CJ McCollum diary: You need to be healthy in order to compete for a championship

 CJ McCollum Diary: You Need to be Healthy in Order to Compete for a Championship

Portland Trail Blazers guard CJ McCollum knows what it takes to compete for a championship. After all, he's been a key player on several Blazers teams that have made deep playoff runs in recent years. And one thing he's learned is that you need to be healthy in order to have a chance at winning it all.

In a recent diary entry, McCollum opened up about the importance of staying healthy during the grind of an NBA season. He talked about the various injuries he's dealt with throughout his career, and how they've affected both him and his team.

"When you're dealing with injuries, it's not just a physical thing," McCollum wrote. "It takes a toll on you mentally as well. You start to doubt yourself and wonder if you'll ever be able to get back to where you were before the injury."

But despite the challenges, McCollum knows that staying healthy is crucial if you want to compete for a championship. He pointed to the Blazers' success in recent years as evidence of this.

"Whenever we've been at our best, it's because we've had everyone healthy and playing together," he said. "That's when we're able to make a run and really compete at the highest level."

Of course, staying healthy is easier said than done in the NBA. The schedule is grueling, and players are constantly putting their bodies on the line. But McCollum believes that there are things you can do to give yourself the best chance at avoiding injury.

"You have to take care of your body off the court," he wrote. "Eat right, get enough sleep, do all the little things that can make a big difference. And when you're on the court, you have to be smart. You can't take unnecessary risks that could lead to an injury."

For McCollum and the Blazers, staying healthy will be crucial as they look to make another playoff run this year. They've had their fair share of injuries already this season, but McCollum remains optimistic.

"We have a talented team, and if we can stay healthy and play together, we can compete with anyone in this league," he said. "But it all starts with taking care of ourselves and making sure we're in the best possible shape."

As the Blazers gear up for the final stretch of the season, all eyes will be on McCollum and his teammates. If they can stay healthy and play to their potential, they just might have a chance at bringing a championship to Portland.