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The Portland Trail Blazers joined the NBA in 1970 along with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Clippers, known back then as the Buffalo Braves. The Trail Blazers had a rough start to their franchise having a losing record in their first six seasons in the league.
But things changed in the 1976-77 season as they made their playoff debut and went on to have one of the most amazing postseasons runs in NBA history. With Bill Walton leading the team, the Blazers won their first and only NBA championship.
Starting from their title-winning season in 1977, the Blazers were a model of consistency until 2003. In that 26-year span, the team only missed the playoffs once during the 1981-82 NBA season. The team also had two more trips to the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992 but they fell to the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls, respectively.
Over the years, despite bad choices at the NBA draft, the Blazers have produced a few great players and some really good ones. Here are the all-time starting five of the Portland Trail Blazers.
Guard – Terry Porter
Terry Porter was drafted 24th overall by the Trail Blazers in 1985. Porter spent ten seasons in Portland before leaving in free agency to join the Minnesota Timberwolves. During his tenure with the Trail Blazers, he was two-time All-Star. He had his best season in 1993 as he averaged 18.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists, and 1.2 steals per game.
In Porter’s ten-year stint with the Trail Blazers, the team never missed the playoffs and he was the team’s starting point guard in two of their NBA Finals trip in 1990 and 1992. He also ranks third in the Blazers’ all-time scoring list while also sitting first in assists, second steals, and third in three-pointers made.
Honorable Mention: Guard – Geoff Petrie
The first franchise player in Trail Blazers history, Geoff Petrie spent his entire NBA career in Portland. He only played just six seasons after suffering a career-ending knee injury. Petrie was a two-time All-Star and he was also the Rookie of the Year in 1971. His No. 45 jersey was retired by the team in 1981.
Guard – Damian Lillard
Damian Lillard is on his way to becoming the best player in the history of the Portland Trail Blazers. Drafted sixth overall in 2012, he quickly established himself as one of the best scoring point guards in the game. Lillard won the Rookie of the Year Award in 2013 and he is also a three-time All-Star already.
If Lillard spends his entire career in Portland, there is a chance that he will go down as the greatest player the franchise has ever produced. He has led the team to the playoffs five times. He also ranks fourth in the team’s all-time scoring and assist list while also ranking first in three-pointers made.
Honorable Mention: Guard – Brandon Roy
Oh, what could have been. Brandon Roy was one of the up and coming superstars of the NBA during his playing days. However, his career was cut short after just six years due to degeneration of cartilages in his knees. Roy was a three-time All-Star and the 2007 Rookie of the Year. He also led the Trail Blazers to the playoffs for three-straight years from 2009 to 2011.
Center – Bill Walton
Bill Walton played for the Trail Blazers in just four seasons and it was marred by injuries. But when he was healthy, Walton was a force inside as he helped the team win its first and only NBA championship in 1977. He was relatively healthy the next season as he won the NBA MVP Award but foot injuries forced the Blazers to move on from him.
But despite his relatively short tenure with the team, Walton is a legend in Portland for delivering a title to the city. His No. 32 jersey was retired by the Trail Blazers in 1989. His career ended with the Boston Celtics wherein he won his second NBA championship and the Sixth Man of the Year Award in 1986.
Honorable Mention: Center – Rasheed Wallace
The face of the Trail Blazers after the trade of Clyde Drexler, Rasheed Wallace spent seven and a half seasons in Portland. He was a two-time All-Star in Portland while also leading the team to the playoffs seven times, reaching the Western Conference Finals in 2000.
Forward – LaMarcus Aldridge
The departure of LaMarcus Aldridge in 2015 via free agency still stings for the Trail Blazers and their fans. Aldridge spent the first nine seasons of his career in Portland as he established himself as one of the best low post scorers in the game. He was a four-time All-Star while wearing the Blazers uniform and he made an All-NBA Team three times.
Aldridge ranks high in some of the team’s all-time leaderboards. He sits second in total points, third in minutes played, first in rebounds, and fourth in blocked shots. The wound of his departure is still fresh but without a doubt, Aldridge is one of the best players in franchise history. His No. 12 jersey should hang from the rafters of the Moda Center once his retires.
Honorable Mention: Forward – Maurice Lucas
Spending just four seasons with the Trail Blazers, Maurice Lucas was a key part of the team’s championship season in 1977. Lucas was a three-time All-Star in Portland since he was one of the best two-way players of the era.
Forward – Clyde Drexler
Without a doubt, Clyde Drexler is still the greatest player in Trail Blazers history. Drexler spent 12 seasons in Portland wherein he became one of the best players in the league. He was an eight-time All-Star with the Blazers while also being named to an All-NBA Team five times.
Drexler led the Blazers to the postseason 11 times during his career. He even helped the team make the NBA Finals twice in 1990 and 1992. However, they lost to Isiah Thomas’ Pistons and Michael Jordan’s Bulls, respectively. Drexler is the team’s all-time leader in points and steals while also ranking second in rebounds and assists, seventh in blocks, and ninth in three-pointers made. Obviously, his No. 22 jersey has been retired by the franchise.
Honorable Mention: Forward – Cliff Robinson
An underrated player during his heyday, Cliff Robinson was a key player for the Trail Blazers from 1989 to 1997. He had his best season as a Blazer in 1994 when he was named an All-Star. Robinson ranks fifth in the team’s all-time scoring list, tenth in rebounds, sixth in steals, second in blocks, and seventh in three-points made.
