Damon Stoudamire is a fan-favorite in Portland. This shouldn’t be surprising considering his following throughout the years, but the fact that anybody emerged from the infamous Jail Blazers era with that title is remarkable—let alone someone who was, at times, part of the reason that unfortunate era existed.
Maybe it’s because the Arizona Wildcat had one of the best nicknames in the NBA: Mighty Mouse. Maybe it’s because he was homegrown, a product of Wilson High School. Maybe it’s because he was relatable to the everyday fan at 5’10” in a league where 6’6” isn’t even close to being a big.
Or maybe it’s because the dude could straight ball. His numbers with the Portland Trail Blazers never touched where they were with the Toronto Raptors, but to this day he owns the franchise record for most points in a game (54 against the then-named New Orleans Hornets—Jan. 14, 2005).
Justifications aside, Stoudamire is easy to root for. That fact has never been so abundantly clear following his recent submission to The Players’ Tribune.
In a letter penned to his younger self, Stoudamire reflects on just about everything you’d want him to recap. Among the many memorable passages, there’s one that stands out as especially powerful:
“In 2003, you’re going to be on a struggling Blazers team, and you’re going to do something stupid. You’re going to try to go through airport security with marijuana in your carry-on bag. And you’re gonna get caught.
I’ll give you another minute.
I know you’re mad at me.
I can hear you.
“Why the hell you trying to sink our dreams, man?! I’m waking myself up at 7 a.m every day, ironing my own clothes, taking a city bus 90 minutes across town so I can go to a better school, putting up hundreds of shots a day, playing basketball at a rec center where I literally have to go to the boxing ring in the next room and put on gloves and fight dudes if there’s a disagreement.
… I’m out here killing myself to make this happen, and you’re gonna try to sneak weed onto a plane in the NBA?!””
In the article, Stoudamire’s grandmother is a focal point. He mentions that she will never get to see him play in the NBA, which is made even more heart-wrenching considering she lives five minutes from the arena he’d end up making his professional home.
But the message here is that she never cared what he did as much as who he was. Which is why when he tells his 12-year-old self to share with her that he’ll be in the NBA, he quickly retracts that request.
“You know what? Maybe don’t even tell her about the NBA. Tell her something she would really love.
Maybe tell her that you’re going to be an NBA assistant coach when you grow up.
No, better idea.
Maybe tell her that you’re going to be a college assistant when you grow up.
No, matter of fact …
I know what to tell her.
Tell her that today, when you’re writing this letter, you’re going to get your first NCAA head coaching job. You’re going to get the opportunity to lead kids, and show them what Lute showed you. You’ll get to look them in the eye and tell them the truth.
Tell them that life isn’t a movie. Tell them that they’re going mess up. Tell them that being a grown man isn’t something that happens to you, it’s something you work for every day.
You’re the head coach of University of the Pacific.
That’s some news that will really make her proud.”
Stoudamire has indeed been named the newest head coach of University of the Pacific, but he will always be a Trail Blazer.
Times weren’t always easy during his stretch in Rip City—both on and off the court—but this candid story sheds light on who Mighty Mouse truly is, and humanizes someone who is merely a celebrity in the eyes of fans across the Association.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
