The Portland Trail Blazers were established in 1970 as an expansion team based in Portland, Oregon. They are the only NBA franchise located in the Pacific Northwest region after the Vancouver Grizzlies relocated to Memphis in 2001.
The Trail Blazers' name is an allusion to the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition that ended near present-day Portland in the early 1800s. The team is often referred to by the nickname "Blazers" by fans and media.
The Trail Blazers play their home games at the Moda Center in downtown Portland. Originally known as the Rose Garden when it opened in 1995, it has been the team's arena for over 25 years.
In their early years, the Trail Blazers struggled mightily as an expansion franchise. They finished last in their division in each of their first four seasons from 1970-1974 and missed the playoffs in five of their first six campaigns.
One of the few bright spots was forward-center Sidney Wicks, who made the All-Star team in each of his first four seasons after being drafted in 1971.
Portland underwent a shocking turnaround in 1976-77, posting their first winning record at 49-33 to make the playoffs. This kicked off a successful period for the franchise as they made the postseason in all but one season until 2002-03. Key players like Maurice Lucas, Bill Walton, and Clyde Drexler led the way.
The late 1990s and early 2000s were a tumultuous time, with the team acquiring the "Jail Blazers" nickname due to several players running into legal troubles. This period overlapped with a stretch of seven straight seasons where they missed the playoffs from 2003-04 to 2009-10.
In 2012, the Trail Blazers selected the star guard Damian Lillard to extend their playoff streak. Along with CJ McCollum, and Lillard the Trail Blazers witnessed early success from the 2013-14 season.
Recently, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum were traded to other teams, and the Trail Blazers are now again in a rebuilding state. With the young team led by Anferenee Simons and Jerami Grant the team is poised to uphold the legacy of success in basketball.
How many NBA championships have the Portland Trail Blazers won?
As of 2024, the Portland Trail Blazers have won one NBA championship in their franchise history. Their lone title came in the 1976-77 season. That year, the Blazers put together a remarkable playoff run behind star players Bill Walton, Maurice Lucas, and Lionel Hollins. They were guided by first-year head coach Jack Ramsay.
In the playoffs, Portland knocked off the Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, and Los Angeles Lakers to advance to the NBA Finals. There they faced the heavily favored Philadelphia 76ers led by Julius Erving.
After losing the first two games, the Trail Blazers stormed back to win the next four games to capture their first championship. In addition to their one NBA title, the Trail Blazers have also won three conference championships and six division titles through the 2024 season.
While just a single NBA championship in over 50 years may be disappointing, that 1977 title remains a beloved achievement and source of pride for the loyal Trail Blazers fan base in Portland. They continue to chase their second Larry O'Brien trophy.
Portland Trail Blazers NBA Finals Appearance History
The Portland Trail Blazers have made it to the NBA Finals on three occasions through the 2024 season. Their first Finals trip came in 1977 when they won the championship behind stars Bill Walton and Maurice Lucas.
Portland returned to the Finals in 1990 led by Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, and Jerome Kersey. After beating the Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference Finals, the Blazers faced the Detroit Pistons in the Finals but lost the series 4-1.
Two years later in 1992, the Trail Blazers made their third Finals appearance. They got past the Utah Jazz to win the Western Conference. However, Portland was defeated 4-2 in the Finals by the Chicago Bulls led by Michael Jordan.
While they have three Finals appearances, the 1977 championship remains the Trail Blazers' only NBA title so far. The franchise continues to chase their second Larry O'Brien trophy, with their last Finals trip coming over 30 years ago in 1992. Loyal Portland fans eagerly await the team's next Finals run.
| Year | Head Coach | Against | Venue | Result |
| 1977 | Jack Ramsay | Philadelphia 76ers | Memorial Coliseum | Trail Blazers won 4-2 |
| 1990 | Rick Adelman | Detroit Pistons | The Palace of Auburn Hills | Trail Blazers lost 4-1 |
| 1992 | Rick Adelman | Chicago Bulls | Chicago Stadium | Trail Blazers lost 4-2 |
What teams did the Portland Trail Blazers lose the NBA Finals against?
The Portland Trail Blazers have lost two NBA Finals in their franchise history. First NBA Final loss came in 1990, when the Trail Blazers lost to the Detroit Pistons. The second NBA Final loss came in 1992, when the Trail Blazers lost to the Chicago Bulls.
Portland Trail Blazers' Last NBA Finals Appearance
The Trail Blazers' most recent NBA Finals appearance came in the 1991-92 season. They were led by star shooting guard Clyde Drexler, point guard Terry Porter, and forward Jerome Kersey.
In the playoffs, Portland first took down the Phoenix Suns 4-1 in the Western Conference Semifinals. They followed that up with a 4-2 series win over the Utah Jazz in the Conference Finals.
That set up a Finals matchup with the Chicago Bulls, who were led by Michael Jordan and had won their first title the previous year. It was a hard-fought series, but the Bulls proved too talented, defeating the Trail Blazers 4-2 to capture their second straight championship.
While Drexler had a fantastic individual Finals performance, averaging over 24 points per game, it was not enough to overcome Jordan's Bulls. Portland has not returned to the Finals in the over 30 years since that 1992 loss.
The Trail Blazers are still chasing their second NBA title over three decades after their last Finals appearance against the Jordan-led Bulls dynasty.
FAQ's On Portland Trailblazers Finals Appearances
A. The Portland Trail Blazers reached the NBA Finals three times in their franchise history.
A. The Portland Trail Blazers won the NBA Title in 1976.
A. The Portland Trail Blazers have won only one NBA Title in their franchise history.
A. The Portland Trail Blazers met the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1976 NBA Finals.
