The Five Greatest Portland Trail Blazers Of All-Time

 

Uncle Cliffy ranks number three in total number of points scored as a Blazer with 10,405. Additionally, for the Blazers, he ranks in the top five for all-time games played (644), free throws made (2,041), 3-pointers made (492), and blocks (726). He was a member of the squads that played in the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992. In the 1992-1993 season, he was voted the NBA 6th Man of the Year.

 

4.    LaMarcus Aldridge, Forward: (2006-Present)

 

Too soon? I don’t think so. For Blazers’ all-time statistical leaders, LaMarcus is now in the top ten in eleven different categories (minutes played, field goals made and attempted, free throws made and attempted, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, total rebounds, blocks, total points, and points per game). An important note is that LaMarcus is not in the top ten in total games played for the franchise. He is now a two-time NBA All-Star.

 

3.    Bill Walton, Center: (1974-1978)

 

Much of Walton’s time in Portland was plagued by injuries. In his third season with the Blazers, 1976-1977, Walton delivered on his pre-NBA hype and led the Blazers to their one and only NBA Championship, in which Walton was named Finals MVP. He is a member of the NBA Hall of Fame, and his number (32) was retired by the franchise. 

 

2.    Terry Porter, Point Guard: (1985-1995)

 

Porter is the Blazers all-time leader in assists (5,319), 3-pointers made (773), and 3-pointers attempted (2,006). He was also a member of the 1990 and 1992 squads that played in the NBA Finals. Porter still holds the record for number of free throws made in an NBA Finals game (15). He is a two-time NBA All-Star, and his number (30) was retired by the franchise.

 

1.    Clyde Drexler, Shooting Guard/Small Forward: (1983-1995)

 

Clyde the Glide’s list of accomplishments as a Blazer is awe inspiring. He is the Blazers’ all-time leader in games played (867), minutes played (29,496), field goals made (6,889), field goals attempted (14,425), free throws made (3,798), free throws attempted (4,816), offensive rebounds (2,227), total rebounds (5,339), steals (1,795), and total points (18,040). His steals-total ranks seventh all-time in NBA history. He has the most offensive rebounds of any guard to play the game and still holds the record for number of steals in one half (8). Clyde is an eight-time NBA All-Star and four-time All-NBA selection, including a position on the Dream Team. In 2004, his first year of eligibility, he was inducted into the NBA Hall-of-Fame, and his number (22) was retired by both the Blazers and the Houston Rockets. 

 

Honorable Mention: Rasheed Wallace, Jerome Kersey, Maurice Lucas, Buck Williams, Brandon Roy, Sidney Wicks, Jim Paxson, Arvydas Sabonis, and Mychal Thompson.

 

The Reasoning:

 

Let me explain my selection of LaMarcus Aldridge at number four. Aldridge has compiled his impressive resume after only 484 total games played. He has struggled with a laundry list of ailments, including a 2007 diagnosis of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a heart condition. His efficiency and resiliency are attributes every franchise hopes for in their players.

 

My selection is not based in hypotheticals, but at his current pace, Aldridge will trail only Drexler in all-time points scored in 139 more games, sometime in the 2014-2015 season. In 210 games, he will become the franchise’s leading rebounder and in 323 games, he will pass Clyde in offensive rebounds. For a forward that has been criticized for his rebounding skills, this is an impressive mark.

 

The addition of Damian Lillard this season has supplied LaMarcus with a true point guard for the first time in his career. As a result, his defensive rebounds, total rebounds, and assists per game are all currently career highs.