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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 6h

September 29, 1990 - Ten lucky Blazer fans had a chance to play a one-on-one challenge against Alaa Abdelnaby, Terry Porter, Jerome Kersey, or Danny Young, with one fan winning two tickets to a Blazers game. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

Tony Garner defeated Abdelnaby in a modified game of H-O-R-S-E, spelling N-B-A instead. Garner connected on a 3-point shot to win, saying, "I didn't know if he was a long-distance shooter, so I just played against that." When the newest Blazer rookie missed his attempt, the crowd of nearly 2,500 roared while Abdelnaby's teammates laughed. Garner also won an autographed basketball and a T-shirt.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 8h

There are 21 days remaining before the Blazers open the 2026/27 season. This year, Draft Positions is the order of the countdown. Four players were selected by the Blazers with the 21st pick, all would wear the Red and Black uniform, with one player having his number retired. #RipCity

During his 1987-88 senior season at Seton Hall Univ. Mark Bryant helped the Pirates earn the first NCAA Tournament berth in school history. Bryant scored 30 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the first tournament victory, solidifying his prospect for the 1988 NBA Draft. Portland selected the 6’-9” forward, and Bryant joined the starting lineup on day one but with the team flailing, and a coaching change midway through his rookie year, Bryant settled into a backup role. That backup role continued after the arrival of Buck Williams in the summer of 1989. Bryant would spend seven seasons in Portland, averaging 5 points and 3.5 rebounds in 15 minutes of action in 431 games. For his career, Bryant spent 15 years in the NBA, playing in 797 games.

In his junior year at Alabama, James Robinson set a school record when he topped the 20-point mark in 12 straight games, and finished his career with 1,813 points, the seventh most at the time. When the Blazers selected the 6’-2” shooting guard in the 1993 NBA Draft, he was to backup Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter but only played in 58 games. Robinson did participate in the Slam Dunk Contest his rookie season but was eliminated in the first round. After that rookie year, Robinson’s playing time nearly doubled for the next two years but his shooting percentage was under .400. In 1996, Robinson was packaged in a deal to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Isaiah Rider. Overall, Robinson played seven years in the NBA and three more in Europe.

After two years playing Community College basketball, Qyntel Woods declared himself eligible for the 2002 NBA Draft as he was well-known great potential to many pro scouts. The 6’-8” small forward played sparingly with the Blazers in his two years with the team, averaging 9 minutes of play in 115 games. Sadly, Woods ran into much legal trouble late in his second season and into the summer. Portland would fine, suspend, and eventually release Woods as his legal troubles mounted. Woods played 52 more NBA games before heading to Europe, where he would play 12 years in various countries, including three seasons helping Arka Gdynia win league title in 2009,10, and 11.

Nolan Smith was one of a long-line of Duke players that entered the NBA with great expectations when the Blazers selected him in the 2011 NBA Draft. Smith, who helped lead the Blue Devils to the 2010 NCAA title, was limited in summer league action prior to his rookie season when he suffered a mild-concussion during his second game. In the regular season, the 6’-2” guard played 44 games for the Blazers, averaging 3.8 points and 1.4 assists in 12 minutes of action. In his second season, he played four games less and scored a point lower. Smith was released after two years and played two more years in Europe, helping Cedevita Zagreb win the Croatian League Title in 2014.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 23h

September 28, 1973 - The Blazers suffered their second preseason loss, falling to the Golden State Warriors in Los Angeles. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

Rick Roberson, the Blazers new center who played for the Lakers during the 1969/70 season, led Portland with 21 points, 8 rebounds and blocked 3 shots. "They are among the top two or three in the NBA now," said Roberson, "And they are ready to play now."

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 23h

September 28, 2011 - Bucky Buckwalter, the winner of the 1991 NBA Executive of the Year award when he was the Blazers VP of Basketball Operations, was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

A native of La Grande, Oregon, Buckwalter joined the Blazers in 1976, first as a college scout, before becoming an assistant coach in 1979. Buckwalter moved back into scouting for the team in the early 80's. Among the players he scouted, and pushed Portland to draft, were Jerome Kersey (1984), Terry Porter (1985), Arvydas Sabonis, and Drazen Petrovic in 1986. "We took a lot of heat in the 1986 draft. A lot of fans and a lot of sportswriters were not happy."

Buckwalter is possibly best known in basketball history for recruiting Moses Malone to join the ABA Utah Stars in 1974, by-passing college. The legend goes that as the GM of the Stars, Buckwalter famously laid out anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 on an orange crate that doubled as a coffee table, telling the 18-year old, "You need some walking around money."

Buckwalter says his biggest regret is not getting Sabonis to be part of the Blazers run of the early 90's. "With Clyde and Jerome and Terry running the court and posting up.... Man, we would have been a very tough team to beat."

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

September 28, 2015 - Coming off a 51-31 record, the Blazers enter the 2015/16 with not nearly the lofty expectations as last year. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

While the Blazers enter the season with a solid backcourt of Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, the loss of free agents LaMarcus Aldridge and Wesley Matthews, causes much concern for the new year. "We're supposed to finish 30th and win 30 games," said McCollum. "I'd say this season is a lot different in terms of expectations."

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

There are 22 days remaining before the Blazers open the 2026/27 season. This year, Draft Positions is the order of the countdown. Four players were selected by the Blazers with the 22nd pick, with all four wearing the Red and Black uniform, with one wearing in Game 6 of the 1977 NBA Finals #RipCity

The first player the Blazers drafted from the Univ. of Dayton, Johnny Davis proved to be just the player Portland needed in the playoff run to the 1977 NBA Title. In a backup role his rookie season, the 6’-1” guard averaged 8 points in the regular season, but jumped to 13 points when he replaced an injured Dave Twardzik in the starting lineup, helping the Blazers go 9-2 in the playoffs.

Davis played two seasons in Portland before he was traded to the Indiana Pacers, along with the Blazers pick in the 1978 NBA Draft, for the first pick. Davis played 10 seasons in the NBA, averaging 13 points and 4.5 assists in 750 games, but soon joined the NBA coaching ranks after retiring. Davis spent 24 seasons with various teams as an assistant, including Portland from 1994-96. He was a head coach with Philadelphia, Orlando, and Memphis, and finished with a 73-146 record.

Selected with the pick acquired in a trade for Kiki Vandeweghe, Byron Irvin of Missouri was the shooting guard the Blazers were looking for to back up All-Star Clyde Drexler. Instead the 6’-5” guard split the backup role with fellow rookie Drazen Petrovic, averaging 5.6 points in 50 games. Irvin was packaged in a deal to the Sacramento Kings following his rookie season for Danny Ainge, but was dealt a month later to the Washington Bullets. Irvin played three years in the NBA, spent some time playing overseas, but moved to the business side of the NBA, having become an agent to many NBA players since 2000.

The third Spaniard selected by the Blazers, Victor Claver had been playing with Valencia for three years before being drafted in the 2009 NBA Draft. Claver played three more years with Valencia before joining the Blazers in 2012, after helping Spain win the Silver Medal in the Olympics. Claver played three seasons in Portland but went back overseas to continue playing, first in Russia before returning to Spain. Claver retired in 2024, after being on teams that won three Spanish Titles and two EuroCup Titles.

Elliot Williams of Memphis was the Blazers selection in the 2010 NBA Draft, but was sidelined prior to the Summer League games with a minor knee injury. Cleared to play in the preseason, Williams rookie season came to a close after having surgery to repair a dislocated right patella, followed by the same procedure on his left knee.

After making his professional debut in late 2011, and playing in 24 games, the 6’-5” shooting guard suffered a dislocated shoulder, shelving him for the rest of the 2011/12 season. Williams was preparing himself for what should have been his third season, but instead suffered an Achilles injury, missing the entire 2012/13 season. Williams was released after the season concluded.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

September 27, 2023 - The Blazers traded Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

Lillard, the Blazers All-time leader in scoring with 19,376 points, had requested to be traded to the Miami Heat on July 1, but instead will join two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo on a Bucks team that won 58 games in the 2022/23 season.

The Blazers also traded Keon Johnson, Nassir Little and Jusuf Nurkić to the Phoenix Suns, who in-turn, traded Deandre Ayton and Toumani Camara back to Portland.

The Blazers also received Jrue Holiday from Milwaukee, as well as three future picks for the rights to Lillard.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

September 27, 1994 - Clyde Drexler is not against a possible trade to the Miami Heat, saying, "After being in Portland for so long, it's not like I want to go, but it might be best for everybody." #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

The Blazers All-Time leading scorer with 17,136 points, who is entering his 12th season with Portland, has been outspoken regarding certain moves the organization has done in the off-season. "Geoff Petrie, Rick Adelman, Wayne Cooper, Mike Shimensky. We've let some good people go. It doesn't sit well with me."

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

There are 23 days remaining before the Blazers open the 2026/27 season. This year, Draft Positions is the order of the countdown. Four players were selected by the Blazers with the 23rd pick, would wear the Red and Black uniform, with one player having his number retired #RipCity

The first High School player taken by the Blazers since Jermaine O’Neal in 1996, Travis Outlaw played only 8 games his rookie season, but quickly joined the rotation in his second and third seasons. In 2008 and 2009, the 6’-9” forward was rated in the Top-10 in Sixth Man of the Year voting as he averaged 13.3 points and 12.8 points those two seasons.

Outlaw was traded to the Clippers midway thru the 2009/10 season, then signed a Free Agent deal with the New Jersey Nets in the summer of 2010. Outlaw last played in the NBA with the Sacramento Kings in 2014.

The fifth player born in Russia to play in the NBA, the Blazers selected Sergei Monia had been playing in Russian Leagues starting in 2000. Monia joined the Blazers in 2005, starting in 15 of the teams first 17 games, but then fell out of rotation after averaging 3.5 points and shooting .35% from the field.

The 6’8” shooting guard played eight more games before he was packaged in a 4-team trade to Sacramento that netted the Blazers Marcus Camby. Monia returned to Russia and played until retiring in 2023, helping to win two EuroCup Titles, while also helping Russia win the Bronze Medal in the 2012 Olympics.

In the 2015 NBA Draft, the Blazers selected Rondae Hollis-Jefferson of Arizona and promptly traded him to Brooklyn Nets. Hollis-Jefferson played four seasons with the Nets, averaging 10 points and 6 rebounds in 234 games. The 6’-6” guard signed a free agent deal to play for the Toronto Raptors in 2019/20. In April 2021, after he had been released by the Raptors and Minnesota, Hollis-Jefferson signed a 10-day contract with Portland.

Hollis-Jefferson signed another 10-day contract and then signed a contract to finish the year with the Blazers, playing 11 games. Hollis-Jefferson is most recently playing in The Philippines.

Small Forward Kris Murray was selected by the Blazers in the 2023 NBA Draft from Iowa and was quickly signed to a multi-year contract. Murray bounced between the Blazers and theG-League team, the Rip City Remix, for the first month of his rookie season. After finding his confidence with the Remix, the 6’-8” forward started the final 28 games of the season, hitting double-digit scoring in 18 games. On June 29, Murray was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies for Ja Morant.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

There are 24 days remaining before the Blazers open the 2026/27 season. This year, Draft Positions is the order of the countdown. Four players were selected in the 24th position, with three players wearing the Red and Black uniform, with one player having his number retired. #RipCity

The third player the Blazers selected in the 1978 NBA Draft, Keith Herron finished his career at Villanova with 2,170 points, the most in school history at the time. Herron faired well during the summer league and training camp but, as one of eight rookies, was caught in a numbers game and was released prior to the regular season. The 6’-6” guard signed with Atlanta but was waived after 14 games. Herron played a season in Belgium, before Detroit signed Herron prior to the 1980/81 season, when he averaged 13.7 points for the Pistons. Released once more, Herron first caught on with the Atlanta Hawks, then settled overseas for a few more years before suffering an ACL injury ended his career.

The Blazer brass was crossing fingers that Portland born AC Green would fall to the 24th position, but he was selected one slot earlier, and the Blazers instead settled for the franchise all-time leading assist leader in Terry Porter. The 6’-3” guard from Wisconsin-Stevens Point would end up playing 10 years in Portland, total 23,978 minutes, 758 games, 773 3-PT field goals, 11,330 points, and 5,319 assists. A two-time All-Star, Porter had his number 30 retired by the organization on Dec. 16, 2008.

Porter played a total of 17 years in the NBA, playing in Minnesota, Miami, and the San Antonio Spurs before retiring in 2002. He finished his career with 15,586 points and 7,160 assists, which is currently 18th in NBA History.

Considered to be one of the greatest players in European basketball history, 22-year old Arvydas Sabonis was selected in the first round of the 1986 NBA Draft after playing professionally for BC Žalgiris since he was 17 years of age. It took 10 years before the 7’-3” center finally donned a Blazers uniform, but while playing in Lithuania and Spain Sabonis was on 3 Russian League Title teams; 2 Spanish League Title teams; a 4-time European Player of the year; a Gold-winning Olympian (1988) and a Bronze winning team (1992). When he finally signed the Blazers in 1995, Sabonis added to his list of accolades by being on the NBA All-Rookie Team, and was runner-up to the Rookie of the Year, and Sixth Man of the year, all at the age of 31 years of age.

Sabonis played seven years total with Portland, averaging 12 points and 7.3 rebounds in 470 games, and was the starting center for the back-to-back WC Finalist teams (1999 and 2000). Suffering from multiple injuries, and with limited mobility when he finally arrived in Portland, Sabonis gave thought to the proverbial game of What If, wondering what would have happened had he joined the Blazers during their three-year run in the early 90’s.

When the Blazers selected 6’-3” shooting guard Anfernee Simons of the IMG Academy in the 2018 NBA Draft, he became the third player from the prestigious Academy to be selected by an NBA team. Simons spent some of his rookie season playing in the G-League but started the final Portland game his rookie year, and scored 37 points and passed for 9 assists in the Blazers victory. In 20 games his rookie year, he totaled 75 points. Simons steadily improved his scoring every year, peaking at 22.6 points in the 23/24 season. Simons was traded to the Boston Celtics in 2025 after playing 389 games in seven seasons with the Blazers, averaging 15 points.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

September 25, 1975 - A noticeably bulkier Bill Walton enters his second training camp with the Blazers. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

Besides weight lifting, Walton has adjusted his vegetarian diet to include chicken and fish, pushing his weight from 210 pounds his rookie year to a reported 260 pounds.

Walton is sidelined for the opening of the camp with a toe issue.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

September 25, 1971 - The Blazers announce that Geoff Petrie has had successful knee surgery and will be sidelined for 8-10 weeks. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

The NBA Co-Rookie of the Year injured the left knee on August 12 during a practice session, with the initial diagnosis being either a ligament strain or tendonitis. When the knee failed to respond to treatment, the Blazers team doctor, Dr. Frank Smith, consulted with a nationally known knee specialist, Dr. Donald Slocum of Eugene, and Dr. Robert Cram of Bryn Mawr, PA., who performed surgery on Petrie in 1963.

Smith said, "The lateral side of the knee joint was opened where a torn, loosened ... knee cartilage was found. We removed the entire lateral knee cartilage."

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

September 25, 2009 - The Blazers announce the re-signing of Ime Udoka. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

A Portland native, Udoka played for Jefferson HS and Portland State before entering the NBA in 2003. Udoka started 75 games for the Blazers during the 2006/07 season, when he averaged career-highs with 8.4 points and 3.4 rebounds. Udoka signed as a free agent with the Spurs after his season in Portland.

When he made his Blazers debut on November 1, 2006, Udoka became the third player born in Portland to play for the home team, following Damon Stoudamire and Dan Dickau. Since then, Jerami Grant became the fourth Portland born player to play for the Blazers.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

September 25, 2017 - Jusuf Nurkić and Damian Lillard have both made personal changes to ready themselves for the 2017/18 season. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

There are 25 days remaining before the Blazers open the 2026/27 season. This year, Draft Positions is the order of the countdown. Five of the six players selected by the Blazers with the 25th pick, would wear the Red and Black uniform, with one player having his number retired. #RipCity

Walt Gilmore was one of 18 players the Blazers selected in the 1970 NBA Draft, and one of the four drafted that played in that inaugural Blazers season. One of two players from Fort Valley State Univ. to play in the NBA, Gilmore made his debut in the Blazers first regular season game but was scoreless in 8 minutes. The 6’-6” forward would start 8 of the Blazers first 13 games, peaking with 11 points in his fourth game. After that, his playing time steadily decline, and would end the season playing only 27 games. Gilmore averaged 2.1 points and 2.7 rebounds in 10 minutes of action. Gilmore would play in the 1971 summer league but was waived on Sept. 27. Gilmore played in the Eastern Basketball Assoc. during the 1971/72 season and attempted a comeback to the NBA but was unable to make another team.

An All-American at Fordham Univ., Charlie Yelverton earned his place on the second Blazers team with his speed and scoring ability. The 6’-2” guard scored in double-digit 13 times in his first 23 games despite only starting one game, but his scoring suffered once Geoff Petrie returned from knee surgery. Yelverton made headlines on February 1, 1972, when he sat on the floor during warmups before Portland played against the visiting Phoenix Suns. Said at the time to have been his protest of the teams release of Willie McCarter, his action, and the play of Sidney Wicks led to the firing of head coach Rolland Todd the next day. Yelverton said in 2016 that his protest was in response to the Vietnam War. Yelverton, who finished the season averaging 8 points and 3 rebounds, was released prior to the preseason games the following year.

Yelverton found great success in Europe, first playing in Greece before helping Ignis Varèse win the 1975 EuroLeague Title and helping the team to the 1978 and 1979 Finals. Overall, Yelverton, who played until 1987, was among the 105 players to be nominated to be named one of the 50 Greatest EuroLeague Contributors in 2008.

$Selected in the 1975 NBA Draft from Long Beach State, Bob Gross was one of two rookies to make the Blazers roster under coach Lenny Wilkens, but came into his own under Jack Ramsay in his second season. The 6’-6” small forward earned the starting spot over veteran Larry Steele on the eventual NBA Champions. Gross averaged 18 points in the finals vs the Philadelphia 76ers, earning a vote for the series MVP award. The following season, with the Blazers sporting a 55-16 record, Gross suffered a stress fracture in his left ankle 12 games after Bill Walton first suffered his own foot injury. Gross played seven seasons in Portland, and had his number 30 retired on Dec. 18, 2008, two days after the same number was retired in honor of Terry Porter.$

The Blazers selected Mike Smrek in the 1985 NBA Draft and promptly traded the 7’ center from Canisius to the Chicago Bulls, where he played a season before becoming the backup center to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar on the two-time NBA Champion Lakers. Smrek played 194 games over a seven year stretch in the NBA plus another five years in Europe.

The first Egyptian to play in the NBA, Alaa Abdelnaby of Duke was selected by the Blazers in the 1990 NBA Draft. The 6’-10” forward played two years with Portland before being traded to Milwaukee for the rights to Tracy Murray. Known by Blazer fans for his ever present smile, Abdelnaby also entered Blazers lore when he was summoned by coach Rick Adelman into the game on January 7, 1992 but did not have his jersey on under his warmup jacket. Abdelnaby played five years in the NBA before starting a broadcasting career.

After only a year at UNC, Nassir Little declared himself for the 2019 NBA Draft and the Blazers drafted the 6’-6” forward. Various injuries, and coaching decisions, limited Little to no more than 54 games in any season before he was traded to the Suns in 2023. After a year in Phoenix, Little signed to play in China, where he is still active.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

September 24, 1970 - The Blazers played their first ever preseason game at Mark Morris High School in Longview, WA. against the San Francisco Warriors in front of an estimated 2,800 fans. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

The Blazers entered the final quarter with a 97-81 lead but the veteran Warrior team pulled off the 119-118 victory behind the game-high 28 points by Jerry Lucas, who pulled down 14 rebounds.

Portland was led by Jim Barnett and Stan McKenzie, who each scored 23 points, with Barnett passing for a game-high 8 assists. LeRoy Ellis added 19 points and 17 rebounds, while Gary Gregor pulled down 26 rebounds along with 17 points.

The game in Longview came about because local resident, Bill Ammons, called the Blazers office to see if he could put the game together in his town. “I was about 28 years old and I loved sports my whole life," said Ammons, when he recalled the game in 2018. who owned a barbershop at the time. He figured the game wouldn’t count in the standings, but it would bring big NBA players to the small town and help the franchise to grow the fan base on the north side of the Columbia River.

"I was just sitting there and said, ‘You know what, I’m calling Harry Glickman.’ He and I just kind of clicked then. I still can’t believe I put that on,” Ammons chuckled.

The deal that Glickman and Ammons struck stated that all the ticket money had to go to charity. The Longview Progress Center, which worked to help children meet their developmental marks by age three, wound up as the financial beneficiary of the one-off arrangement.
After weeks of planning and coordinating, the game tipped off in the Monarchs’ gymnasium, now named Ted M. Natt Court. While the official tally says 2,800 people were on hand at Mark Morris to see the Blazers budding stars, Ammons says he knows there were more.

The shiny new team boasted a roster with familiar names such as NBA vet Stan McKenzie, Rick Adelman and former Oregon Duck Jim Barnett as they took on the Warriors, then of San Francisco. “A lot of big studs were there. They played their top guys. There was real talent out there. It was a real game,” Ammons said.

“That first game was talked about for years. It spurred all these young guys up here. This crowd wasn’t used to seeing 7-foot-tall guys who could dunk like no tomorrow,” Ammons explained. “It was a real experience, a tremendous event. To get that kind of crowd was great. I feel fortunate to have been able to do it and I was just a kid. I am so proud of that.”

Kirc Roland, the athletic director of Lower Columbia College in 2018 but a junior high school student at the time, said the moment Ammons told him the Blazers were coming to town he realized the day would be historic. “I was a boy who all of a sudden had a NBA game being played in my hometown. You just had to be there. It’s a pretty cool story that a young guy like Bill (Ammons) would call Glickman and get this event here,” Roland said.

Roland said the game remains a highlighted memory for him. To watch stars like Pat Riley and Geoff Petrie play in his hometown, and his future high school, was a once in a lifetime kind of deal. “You have got to understand it was a different time,” Roland said. “It was the 70’s. You wouldn’t see that in today’s world. The game was an exhibition game, so it didn’t really count. But it counted to Longview. It’s a little piece of history in this town because of Bill.”

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

There are 26 days remaining before the Blazers open the 2026/27 season. This year, Draft Positions is the order of the countdown. Of the six player selected by the Blazers, four players wore the Red and Black uniform, with one player getting his uniform number to hang from the rafters. #RipCity

Selected in the second round of the 1972 NBA Draft, Dave Twardzik of Old Dominion, decided to stay close to home after college, signing with the Virginia Squires of the ABA. Twardzik, who played four years with the Squires, was teammates with Julius Erving and George Gervin during his rookie season and became a free agent when the Squires folded after the 1975/76 season. The 6’-1” point guard signed with Portland in the summer of 1976 and quickly moved into the starting lineup of the revamped Blazers team. From the field, Twardzik shot .612 and .592 his first two years in Portland and would have led the NBA both years, but was short the 300 made field goals, connecting on 263 and 242. After four years with the Blazers, Twardzik retired due to a constant back issue, but continued to work with the team, first with Bill Schonely on the radio, before moving into sales. His number 13 was retired in 1981.

The third pick in the second round of the 1981 NBA Draft, Brian Jackson of Utah State was impressive enough during the Blazers rookie camp that he earned a spot on the Portland Summer League team. Once the teams training camp opened though, the 6’-8” forward was caught in a numbers game and was waived before the preseason got underway. Jackson instead had a successful 15 year career in Europe, making the All-Star teams in four of his six years with Peñas Huesca in the Spanish league. At the end of his career in Spain, Jackson played 392 league games, scoring 8,651 points, which ranked him first in league history at the time.

Selected eight slots after his twin brother Vern, Victor Fleming of Xavier was the Blazers third draft pick in the 1984 NBA Draft. The 6’-6” small forward was unable to impress the Blazers coaching staff, losing out to rookies Bernard Thompson and Jerome Kersey. Fleming instead played three years in the CBA, earning All-Star status in 1986, when he averaged 15 points per game. Once retired, Fleming transitioned into a corporate and educational career in Texas. Fleming worked for 26 years at Southwestern Bell Communications, holding roles in computer programming, management, and finance.

Rolando Ferreira, a 7'-1" Brazilian by way of the Univ. of Houston, was the Blazers first pick in the second round of the 1988 NBA Draft. Ferreira scored 26 points in the annual Rookie game, earning a spot on the Summer League squad. Ferreira survived the Portland training camp, becoming the first Brazilian player to ever play in an NBA game when he debuted on Nov. 4, 1988. Ferreira played 12 games with the Blazers before being released. Ferreira instead had a very successful career as a representative of the Brazilian National Team, playing in three FIBA World Cup Games and two Olympic appearances. Ferreira helped Brazil defeat the US team to win the Gold Medal in the 1987 Pan American Games.

After averaging only 6 points in his first two years at Syracuse, Dave Johnson pushed his average to nearly 20 points a game, earning All-Big East First team his senior season. Johnson increased his draft stock as the leading scorer in the Orlando NBA pre-draft camp, recording the highest vertical leap, and winning the Dunk Contest. The Blazers selected the 6’-7” guard in the 1992 NBA Draft, but the two sides couldn’t agree on a contract until just before the regular season started, pushing Johnson further down the depth chart. Johnson played 42 games his rookie season and was waived on the eve of his second season. Johnson played 17 games with the Chicago Bulls before being waived before playing in the CBA and in Europe over the next eight years.

Named Indiana Mr. Basketball in 2015 as a High School senior, Caleb Swanigan chose to stay in state and attend Purdue Univ., staying for two seasons before declaring for the 2017 NBA Draft. The 6’-9” forward, who was nicknamed “Biggie”, played for the Blazers summer league team, earning All-Summer League First Team honors as he led the Blazers into the Summer League Finals. Swanigan played 27 games with Portland his rookie season, while also playing in the G-League. Swanigan was traded to Sacramento midway his second season, but traded back to Portland nearly a year later, becoming the 20th player to have a second stint with the Blazers. Swanigan chose not to participate in the Orlando Bubble and his contract was not renewed.

Swanigan passed away in 2022 at the age of 25.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

September 23, 1997 - The Blazers announce the signing of Kelvin Cato and John Crotty, and deal with rumors of a potential trade for Dennis Scott of the Orlando Magic. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

Cato, the Blazers first round selection in the draft, signed a three-year deal with Portland. With the expected departure of Chris Dudley to the Knicks, Cato will be the backup center to Arvydas Sabonis.

The Blazers also announced the signing of free agent guard John Crotty, though the NBA confirms the contract was agreed to on August 27.

In other news, Dennis Scott expects to be traded by the Magic to either Portland or Dallas. Scott says the Blazers are willing to trade Stacey Augmon and a draft pick. He also says he expects Dallas to trade Derek Harper and Ed O'Bannon to Orlando.

Jim Paxson, the Blazers assistant GM, commented, saying, "We need a shooter, and he is one of a few shooters who would be available. But as far as any deal that might be in the works, I can't comment."

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

September 23, 1980 - The Blazers had no issue in the 111-93 preseason victory vs the Seattle Super Sonics, with Sonics rookie Bill Hanzlik making his first appearance on the Memorial Coliseum floor in five years. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

Hanzlik attended Lake Oswego HS, and last played on the Blazers home court when he guided the suburban Portland high school to a third place finish in the 1975 Oregon School Activities Association tournament.

The Hanzlik family moved to Beloit, Wisconsin the summer before Bill's senior season of high school. After graduating, Hanzlik was recruited to play for the Univ. of Notre Dame. Hanzlik was named to the 1980 US Olympic team before Seattle drafted him in the First Round of the 1980 NBA Draft with 20th pick.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

September 23, 1978 - The Blazers and the Phoenix Suns combined for 89 fouls and 99 free throw attempts before Portland pulled off the 110-109 preseason win. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

NBA Official Ed Rush, who worked the Denver v Seattle opening game, commented afterwards that the excessive calls are not due to the third referee, but the new rules on hand checking. "The players have to get used to the new rules." said Rush. He said further, "I think this will be one of the best things that's happened to the NBA. But it will take time."

Tom Owens led Portland with 22 points, with TR Dunn adding 14 points and a game-high 9 rebounds.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

There are 27 days remaining before the Blazers open the 2026/27 season. This year, Draft Positions is the order of the countdown. There have been two player selected by the Blazers with the 27th pick, with neither player appearing in a Portland uniform. #RipCity

Rick Fisher, the Blazers second round pick in the 1971 NBA Draft, chose to sign with the defending ABA Champion Utah Stars instead of Portland in the summer after being selected by the two teams. The 6’-5” shooting guard attended Colorado State for a single season, averaging 18.8 points and 9.7 rebounds, and was expected back for his senior season before declaring for the draft.

Sadly, Fisher injured his wrist three games into his rookie season. Fisher missed 14 of the next 20 Utah games before he was traded to the Miami Floridians. After three games in Miami, Fisher was released after three more games. Fisher passed away in 2019 at the age of 71.

Linas Kleiza, selected by Portland in the 2005 NBA Draft, was traded along with Ricky Sanchez to the Denver Nuggets for Jarrett Jack. The 6’-8” forward spent four seasons in Denver backing up Carmelo Anthony before moving to Greece for the 2009/10 season. In Greece, he helped Olympiacos to the Greek Cup title while being named to the All-Euro League First team. Kleiza returned to the NBA, signing with the Toronto Raptors, but suffered a knee injury that limited him to 108 games over three seasons. Waived by Toronto in 2013, he played two more years in Europe before retiring.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

September 22, 1982 - The Blazers waive center Kevin Kunnert after three years in Portland. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

Kunnert arrived in 1979 from the San Diego Clippers as part of the compensation package for the signing of Bill Walton. Kunnert was limited by injuries to just 94 games, and averaged 4.5 points and 5 rebounds with the Blazers.

Originally drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1973, Kunnert was traded to the Buffalo Braves before a trade to the Houston Rockets midway through his rookie season. Kunnert spent five seasons in Houston, averaging 10.4 points and 8.5 rebounds in 341 games.

Kunnert signed a free agent contract with the Boston Celtics in the summer of 1978 but was soon part of a massive trade between the Celtics and the-then Braves franchise that moved to San Diego prior to the 1978/79 season.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

September 22, 1978 - Six rookies made their NBA preseason debuts with the Blazers in front of 16.696 fans at the Kingdome in Seattle. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

Mychal Thompson and Ron Brewer, the first and seventh picks in the June draft, were the names most fans knew, but Kim Anderson, Clay Johnson, Clemon Johnson, and Keith Herron all played double-digit minutes in a foul-marred evening.

"I felt the rookies got their feet wet and showed good signs," said Jack Ramsay, who signed a new contract earlier in the day. "This was a good night for us. First nights are always tough."

The NBA approved a third official for games starting this year and the effect was immediate. In the opening game Phoenix v Denver game, 80 fouls were called, followed by 68 in the Portland v Seattle nightcap. With the elimination of the hand-checking rule, players habits will need to change, but Ramsay said, "I think the new rules are great. It will make for a better game."

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

September 22, 1972 - Geoff Petrie scored a game high 30 points as Portland upset the Utah Stars 106-102 in front of 2,325 fans in the Inaugural Pro Basketball Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

The Blazers fell behind early, 20-9, and seemed to have trouble with the ABA ball that was used in the first half, before bouncing back to a 44-44 tie at halftime. Sidney Wicks scored 26 points and grabbed 13 rebounds while Terry Dischinger added 14 points in the win.

Zelmo Beaty, a two-time All-Star in the NBA before jumping to the rival league, scored 23 points and grabbed 8 rebounds for the Stars. Willie Wise, who went to the free throw line 16 times, scored 27 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. The Stars won the ABA Title in 1971 and lost in the Western Finals last to the eventual ABA Champion Indiana Pacers in 7 games.

The Chicago Bulls defeated the Seattle Supersonics in the opening game this evening. The Blazers, who defeated Seattle yesterday, are 2-0 and will play the Bulls on Sept 24 to determine the winner in the round-robin tournament.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

There are 28 days remaining before the Blazers open the 2026/27 season. This year, Draft Positions is the order of the countdown. There have been two player selected by the Blazers with the 28th pick, with both appearing in a Portland uniform. #RipCity

Kim Anderson, who was the Blazers draft choice in 1977, chose to play in Italy for a year before Portland was able to sign the 6’-7” forward, but before some controversy. The Milwaukee Bucks assumed he was still an amateur player despite his year in Italy. Reportedly paid $50K for his time with the Jolly Columbine club, the head of the US Olympic committee said, “I don’t care who gets paid what, the Italian league is considered an amateur league.”

The NBA Commissioner eventually ruled otherwise, allowing Anderson to sign with Portland. Anderson played 21 games before heading back to Europe, playing until 1982. Anderson moved into coaching, coaching his alma mater Missouri for three seasons after a successful run at Central Missouri, winning the NCAA D-II title in 2014. In 20 years, he amassed a 364-242 record.

Selected in the 2000 NBA Draft, point guard Erick Barkley was buried deep on a Portland team that had made two consecutive WC Finals. Barkley played in 8 games his rookie season and 19 more in year two before being traded to the San Antonio Spurs but played in Greece instead of San Antonio.The 6’-1” point guard spent the next eight years bouncing between the NBA G-League and European teams.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

September 21, 1980 - NBA Great Pete Maravich retires. The first pick in the ABA Draft by the Carolina Cougars, Maravich was also the third pick in the 1970 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks, where he began his pro career ... #RipCity

After four seasons in Atlanta, the NBA expanded to New Orleans, offering a chance for Maravich to return to his college home state in a massive trade.

The Jazz started that inaugural season 0-11 when rookie Bill Walton and the Blazers came to town. Maravich recorded the first triple-double of his career to lead the Jazz to their first franchise victory, punctuated by hitting the winning field goal with :03 seconds remaining. Maravich finished with 30 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

There are 29 days remaining before the Blazers open the 2026/27 season. This year, Draft Positions is the order of the countdown. There has only been one player selected by the Blazers with the 29th pick, and that is Lester Fonville, from Jackson State Univ. #RipCity

A 7’-2” center, Fonville averaged 13.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 3.9 blocks in his senior season with the Tigers. The Blazers suggested he look to Europe for some seasoning, so Fonville played in France during the 1987/88 season. After France he returned to the US, playing in the CBA before the Blazers signed him on April 20, 1988 after placing Steve Johnson on the injury list. Fonville was expected to play the final two games of the 1987/88 season but instead rode the bench into the playoffs.

Fonville worked out against Arvydas Sabonis during the late spring and early summer as Sabonis readied himself for the Seoul Olympics, keeping himself in front of the Portland front office. Fonville played for the 1988 summer league team but was released at the end of training camp.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

September 20, 1994 - The Blazers signed free agent center James Edwards. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

Blazers GM Bob Whitsitt expects Edwards to be able to play 12 to 20 minutes as a backup to Chris Dudley. "I've been saving my legs the last two years," said Edwards, who played 45 games last season with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Edwards, who is entering into his 18th NBA season, was a 1977 graduate of the Univ. of Washington and was a third round selection by the Lakers but traded to the Indiana Pacers during his rookie year. Edwards played four years in Indiana, then a six year run in Phoenix. Edwards was a member of the Detroit Pistons back-to-back Title teams in 1989 and 1990 before heading back to Los Angeles, spending one season with the Clippers, with the last two years with the Lakers.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

September 20, 1979 - Two days after NBA Commissioner Larry O'Brien announced the compensation package to Portland for the San Diego Clippers signing of Bill Walton, there are reports that the players may not report to Portland. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

The attorney for Kermit Washington and Kevin Kunnert, who were to join the Blazers in Minnesota for a preseason game vs the San Antonio Spurs tomorrow, has advised his clients to not report to Portland until further notice. He told the players after learning that a federal judge has voided the compensation package awarded to the Seattle Super Sonics by the New York Knicks for the signing of Marvin Webster. The NBPA has indicated the union may challenge the Walton compensation as well.

In addition, the Clippers have asked for an extension to the 48 hours they had regarding Randy Smith, the third player awarded to Portland. The Clippers are looking to move Smith for a draft pick that would be used to transfer to Portland.

As well, reports are that the Blazers first round draft choice Kelvin Ransey is asking for a contract worth $400K a year, but the Blazers are only offering $200K per year.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

There are 30 days remaining before the Blazers open the 2026/27 season. This year, Draft Positions is the order of the countdown. There have been three players selected by Portland with the 30th pick, with all three players playing for the Blazers. #RipCity

Selected with the final pick of the second round in the 1972 NBA Draft, Ollie Johnson did not play organized basketball until he attended Community College of Philadelphia (CCP), and Temple Univ. after that. The 6’-6” forward nearly was the fifth rookie in NBA History to shoot .500 from the field, finishing at .497 after going 2-for-8 in his final game. After two seasons in Portland Johnson was selected by the expansion New Orleans Jazz, but was traded to the Kansas City-Omaha Kings, spending two plus seasons there. Johnson totaled 10 years in the NBA, averaging 7.7 points and 3.8 rebounds in 690 games. Johnson returned to CCP in the athletic department, becoming the Athletic Director from 1991-2011.

Drafted in the 1987 NBA Draft, Nikita Wilson finished his college career at LSU with 1,384 points and 699 rebounds, becoming the 11th Tiger player to finish with over 1,000 points and 500 rebounds. The 6’-8” forward got a little lost in the shuffle, as he was more suited for the small forward instead of the power forward, which the Blazers planned to him. Wilson played 54 minutes over 15 games in his sole season in Portland, before playing in France for two seasons. He continued playing in the CBA until 1996.

The last pick in the first round of the 2006 NBA Draft, Joel Freeland had been playing professionally for year before the Blazers selected the 6’-11” center. Freeland continued to play in Spain until joining the Blazers in 2012, playing 151 games over the next three seasons. Only the 10th player from the United Kingdom, Freeland averaged 3.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in 12 minutes of action. After his release from the Blazers in 2015, Freeland returned to playing in European leagues and in Russia.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

September 19, 1980 - Ron Brewer and Sidney Moncrief last shared a court in Arkansas on Feb. 25, 1978, when they combined to lead the Razorbacks past TCU and into the SW Conference Tournament. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

The duo, along with Marvin Delph, led Arkansas into the schools first Final Four appearance. After losing to eventual champion Kentucky, the Razorbacks to a third place finish, topping Norte Dame.

Today, Moncrief and the Milwaukee Bucks proved to be the better team, defeating Brewer and the Blazers 115-107 in the Blazers first exhibition game of the season. Moncrief finished with 14 points and 6 rebounds in 26 minutes, while Brewer scored 18 points.

The teams travel to Fayetteville for the next exhibition game in two days.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

September 19, 1974 - The Blazers open their fifth annual training camp with a new coach and a new number 1 pick. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

Lenny Wilkens, who retired as a player after the 1973/74 season ended, enters the Portland annals as the fourth coach in team history. "We are going to be a very competitive team. We will be a contender soon. I can't say how soon, but soon."

Unlike 1972, when the Blazers opened camp with a new coach (Jack McCloskey) and the first pick in the NBA Draft (LaRue Martin), Bill Walton has lifted expectations of the team that finished 27-55 last season.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

September 19, 2018 - The Blazers announce a multi-year agreement with Performance Health, which will include a first ever jersey patch on the Blazers uniform. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

There are 31 days remaining before the Blazers open the 2026/27 season. This year, Draft Positions is the order of the countdown. There have been 3 players selected by Portland with the 31st pick, with one player having his uniform hang from the rafters of the Rose Garden. #RipCity

Hailing from Talbottom Georgia, Lloyd Neal was the first pick in the third round of the 1972 NBA Draft and quickly secured the starting center position despite standing 6’-7". Neal grabbed a team record 967 rebounds his rookie year, a number that still has not been topped in team history. Neal finished second in the Rookie of the Year voting, after averaging 13.4 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.9 blocks. In the 1977/78, Neal suffered what would turn into a career-ending knee injury when he collided with Maurice Lucas in a game against the Knicks. After playing in four games to start the following season, he hung it up for good, and became the first Portland player to have his number retired on March 24, 1979.

After starting all 121 games of his college career at TCU, Reggie Smith was selected by the Blazers in the second round of the 1992 NBA Draft. The 6’-10” center played 23 games in his rookie year with Portland, jumping to 43 games in his second season. Smith averaged 1.5 points 1.8 rebounds in 5 minutes of action during his time with the Blazers. After leaving Portland Smith played in Europe until suffering an injury that ended his career in 1996.

James White was selected by the Blazers in the 2006 NBA Draft but traded the same day to the Indiana Pacers for two future picks. White was released by the Pacers prior to the 2006/07 season, in what Pacers coach Rick Carlisle saying it was the most difficult cut he had been involved with in his coaching career. The 6’-7” forward signed with the San Antonio Spurs three days later, playing 6 games with the Spurs but a majority of the season with the Austin Toros of the NBA Developmental League. White played in Turkey in 2008/09 season, with a 4-game detour back in the NBA with the Rockets. White played in Russia and Italy before playing 57 games with the Knicks in 2013. He played in Europe until retiring in 2020 and started coaching. White currently is an assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

There are 32 days remaining before the Blazers open the 2026/27 season. This year, Draft Positions is the order of the countdown. There has been only one player selected by Portland with the 32nd pick, and he did not play a regular season game with the Blazers. #RipCity

A 6’-9” forward from McNeese State, David Lawrence was the second player the Blazers selected in the 1980 Draft. Lawerence scored 17 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in the Blazers annual rookie game, earning a trip to Los Angeles for summer league action. In his first preseason game, Lawrence scored 8 points, and grabbed 4 rebounds in 14 minutes. Lawrence was the last cut prior to the regular season game, but soon headed to Europe to continue playing for the next nine years.

Lawrence finished his college career, scoring 1,938 points and grabbing 1,026, becoming the third Cowboy to top 1K points and 1K rebounds, with one player being his brother Edmund. Lawrence passed away in 2017, two years after his older brother.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

September 18, 1979 - NBA Commissioner Larry O'Brien announced the compensation package granted to the Blazers for the signing of Bill Walton by the San Diego Clippers in May. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

The Clippers are to send to Portland forward Kermit Washington, center Kevin Kunnert, and the Clippers 1980 first round pick. O'Brien also included All-Star guard Randy Smith in the compensation, but gave the San Diego the option to keep Smith, and send a 1982 First Round pick and $350K to Portland in lieu of Smith.

Portland owner Larry Weinberg said, "We are delighted to acquire the contracts of Kermit Washington and Kevin Kunnert and possibly Randy Smith." He added disappointment that the Blazers didn't receive more future draft picks.

O'Brien cited the 1975 trade of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar from the Milwaukee Bucks to the Los Angeles Lakers, who sent four players and $1M to Milwaukee for the former NBA MVP, similar to Waltons' status. "If Walton in his first five years had proven as durable as Chamberlain, Russell, or Abdul-Jabbar, it would be virtually impossible to calculate his value or to compensate Portland for its loss."

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

There are 33 days remaining before the Blazers open the 2026/27 season. This year, Draft Positions is the order of the countdown. There have been 5 players selected by Portland with the 33rd pick, and three playing for the Blazers. #RipCity

Bruce Collins, the leading scorer in Weber State history at the time, was the Blazers third player selected in the 1980 NBA Draft. The 6’-5” guard scored 2,019 points for the Wildcats, becoming the first Wildcat player to top the 2,000 point mark. Collins played on the Blazers summer league, and in seven preseason games before being released. Collins credited the Portland franchise for helping him connect and play with teams in China and The Philippines for the next three years. Before hanging up his playing career, Collins was a member of a US Squad that played other teams in preparation of the 1984 Summer Olympics.

The first player from James Madison Univ. to play in the NBA, Linton Townes was the Blazers second round selection in the 1982 Draft. The 6’-7” small forward played the backup role, averaging 4.5 points and 1.2 rebounds in 55 games. Townes was traded to the Cavaliers prior to his second campaign with the Blazers. Cleveland waived Townes prior to the season commenced, but he spent time with Milwaukee, Los Angeles Clippers and the San Antonio Spurs before playing in the CBA. Townes was a member of the Tampa Bay Thrillers CBA Championship team before playing in Europe and Israel before retiring in 1999.

Drafted as a backup to Darnell Valentine in the 1984 NBA Draft, Steve Colter proved a valuable backup and starter when needed. The 6’-3” guard from New Mexico State, Colter played 159 games in two seasons with the Blazers, averaging 8 points and 3.1 assists. With the emergence of Terry Porter, Colter was traded to the Chicago Bulls in 1986. Colter spent a total of 8 years in the NBA

Selected in the 2008 NBA Draft, Joey Dorsey of Memphis was traded to the Houston Rockets for Nicolas Batum. The 6’-8” played 61 NBA games between 2008 to 2011 before spending three years in Europe. Dorsey returned to the Rockets, playing 69 games during the 2014/15 season before heading back to Europe, playing until 2021.

After being drafted in the 2009 NBA Draft, Dante Cunningham averaged 18 points and 5 rebounds for the Blazers summer league team, earning a spot on the regular season roster. The 6’-8” forward played 63 games his rookie season, scoring 4 points and grabbing 2.5 rebounds in 11 minutes of action. Cunningham was part of trade halfway through his second season that netted the Blazers Gerald Wallace. Cunningham played 10 years in the NBA before playing another 5 years overseas.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

September 16, 1980 - While Calvin Natt is looking forward to his first full season in Portland, the Blazers have just started negotiations with rookie Kelvin Ransey with no progress as yet. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

The Blazers front office also deny rumors of trading guard Ron Brewer, who celebrates his 25th birthday today. One rumor has the Boston Celtics offering Rick Robey to the Blazers, with coach Jack Ramsay saying they have not had any conversations with Boston.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

There are 34 days remaining before the Blazers open the 2026/27 season. This year, Draft Positions is the order of the countdown. There have been 3 player selected by Portland with the 34th pick, with two playing for Portland and the third earning a Championship ring this past spring. #RipCity

As a 6’ rookie guard from Miami of Ohio, Phil Lumpkin served as the backup to 9-time All-Star Lenny Wilkens. Selected in the 1974 draft, Lumpkin played 48 games in Portland, averaging 4.2 points and 3.7 assists. During an eight-game stretch as a starter, with Wilkens out, Lumpkin averaged 9.1 points and 8.3 assists, including two games in which he passed for a career-high 10 assists. After Portland selected Lionel Hollins in the 1975 draft, Lumpkin was traded to the Phoenix Suns, playing backup to Paul Westphal. Lumpkin would play in 17 of the 19 playoff games as the Suns lost in the 1976 NBA Finals. Lumpkin was waived after his year in Phoenix.

In 1991 Lumpkin became the head coach of O'Dea High School in Seattle. Between 1993 and 2007, the team advanced to seven state finals and won five Class 3A state titles (1993, 97, 2004, 05, and 08. Lumpkin passed away in 2009 at the age of 57 from pneumonia.

Prior to the 2010 NBA Draft, the Blazer scouts referred Armon Johnson to as a “Nate McMillan point guard” based on his 6’-5” stature and his defensive intensity. The moniker seemed well earned during the summer league as Johnson averaged 11 points and 4.2 assists, as well as his early play in his rookie season.

Johnson hit double-figure scoring in three of his first eight games, but soon Johnson was bouncing between the NBA and the Idaho Stampede of the Development League. Johnson played a single game in his second season before being waived by the Blazers. Johnson played 8 games for the New Jersey Nets after his release, before playing with various European teams before retiring in 2017.

In the 2024 NBA Draft, the Blazers selected Tyler Kolek of Marquette, immediately trading the 6’-2” guard to the New York Knicks. Kolek has played 103 games with the Knicks since, earning a Championship ring this past season.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

September 15, 1970 - A total of 17 players will attend the Blazers inaugural training camp today in Forest Grove, OR. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

The camp, which will last eight days, features seven rookie players and a rookie coach in Rolland Todd. The rookies include the first pick in team history, Geoff Petrie, as well as four others selected by Portland in the March college draft. Among the veterans attending expected to lead the team are Jim Barnett, Leroy Ellis, Rick Adelman, Gary Gregor, Ed Manning, Dorie Murrey, Pat Riley, and Dale Schlueter.

While a rookie NBA coach, Todd is familiar with professional basketball, having played in the National Industrial Basketball League in 1959 and 1960, as well as with the American Basketball League from 1961 to 1963, before moving into coaching. He spent the last five seasons at UNLV, compiling a 96-40 record for the The Runnin' Rebels before being hired by the Blazers.

One other rookie in camp is Tim Robinson, who had been banned from the NBA from a college betting scandal in 1961. Robinson recently won a court battle to clear his name, and selected the Blazers to be the team he would try out with.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

September 15, 1983 - A new basketball court has been unveiled in Great Falls, Montana today, in preparation of the October 18 exhibition game between the Blazers and the Denver Nuggets. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

There are 35 days remaining before the Blazers open the 2026/27 season. This year, Draft Positions is the order of the countdown. There has been only one player selected by Portland with the 35th pick, and he was traded on draft day, never to wear a Portland uniform. #RipCity

The last under age player ever selected by an NBA team, Ricky Sanchez of Puerto Rico is the only Blazers player selected in the 35th draft position. Drafted just 8 days before his 18th birthday in 2005, the 6’-11” center was immediately traded to the Denver Nuggets for Jarrett Jack. Sanchez has been playing professionally in Puerto Rico since he was 14, and has been on two Title winning teams.

Interestingly, besides the trade to Denver in 2005, Sanchez was traded in 2007 to the Philadelphia 76ers. In 2012, the Sixers traded his rights to the Memphis Grizzlies, who traded him a year later to the Miami Heat. The trade from Philadelphia prompted a Sixers centric podcast titled, "Rights to Ricky Sanchez", or "The Ricky". The podcast still going strong and deserves a listen.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

September 14, 1971 - The Blazers open their second training camp with 15 players on hand. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

Of those 15 players, five are rookies, with eight more having three years, or less, of NBA experience. Portland enters camp with an average of 23.9 years of age. Stan McKenzie, at 26 years of age and four years of NBA play, is the oldest player in camp.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

September 14, 1972 - The four rookies attending the Blazers training camp, played a round of golf as a foursome, and the rookies struggled like most other first time golfers. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

"I lost all three balls," said LaRue Martin, who lost one ball in a yard guarded by a German Shepard. "He looked at me and I looked at him, so I figured I better about face."
The Blazers new coach, Jack McCloskey, arranged for all 15 players to spend time on the Mt. Hood Golf Course in Gresham, with 11 players participating. As well, some members of the Blazers front office played, as did assistant coach Neil Johnston, and radio play-by-play Bill Schonely, who exclaimed, "I broke 100."

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

There are 36 days remaining before the Blazers open the 2026/27 season. This year, Draft Positions is the order of the countdown. There has been four players selected by Portland with the 36th pick, with one playing for the he was traded on draft day, never wearing a Portland uniform. #RipCity

While the 1974 NBA Draft is remembered by most Blazer fans as the Bill Walton draft, what most don’t remember is the selection of 6’-3” guard Rubin Collins, from the Univ. of Maryland Eastern Shore. Collins, who elected to forego his senior year with the Hawks, became the first “hardship” draft choice by Portland. Collins attended the rookie camp but was released prior to the exhibition games.

The Blazers brass were elated when Clifford Robinson of Connecticut was available in the second round of the 1989 NBA Draft. Robinson proved his worth, playing eight seasons in Portland, and 18 total in the NBA. The 6’-10” forward played 644 games in a Blazers uniform, grabbed 3,352 rebounds, scored 10,405 points, and played 19,839 minutes. Affectionally known as Uncle Cliffy to Blazer fans, Robinson retired in 2007, having played 1,380 games, which at the time was the seventh most in NBA History.

In 2008, the Blazers selected Ömer Aşık of Turkey, sending the 7’ center to the Chicago Bulls, receiving draft selections in return. Aşık returned to Turkey for two seasons before making his NBA debut with the Bulls in 2010. Aşık, who played 8 years in the NBA, also played with the Rockets and the Pelicans.

Portland selected the three-year veteran Italian player Gabriele Procida in the 2022 NBA Draft, and included the 6’-7” forward in a trade two weeks later that netted the Blazers Jerami Grant. Procida has continued to play in European leagues, and is currently playing with Real Madrid.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

September 13, 2000 - The Blazers announce the free agent signing of center Will Perdue. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

The 12-veteran signed a two-year contract is expected to provide guidance from the four-title teams he has played with. Perdue won three rings as a backup center with Chicago (1991, 92, 93) and one more with the Spurs in 1999.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

There are 37 days remaining before the Blazers open the 2026/27 season. This year, Draft Positions is the order of the countdown. There have been four players selected by Portland with the 37th pick, with two players donning the Red & Black, with one uniform hanging in the rafters. #RipCity

In the 1971 NBA Draft, the Blazers selected a skinny 6’-5” kid from the Univ. of Kentucky named Larry Steele. One of five rookies to make the roster in 1971, Steele solidified his position with four head coaches over the next 9 years, swinging between both guard positions and small forward, with his hustle and defense. When injuries finally removed Steele from the roster in 1980, he had played a then franchise record 610 games; held the franchise record with 1,020 steals; ranked second in assists with 1,719; was third in minutes played with 14,777; and third in points with 5,009.

In 1974, Steele became the first Portland player to lead the NBA in a statistical category when he was credited with 217 steals and a 2.7 average. Steele continued to rank in the Top-10 the next two seasons. In 1981, the Blazers retired the number 15 in his honor.

The Blazers second player selected in the 1982 NBA draft, Audie Norris entered Blazers lore when he hit the playoff series winning shot against the Dallas Mavericks in 1985. The 6’-9” forward from Jackson State became a fan favorite for his ever present smile and aggressive play, Norris became known as by the nickname Mychal Thompson bestowed on him, “The Atomic Dog.”

Norris played three seasons in Portland before heading to Italy for two years, playing for Benetton Treviso, earning an All-Star position in 1986. Norris then signed with FC Barcelona, playing with them from 1987 to 1993. Norris earned two more All-Star awards (1988 and 1990) and helped Barca win the Spanish League Titles in 1988, 1989, and 1990, as well as two Spanish King’s Titles in 1988 and 1990.

While most Blazer fans know that Arvydas Sabonis and Drazen Petrovic were selected in the 1986 NBA Draft, most forget the other foreign player selected that year. Portland selected 7’ center, Pangagiotis Fasoulas from Greece and NC State in between the more famous players.

Fasoulas arrived in Portland for the summer Rookie camp, but decided to return to Europe, earning FIBA Hall of Fame status, after playing for 18 years in his home country. He helped PAOK Thessaloniki and Olympiacos B.C. to multiple Greek League Titles and one Euro-League Title in 1997. Fasoulas is a member of the FIBA Hall of Fame.

Selected by the Blazers in the 2007 NBA Draft, Josh McRoberts played two seasons with the Duke Blue Devils before declaring for the draft. The 6’-10” center spent most of his rookie season playing for the Idaho Stampede of the G-League, but did appear in eight games with Portland. McRoberts was traded to the Indiana Pacers in 2008. He played in 433 games over 11 years in the NBA with seven different teams.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

September 12, 1980 - The Blazers opened their 11th annual training camp with the annual Jack Ramsay two-mile run, their top draft pick absent, and the last three players from the 1977 Title team sidelined. #RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

Bob Gross, Dave Twardzik, and Larry Steele are all missing the start of camp with similar, and over-lapping injuries. Steele is headed to Indiana to have a specialist look over his knees. While Gross is also having knee issues, he more importantly is recovering from back surgery during the summer. Twardzik is continuing to have back issues as well.

The 14 players in camp ran the annual two-mile run, attempting to beat the 13 minute, withJim Paxson posting a time of 11:06. The players that finished beyond the 13 minute mark have the option to run again or pay a fine for every second over the limit.

Kelvin Ransey, the fourth overall pick in the 1980 NBA Draft, is holding out. The point guard from Ohio State is reportedly looking for a long-term deal, but talks have just started.

Also returning to the camp is radio voice Bill Schonely, who suffered a heart attack during a round of golf this past summer. Schonely credits Twardzik for saving his life.

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

There are 38 days remaining before the Blazers open the 2026/27 season. This year, Draft Positions is the order of the countdown. There has been only one player selected by Portland with the 38th pick, and he was traded on draft day, never to wear a Portland uniform. #RipCity

Jon Brockman was traded, along with Sergio Rodriquez, to the Sacramento Kings for Jeff Ayers the day of the 2009 NBA Draft. Brockman, a 6’-7” forward teammate of Brandon Roy while a freshman at the Univ. of Washington in 2006, was born and raised in Snohomish, WA.

He played a year with the Kings and two more in Milwaukee before heading to Europe. The Huskies all-time leading rebounder returned to his former high school in Snohomish to teach and assist with the basketball team

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