded from the Portland Trail Blazers.

Despite the team's struggles, McCollum said he won't stop fighting to lead the Pelicans to success.

"I don't take these wins for granted because it took us like two months to get five wins," he said. "You've got to ride the wave and just keep your perspective in check."