Last Updated on October 5, 2026 by Orlando Bloom
CJ McCollum comes from a close-knit family in Canton, Ohio, whose support played an important role in his journey from an undersized high-school prospect to a longtime NBA guard. The Atlanta Hawks veteran is the son of Kathy Andrews and Errick McCollum and grew up with one older brother, Errick McCollum, who also became a professional basketball player.
McCollum has since built a family of his own. He is married to Dr. Elise Esposito McCollum, whom he met while attending Lehigh University. The couple married in 2020 and have two children, son Jacobi James and daughter Margaux. Family has remained an important part of McCollum’s life as his career has taken him through Portland, New Orleans, Washington and Atlanta.
Who Is CJ McCollum’s Wife?
CJ McCollum’s wife is Dr. Elise Esposito McCollum, a dentist and fellow Lehigh University graduate.
CJ and Elise met while they were students at Lehigh. McCollum was becoming one of the greatest basketball players in school history, while Elise pursued her own academic career.
Their relationship developed well before McCollum entered the NBA in 2013, meaning Elise was familiar with his basketball journey before the fame and financial success that followed his professional career.
Lehigh has continued to have special meaning for the couple. When McCollum returned to the university as its 2023 commencement speaker, he publicly reflected on the fact that he and his future wife had once graduated from the school together.
What Does Elise McCollum Do?
Elise McCollum is a dentist.
She studied at Lehigh University before continuing her education in dentistry. Lehigh officially refers to her as Dr. Elise McCollum and identifies her as a member of the university’s Class of 2013 as well as its graduate Class of 2014.
Her professional accomplishments have given the McCollum household a successful career outside basketball as well as within it.
Elise has also become involved in several of the family’s business projects. She and CJ are founders of McCollum Family Vineyard, building on the couple’s shared interest in Oregon wine.
When Did CJ McCollum and Elise Esposito Get Married?
CJ McCollum and Elise Esposito married in October 2020 in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
The couple had originally planned a much larger wedding in Brooklyn, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to change those plans.
Instead, CJ and Elise held a small ceremony at the Black Walnut Inn in Oregon wine country, surrounded by only about 20 close relatives and friends.
The wedding location was particularly appropriate because Oregon had become important to their relationship during McCollum’s years with the Portland Trail Blazers. The couple had developed an interest in wine together and later turned that passion into their own business.
Does CJ McCollum Have Children?
Yes. CJ McCollum and Elise McCollum have two children: a son named Jacobi James and a daughter named Margaux.
McCollum’s official NBA biography now identifies both children, while his former team, the New Orleans Pelicans, has also documented his life as a father of two.
Jacobi James McCollum
Jacobi James McCollum is CJ and Elise’s first child.
Jacobi was born on January 10, 2022, only weeks before McCollum experienced one of the biggest changes of his NBA career.
In February 2022, Portland traded McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans. Because Jacobi was still extremely young, Elise and their newborn son initially remained behind while CJ adjusted to life with his new team.
McCollum spoke at the time about regularly using video calls to stay connected to Elise and Jacobi while they were separated.
Jacobi has since occasionally appeared around his father’s basketball career. During the 2026 NBA Playoffs, a postgame conversation between McCollum and his son received attention after Jacobi affectionately spoke to his father during an interview.
Margaux McCollum
Margaux McCollum is CJ and Elise’s daughter and their second child.
Lehigh announced in 2023 that the couple were expecting a daughter later that year. Margaux was subsequently born in November 2023.
Unlike her famous father, Margaux is still a young child, and the McCollums have understandably kept much of her personal life private.
The NBA nevertheless officially lists Margaux alongside Jacobi in McCollum’s family biography, confirming that CJ is a father of two.
How Has Fatherhood Changed CJ McCollum?
Fatherhood has become an increasingly visible part of CJ McCollum’s identity away from basketball.
By 2024, the New Orleans Pelicans were publicly describing him as the father of two young children. His experience as a parent even became the subject of a lighthearted team survey in which several teammates selected McCollum as the player they would most trust to babysit their children.
McCollum’s reputation as an experienced veteran and father reflects the significant changes in his life since entering the NBA as a 21-year-old in 2013.
He now balances professional basketball with marriage, parenthood, business ventures and community work.
Who Are CJ McCollum’s Parents?
CJ McCollum’s parents are Kathy Andrews and Errick McCollum.
Official records from both Lehigh and the NBA consistently identify Kathy and Errick as his parents.
While both parents supported his basketball journey, Kathy played an especially prominent role in CJ and his older brother’s upbringing.
CJ McCollum’s Mother: Kathy Andrews
Kathy Andrews, sometimes referred to publicly as Kathy Andrews-McCollum, is CJ McCollum’s mother.
McCollum grew up in Canton, Ohio, primarily with his mother and older brother Errick. Kathy raised her sons while maintaining a demanding professional schedule.
ESPN reported that she worked two different jobs over approximately three decades, including work as a tax auditor and insurance agent.
Her work ethic became one of the examples CJ followed as he pursued basketball despite initially receiving limited attention from major college programs.
Kathy also understood that her younger son was likely to experience a significant growth spurt. CJ was only about 5-foot-2 as a high-school freshman, but she had already watched his older brother Errick grow considerably later in his teenage years.
Her prediction proved correct. CJ eventually grew to around 6-foot-3 and developed into one of Ohio’s leading high-school basketball players.
Kathy remained closely involved after her son’s arrival in the NBA. During the early stages of his Portland career, she spent substantial time with him as he recovered from foot injuries and adjusted to professional basketball.
CJ McCollum’s Father: Errick McCollum
Errick McCollum is CJ McCollum’s father.
Although much of the reporting about CJ’s upbringing focuses on his mother, his father was also present for important moments in his basketball development.
Errick spoke publicly about his son’s recruitment during CJ’s college career, questioning why larger basketball programs had overlooked him when his talent was apparent to the family.
He also attended important events during CJ’s development, including his college signing.
CJ shares his father’s family name with his older brother, creating multiple generations of Errick McCollums within the family.
Who Are CJ McCollum’s Siblings?
CJ McCollum has one publicly documented sibling, his older brother Errick McCollum.
Basketball became a major connection between the brothers, although their professional careers ultimately developed on different continents.
Errick McCollum
Errick McCollum is CJ McCollum’s older brother and an accomplished professional basketball player.
Errick was an important example for CJ while they were growing up in Canton. He experienced his own late growth spurt and eventually became approximately 6-foot-3 to 6-foot-5, which gave Kathy confidence that CJ would also grow significantly.
Errick played college basketball at Goshen College in Indiana rather than attending a major NCAA Division I program.
Despite coming from a small college, he built an extensive professional career overseas.
Errick has played in numerous countries and competitions, including the EuroLeague, Chinese Basketball Association and Basketball Champions League.
His international career included successful periods in Turkey, where he became one of the most recognizable American guards playing overseas.
In 2025, Errick was part of Fenerbahçe’s championship-winning season before later returning to Galatasaray.
While CJ became an established NBA scorer, Errick built his own reputation as a prolific scorer in international basketball.
How Did Errick McCollum Influence CJ McCollum?
Errick’s basketball journey provided CJ with an example of how much work could be required to build a professional career without following the traditional path of a highly recruited star.
Neither brother entered college through one of America’s major basketball programs. Errick attended Goshen College, while CJ chose Lehigh after receiving limited interest from high-profile NCAA teams.
CJ has acknowledged learning from his older brother throughout his life and has continued seeking Errick’s opinion on basketball matters even after becoming an established NBA player.
The relationship also works in both directions. CJ has supported Errick’s international career, including attending major European basketball games when schedules allowed.
The brothers therefore became successful professionals through very different routes while remaining closely connected through basketball.
CJ McCollum’s Family and His Rise From Canton
McCollum was born on September 19, 1991, in Canton, Ohio.
His basketball journey looked unlikely to produce an NBA career during his early high-school years because of his size.
He stood only around 5-foot-2 as a freshman at GlenOak High School and remained significantly undersized during his sophomore season.
McCollum nevertheless continued developing his shooting, ball-handling and scoring ability.
A later growth spurt helped transform him into an elite high-school player. By his senior season, he was named Ohio’s Gatorade Player of the Year and finished his GlenOak career as the school’s all-time leading scorer at the time.
Even then, major college programs largely overlooked him.
Lehigh recognized his potential and offered McCollum the opportunity that eventually changed his life.
CJ McCollum Met His Wife at Lehigh
Lehigh became significant to McCollum for much more than basketball.
It was where he became a nationally recognized player after leading the Mountain Hawks to their famous NCAA Tournament upset over Duke in 2012.
It was also where he earned a journalism degree and developed the media skills that would later lead to writing, broadcasting and podcasting opportunities.
Most importantly from a family perspective, Lehigh was where he met Elise Esposito.
McCollum has publicly said that Lehigh changed his life and specifically expressed gratitude for meeting his future wife there.
The couple eventually graduated, built successful careers and formed a family together.
The McCollum Family’s Wine Business
CJ and Elise have also transformed one of their shared interests into a family business.
While McCollum played in Portland, the couple became increasingly interested in Oregon’s Willamette Valley wine industry.
They launched McCollum Heritage 91 in 2020. The number 91 represents the year both CJ and Elise were born.
The couple later purchased a large property in Oregon and expanded the project into what is now known as McCollum Family Vineyard.
By 2026, the vineyard had dozens of acres planted with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes.
The family aspect of the project has become even more explicit since Jacobi and Margaux were born. The vineyard’s redesigned branding incorporates symbolism connected to CJ, Elise and their two children.
CJ McCollum Family FAQs
Who is CJ McCollum’s wife?
CJ McCollum’s wife is Dr. Elise Esposito McCollum, a dentist whom he met while they were students at Lehigh University.
When did CJ McCollum get married?
CJ McCollum and Elise Esposito married in October 2020 during an intimate ceremony in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
Does CJ McCollum have children?
Yes. CJ McCollum and his wife Elise have two children.
Who are CJ McCollum’s children?
Their children are Jacobi James McCollum and Margaux McCollum.
Who is CJ McCollum’s son?
His son is Jacobi James McCollum, who was born on January 10, 2022.
Who is CJ McCollum’s daughter?
His daughter is Margaux McCollum, who was born in November 2023.
Who are CJ McCollum’s parents?
CJ McCollum’s parents are Kathy Andrews and Errick McCollum.
Who is CJ McCollum’s mother?
His mother is Kathy Andrews. She raised CJ and his older brother in Canton, Ohio, and worked for years as a tax auditor and insurance agent.
Who is CJ McCollum’s father?
His father is Errick McCollum.
How many siblings does CJ McCollum have?
CJ McCollum has one publicly documented sibling, his older brother Errick.
Who is CJ McCollum’s brother?
His older brother is Errick McCollum, a longtime professional basketball player who has enjoyed a successful career in Europe and Asia.
Does CJ McCollum’s brother play basketball?
Yes. Errick McCollum has played professional basketball overseas for many years, including in the EuroLeague and other major European competitions.
Is CJ McCollum still with the Atlanta Hawks?
Yes. The Atlanta Hawks acquired McCollum from Washington in January 2026 and re-signed him in June 2026 for the 2026-27 NBA season.
Orlando Bloom is a sports journalist and analyst specializing in in-depth NBA coverage, tactical breakdowns, and advanced player analytics. With a passion for professional basketball, he covers everything from trade deadline maneuvers and Draft prospects to team strategies and league-wide trends. Combining detailed stat analysis with game context, Orlando delivers sharp insights and compelling stories for avid basketball fans and casual followers alike.
