August 2
2020
Jayson Tatum scored 34 points, Jaylen Brownadded 30 and the Boston Celtics built a big early lead before holding on for a 128-124 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday. Damian Lillard had 30 points and 16 assists for Portland. Jusuf Nurkic added 30 points in his second official game back after breaking his leg in March 2019. |
August 3
1993
A day after trading Mario Elie to the Houston Rockets, the Blazers signed Chris Dudley to a 7-year, $11 million Free Agent offer sheet. Dudley, who played with New Jersey Nets the last 3 seasons, rejected a 7-year, $21 Million offer from the Nets. A key difference to the lower offer from Portland is Dudley will have the opportunity to opt-out after a single season. The NBA is planning to appeal the contract as a circumvention of the salary cap.
A day after trading Mario Elie to the Houston Rockets, the Blazers signed Chris Dudley to a 7-year, $11 million Free Agent offer sheet. Dudley, who played with New Jersey Nets the last 3 seasons, rejected a 7-year, $21 Million offer from the Nets. A key difference to the lower offer from Portland is Dudley will have the opportunity to opt-out after a single season. The NBA is planning to appeal the contract as a circumvention of the salary cap.
August 4
1977
The Blazers held a lottery drawing for a lucky 750 fans to purchase 1500 seats for games at the Memorial Coliseum, capping the total at just over 11K season ticket holders. The Blazers say that approx. 1,400 tickets will be available for individual games for the 1978/79 season.
The Blazers held a lottery drawing for a lucky 750 fans to purchase 1500 seats for games at the Memorial Coliseum, capping the total at just over 11K season ticket holders. The Blazers say that approx. 1,400 tickets will be available for individual games for the 1978/79 season.
1978
The bombshell announcement by the 1978 NBA MVP
The bombshell announcement by the 1978 NBA MVP
2020
The Blazers pull off an 8-point victory over the Houston Rockets
The Blazers pull off an 8-point victory over the Houston Rockets
August 5
1976
Portland traded Guard Geoff Petrie and reserve Center Steve Hawes to Atlanta for the 2nd pick in the ABA dispersal draft to select players from the franchises that were not included in the recent ABA–NBA merger. The Blazers also had the fifth pick and snapped up 6'10" Moses Malone.
Portland traded Guard Geoff Petrie and reserve Center Steve Hawes to Atlanta for the 2nd pick in the ABA dispersal draft to select players from the franchises that were not included in the recent ABA–NBA merger. The Blazers also had the fifth pick and snapped up 6'10" Moses Malone.
Maurice Lucas, who was selected with the 2nd pick, proved to be a pivotal cog in the coming championship season. Lucas asserted his "enforcer" role, especially in Game 2 of the 1977 Finals v the Philadelphia 76ers, when he defended the attack by Darryl Dawkins on his teammate Bobby Gross. Many say the fight and the aftermath turned the series towards Portland.
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The Blazers “trade tree”comes up again today with similar branches as before, with this one being the longest at 22 years . It was on this date, in 1976, that the Portland Trail Blazers traded their last remaining member of the expansion team when they traded Geoff Petrie, along with Steve Hawes, to Atlanta Hawks for the right to draft Maurice Lucas in the ABA Dispersal Draft.
At the time, Petrie, who was selected in the 1970 NBA Draft as the 8th selection, was the teams all-time leading scorer with 9732 points. He would never play with the Hawks, retiring in 1977 due to knee injuries. Petrie had set most of the offensive records that would stand for many years. He had scored over 40 points 13 times in the 6 years he played in Portland, a record until Damian Lillard matched him during the 2017/18 season, also his 6th season. He was also the Blazers All-time assist leader with 2.057 assists, a total which now stands as the 6th most in team history. Petrie is still currently ranked in Top-10 All-Time in Points, Assists, Field Goals Made and Attempted, Free Throws Made and Attempted.
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Natt, who became an Ordained Minister and Funeral Director after he retired, played for 4 1/2 seasons in Portland, where he averaged 17 points and 7 rebounds. In 1984 though, the Blazers decided to shake up the team and traded Natt, Wayne Cooper, Fat Lever and a draft pick to the Denver Nuggets for Kiki Vandeweghe.
Vandeweghe averaged 25 points per game for the first 3 seasons in Portland and teamed with Clyde Drexler to provide a high-octane Blazer offense, but a back injury in 1987 forced the team to play Jerome Kersey in Vandeweghe's place. By the time Vandeweghe was able to play he wasn't able to regain his starting spot and was traded in 1989 to the New York Knicks for a draft pick which turned into Byron Irvin. Irvin played a single year before he was traded, along with 2 future draft picks to the Sacramento Kings for North Eugene High School's own, Danny Ainge. Ainge played in 2 of the Blazers most successful seasons as the 6th man for a team that 63-19 and 57-25, before he moved on the the Phoenix Suns as a Free Agent. So you could say that the trade of Geoff Petrie in 1976 led to the Blazers winning the NBA Title in 1977 and to the team making the 1992 Finals as well. |
1989
The Blazers held their first Slam 'N Jam at the Civic Stadium with a concert with local favorites Nu Shooz and Quarterflash, comedian Jay Leno, a game with rookies and Free Agent invites, along with a dunk contest with a twist. The rim will be adjustable, so as to raise incrementally to see how high the participants can dunk. |
August 6
August 72012
Terry Stotts becomes the Blazers 14th head coach. Stotts replaces #KalebCaneles, who coached the @trailblazers to an 8-15 record after replacing #NateMcMillan on March 15. The #Blazers ended the 2011/12 season 28-38, missing playoffs for 1st time in 4 seasons. Stotts would coach #Blazers to 402-318 record over 9 season. Only @Hoophall member #JackRamsay coached or won more games in Portland (10 seasons & 453 wins) |
August 8
August 9
2020
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Everything is back to normal for Damian Lillard.
The All-Star point guard scored 51 points after a frustrating finish a night earlier, and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Philadelphia 76ers124-121 on Sunday.
Lillard scored a basket in the first quarter when he drove to the hoop and his pass bounced off Philadelphia's Tobias Harris, off the backboard and into the basket. ... Carmelo Anthony scored 20 points and moved into 15th place on the NBA's career scoring list.
The All-Star point guard scored 51 points after a frustrating finish a night earlier, and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Philadelphia 76ers124-121 on Sunday.
Lillard scored a basket in the first quarter when he drove to the hoop and his pass bounced off Philadelphia's Tobias Harris, off the backboard and into the basket. ... Carmelo Anthony scored 20 points and moved into 15th place on the NBA's career scoring list.
August 10
Happy Birthday to former Blazer Don Buse
What does the phrase “whatever it takes” mean to you? It likely varies from person-to-person, depending on their level of competitive makeup and imagination. In 1983, here’s what it meant for Portland Trail Blazers senior Vice President Jon Spoelstra. I, as the executive of my team, will trade myself to your team for one week, get you out of monetary debt, and in return, you give us your All-Star point guard. No, seriously.
In many circles, this is viewed as the wildest, most creative trade in the history of the NBA — not only for the dynamic of an owner being traded for a player, but for the fact that Spoelstra was planning to return back to Portland just seven days later. Jon, the father of Miami’s future Hall of Fame caliber coach Erik Spoelstra, epitomized confidence and originality during his time in the front office. Along the way, he left us much to discuss within the annals of NBA history. To understand this trade, one must understand the setting of the NBA at the time. Spoelstra, in an air of confidence, explained this in detail in 1983.
“I was an advocate that if you owned an N.B.A. team, you didn’t have to lose money,” Spoelstra said. “In 1983, almost every team was losing money and the Trail Blazers weren’t.” The Portland Trail Blazers had fallen on hard times due to injuries. The Playoffs were still a near-affirmation, so long as they showed up. For reference, the 1983 Blazers were home to a roster that included: two 20-point scorers (Calvin Natt and Jim Paxson), Mychal Thompson, Fat Lever, and one year later, Clyde Drexler. In Spoelstra’s estimation, the only thing the team needed to really climb into the upper echelon of Western Conference powers was a defensive-minded, pass-first point guard.
Enter the Indiana Pacers.
What does the phrase “whatever it takes” mean to you? It likely varies from person-to-person, depending on their level of competitive makeup and imagination. In 1983, here’s what it meant for Portland Trail Blazers senior Vice President Jon Spoelstra. I, as the executive of my team, will trade myself to your team for one week, get you out of monetary debt, and in return, you give us your All-Star point guard. No, seriously.
In many circles, this is viewed as the wildest, most creative trade in the history of the NBA — not only for the dynamic of an owner being traded for a player, but for the fact that Spoelstra was planning to return back to Portland just seven days later. Jon, the father of Miami’s future Hall of Fame caliber coach Erik Spoelstra, epitomized confidence and originality during his time in the front office. Along the way, he left us much to discuss within the annals of NBA history. To understand this trade, one must understand the setting of the NBA at the time. Spoelstra, in an air of confidence, explained this in detail in 1983.
“I was an advocate that if you owned an N.B.A. team, you didn’t have to lose money,” Spoelstra said. “In 1983, almost every team was losing money and the Trail Blazers weren’t.” The Portland Trail Blazers had fallen on hard times due to injuries. The Playoffs were still a near-affirmation, so long as they showed up. For reference, the 1983 Blazers were home to a roster that included: two 20-point scorers (Calvin Natt and Jim Paxson), Mychal Thompson, Fat Lever, and one year later, Clyde Drexler. In Spoelstra’s estimation, the only thing the team needed to really climb into the upper echelon of Western Conference powers was a defensive-minded, pass-first point guard.
Enter the Indiana Pacers.
Pacers owners Sam Nassi and Frank Mariani had difficulty embedding their ideas and expertise in a small-market, basketball-breathing state of Indiana’s ilk, which at some point, had some thinking of relocating to Sacramento or Anaheim, to give California its 9,239th professional sports team, per NBA.comand Sports Illustrated. Spoelstra had shut the door on helping Indiana at first, but had that door reopened after Blazers starting point guard Darnell Valentine (you might remember him more for his play as Cleveland’s backup against Jordan’s Bulls) injured his foot. And so came the deal. Spoelstra had his heart set on Don Buse, a 32-year-old point guard with quite the resumè: a 6-time Defensive teamer (in the NBA and ABA), a one-time steals and assists champion, two-time All-Star, and one-time ABA champion. But because Indiana’s money was drying up, they had little future use for him. And here was the deal.
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Portland receives: Don Buse Indiana receives: Portland’s senior Vice President Jon Spoelstra for two weeks.
Spoelstra only needed one week. Funny enough, the Pacers tried to prevent Spoelstra’s name from actually hitting the public waves. As reported by Sports Illustrated’s Ben Pickman: “Initially, the NBA kept the details of the deal quiet, omitting Spoelstra’s name from the announcement. But he went off to Indiana anyway, working just a single week with the team. He met with prospective owners and helped Indiana learn more about Portland’s in-house radio success. A 1986 New York Times story also reports that he turned in an 100-page document of suggestions that Spoelstra said at the time “he would have been afraid to try in Portland,” but he has no recollection of that document.”
All told, it proved to arguably be a win-win. Indiana’s franchise survived a crumble, and Portland got its point guard, making the semi-deep runs in the postseason to follow. Much like Erik Spoelstra, his father was largely before his time. He used his sports marketing expertise to push the envelope of the NBA’s viewership. To point out a few:
https://ripcityproject.com/2020/04/29/portland-trail-blazers-exec-traded-self/
Spoelstra only needed one week. Funny enough, the Pacers tried to prevent Spoelstra’s name from actually hitting the public waves. As reported by Sports Illustrated’s Ben Pickman: “Initially, the NBA kept the details of the deal quiet, omitting Spoelstra’s name from the announcement. But he went off to Indiana anyway, working just a single week with the team. He met with prospective owners and helped Indiana learn more about Portland’s in-house radio success. A 1986 New York Times story also reports that he turned in an 100-page document of suggestions that Spoelstra said at the time “he would have been afraid to try in Portland,” but he has no recollection of that document.”
All told, it proved to arguably be a win-win. Indiana’s franchise survived a crumble, and Portland got its point guard, making the semi-deep runs in the postseason to follow. Much like Erik Spoelstra, his father was largely before his time. He used his sports marketing expertise to push the envelope of the NBA’s viewership. To point out a few:
- Buying a movie theater to sell games in Portland (in the pre-cable era)
- Pioneering in-house radio and TV coverage
- Rewarding fans for the team scoring 100+ points.
https://ripcityproject.com/2020/04/29/portland-trail-blazers-exec-traded-self/
1977
The @trailblazers trade back-up center #RobinJones to @HoustonRockets for #TomOwens.
Jones was back-up to @BillWalton during Title season but was visibly upset he didn't play in Game 6 vs @sixers. He played only 12 games in Houston
#RobinJones played 5 years in Europe after leaving @NBA after 1978 season. After retiring, Jones worked in marketing for @AnheuserBusch. In 1995, he suffered a stroke and retired the next year. Jones, nicknamed "Rubberband Man" by #BillSchonely, joined @trailblazers 40th anniversary celebration of the Title in 2017. Jones, in the wheel-chair, joined his teammates at center court at ModaCenter for the recognition. Jones died on July 16, 2018, in Chicago.
The @trailblazers trade back-up center #RobinJones to @HoustonRockets for #TomOwens.
Jones was back-up to @BillWalton during Title season but was visibly upset he didn't play in Game 6 vs @sixers. He played only 12 games in Houston
#RobinJones played 5 years in Europe after leaving @NBA after 1978 season. After retiring, Jones worked in marketing for @AnheuserBusch. In 1995, he suffered a stroke and retired the next year. Jones, nicknamed "Rubberband Man" by #BillSchonely, joined @trailblazers 40th anniversary celebration of the Title in 2017. Jones, in the wheel-chair, joined his teammates at center court at ModaCenter for the recognition. Jones died on July 16, 2018, in Chicago.
August 11
Mills, who is known for leading the @spurs to the NBA title in 2014 and for helping @BasketballAus, to the Bronze medal in the @Tokyo2020 games,
played 2 seasons in Portland from 2009 to 2011. Mills was selected with the 55th overall pick by Portland, becoming the first Saint Mary's College of California player since 1983 to be drafted (Peter Thibeaux) and the highest pick since 1961, (former Blazer assistant coach Tom Meschery) Mills bounced between the Idaho Stampede of the NBA Development League and Portland his rookie season but Mills played 64 games his second season, averaging 5.5 points and 1.7 assists in 12.2 minutes. He scored in double figures 10 times and posted what was a career-best 23 points in Portland's regular-season finale on 13 April against Golden State. He also appeared in two playoff games for the Trail Blazers. Mills signed with the Spurs as a Free Agent in 2012, where he played for the next 10 seasons. |
Mills and former Blazers teammate @rudy5fernandez are credited for creating the "3 Goggles" trend which became popular in the @NBA during the 2010/11 season. As legend has it, Fernandez suffers from notoriously bad eyesight, and after a first half of a game when he struggled shooting from distance, Mills teased him that he needed to get glasses, a la Ricky Vaughn in Major League.
When Rudy started sinking 3-point shots, he would look toward Mills, put on his "3 goggles" as if to say "I can see with these on." Soon, other teammates would make the gesture Soon it was a trend in the @NBA with many players doing it themselves, fans posing with @Patty_Mills and T-Shirts were sold as well as how-to posters. |
2020
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) - Damian Lillard is simply willing the Portland Trail Blazers toward the postseason. The veteran guard tied a career high with 61 points, leading the Blazers to a 134-131 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night that moved his team into eighth place in the Western Conference. "Ain't nothing I want more," Lillard said of the playoffs. "When I came here (to Disney World) I told them I'm not here to waste my time. Our work ain't done yet but we're fighting for it."
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) - Damian Lillard is simply willing the Portland Trail Blazers toward the postseason. The veteran guard tied a career high with 61 points, leading the Blazers to a 134-131 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night that moved his team into eighth place in the Western Conference. "Ain't nothing I want more," Lillard said of the playoffs. "When I came here (to Disney World) I told them I'm not here to waste my time. Our work ain't done yet but we're fighting for it."
Lillard joined Wilt Chamberlain as the only players with three 60-point games in a season. Lillard made nine 3-pointers in his sixth 50-point game of the season. He's the 12th player in NBA history to score 50 points in back-to-back games after dropping 51 on the 76ers on Sunday.He scored in every way imaginable, from well beyond the 3-point line, on blow-by drives, short jumpers and at the foul line. Lillard finished 17 of 32 from the floor and 9 of 17 from beyond the arc while making all 18 free throw attempts.
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The Blazers will clinch a spot in the play-in series with a win Thursday against Brooklyn.
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August 12
1999
After a 7 year run between radio and TV, Eddie Doucette has decided he will not return to the Blazers for the 1999/2000 season.
After a 7 year run between radio and TV, Eddie Doucette has decided he will not return to the Blazers for the 1999/2000 season.
August 13
2020
Damian Lillard hits for 42 pts in @trailblazers 134-133 victory over @BrooklynNets. The win forces a "play-in" game for Portland vs @memgrizz to see who will get 8th seed in 2020 playoffs. The 42 points by Lillard is third game in a row, and 4th in 5 games of over 40 points. Lillard scored 45 vs @nuggets, 51 vs @sixers, 61 vs @dallasmavs before the 42 points today https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUb6BF8_-VQ |
August 15
Happy Birthday to Kenny Carr.
The Blazers obtained Carr from the Detroit Pistons on June 23, 1982 in exchange for the Blazers 1982 1st round pick (Rickey Pierce was later selected) During his career with the Trail Blazers, Carr averaged 12.1 points and 8.3 rebounds, finishing with 3,902 points with Portland and 2,549 rebounds, ranking him 6th all-time at the time of his retirement. All told, played 10 seasons (1977–1987) in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, and Portland. Carr scored 7,813 points in his NBA career and grabbed 4,999 rebounds. Carr, who played with North Carolina State University, won a gold medal with the United States national basketball team at the 1976 Summer Olympics. In 6 Olympic Games, Carr averaged 6.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists. Other members of the '76 team included Adrian Dantley, Scott May, Mitch Kupchak, Phil Ford, Quinn Buckner, Walter Davis, Phil Hubbard, and Ernie Grunfeld. Carr continued to live in Portland after retirement as he started his own construction company in 1986. Carr had intended to return to his hometown of Washington, D.C., but the success of his business in Portland and his three children have kept him in Oregon since. "My kids liked being here, and we were settled," Carr said. "Once that happens, you don't necessarily live your life for yourself anymore. You make compromises." Today, at Carr Construction, Carr works alongside his son, Devon Carr, a graduate of Oregon State University with a degree in engineering. |
https://hoopshd.com/2020/08/15/the-olympians-hoopshd-interviews-tim-peeler-about-1976-olympic-gold-medalist-kenny-carr/
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1980
The Blazers traded T. R. Dunn, along with "Future Considerations" to the Denver Nuggets. The future considerations eventually worked out to swapping 1st round picks in 1983 and a 1984 2nd round pick. With the 1983 pick, the Blazers drafted Clyde Drexler and then Steve Colter in 1984.
The Blazers traded T. R. Dunn, along with "Future Considerations" to the Denver Nuggets. The future considerations eventually worked out to swapping 1st round picks in 1983 and a 1984 2nd round pick. With the 1983 pick, the Blazers drafted Clyde Drexler and then Steve Colter in 1984.
Theodore Roosevelt Dunn was drafted by the Blazers in the 2nd round of the 1977 National Basketball Association draft from the University of Alabama. While only playing 3 years with Portland, Dunn had a productive 14-year career in the NBA. Dunn was named to the NBA's All-Defensive Second Team three times during his career, and he was widely regarded as one of the best rebounding guards of the 1980s.
Dunn averaged 6.3 points and 3.6 rebounds in his 3 seasons with Portland in 16.7 minutes of action. |
Dunn joined the then defending 1977 NBA Champions, replacing Herm Gilliam when the team had to make final cuts to get to an 11-man roster during the 1977/78 season. A spot starter during his time in Portland, Dunn started for over 5 years with Denver, including between 1982 to 85 when he made 3 straight 2nd team All-Defensive while averaging a team high 7.2 rebounds, 2 steals and just under 1 block per game as a guard.
1980
Commissioner Larry O'Brien adjusted his compensation ruling with regards to the San Diego Clippers signing of Bill Walton. Initially, O'Brien ruled in September 1979 (article on the left) that the Blazers were to receive Kermit Washington, Kevin Kunnert, Randy Smith, and a 1980 Draft Pick. The NBAPA appealed the decision as being excessive, which is why O'Brien had to redo his ruling.
Commissioner Larry O'Brien adjusted his compensation ruling with regards to the San Diego Clippers signing of Bill Walton. Initially, O'Brien ruled in September 1979 (article on the left) that the Blazers were to receive Kermit Washington, Kevin Kunnert, Randy Smith, and a 1980 Draft Pick. The NBAPA appealed the decision as being excessive, which is why O'Brien had to redo his ruling.
2020
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- A fourth consecutive down-to-the-wire finish, a fourth consecutive win for the Portland Trail Blazers. They needed all that just to get into the playoffs. Damian Lillard scored 31 points, CJ McCollum had 14 of his 29 in the fourth quarter -- including a pair of big jumpers over Ja Morant late -- and the Blazers clinched the NBA's final playoff spot by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 126-122 on Saturday. Portland's reward: a matchup with the top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers, starting Tuesday. Jusuf Nurkic had 22 points and 21 rebounds for the winners, who got 21 points from Carmelo Anthony. |
Nurkic, playing with a heavy heart because of his grandmother's death, grabbed an offensive rebound and wound up converting a three-point play with 2:39 left to put Portland on top for good. Nurkic revealed on Instagram about 90 minutes before the game that his grandmother, back in his native Bosnia, had died. His post did not disclose the cause of death, but Nurkic said last month that she had tested positive for COVID-19 and briefly slipped into a coma in recent days. "She would have wanted me to play," Nurkic said after the game. |
It was the start, and the end, of the Western Conference play-in series -- a wrinkle the NBA added to the restarted season because the coronavirus pandemic meant no team would play its allotted 82 games. Portland finished eighth in the West, Memphis was ninth, and the Grizzlies needed to sweep a two-game matchup to advance.
They had a chance, up eight in the final quarter, before Portland did what Portland does in the bubble -- pull games out at the end. The Blazers' last four wins have come by a combined 11 points. So they go on, and Memphis goes home -- knowing its potential is very real. |
August 17
1970
Bill Schonely was hired to be the "Voice of the Blazers." Schonely, who was the Sports Director at KVI Radio in Seattle, had been the voice of the Seattle Totems of the Western Hockey League as well as the Major League Baseball's Seattle Pilots in 1969. The Pilots moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the 1970 season |
Schonely would go on to call 2,522 Blazers games from their first preseason game on September 24, 1970 in Longview WA. to his final game, a playoff defeat on April 30, 1998. Schonely was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame for broadcasting in 1999.
Schonely went back to baseball in 2000 as the voice of the Portland Beavers Triple-A team, which was run by Marshall Glickman. He worked thru the 2002 season. Schonz continued to appear as an occasional sports announcer for the Blazers. In 2012, he was awarded the Curt Gowdy Media Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame |
August 18
Brian attended Univ. of Kansas Men's Basketball, where he was a member of the 1984 Big Eight Champion and NCAA March Madness tournament basketball team. Although selected by the Indiana Pacers in the 1984 @NBA draft, he played in the CBA for the Tampa Bay Thrillers before playing for the Seattle Supersonics and Portland in the 1985/86 season.
Martin played a total of 252 games over six seasons in the CBA, where averaged 9.0 points & 8.7 rebounds. He played for the Tampa Bay/Rapid City Thrillers, Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets, Columbus Horizon, Omaha Racers and Fort Wayne Fury, winning a league championship with Tampa Bay in 1985. |
Lever was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers as the 11th pick in the 1982 NBA draft out of Arizona State Sun Devil Men’s Basketball. Lever averaged 8.8 points and 5 assists in two seasons with Portland before he was traded to the Denver Nuggets along with Calvin Natt, Wayne Cooper, and draft picks for Kiki Vandeweghe.
When Lever retired, his 43 triple-doubles ranked 5th in league history behind Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Wilt Chamberlain, but as of 2022, he now ranks as the 10th highest in League History.
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As a Nugget Lever made 2 All-Star teams (1988, 90), an All-NBA Second-Team (1987) and an All-Defensive Second-Team in 1988. In 6 seasons he averaged. 17 points, 7.5 assists & 7.6 rebounds, twice leading the team in rebounds (1989 & 90) with 9.3 average
He recorded 43 triple-doubles in 6 seasons for Denver, which was the Nugget record until Nikola Jokić passed Lever during the 2020/21 season. |
Lever happens to be an answer to a great @NBA Trivia question. There are only 5 players in @NBAHistory
that have career-highs of over 20 points, 20 rebs, or 20 assists. They don't have to be in one game, though 2 of the players did so .... @WiltStats had 22 pts 25 rebs & 21 assts in 1968. @russwest44 had 20 pts 20 rebs & 21 assts in 2019. The other 3 players are w/career-highs over 20 ... #GuyRodgers - 47 pts 28 Rebs 20 assts #OscarRobertson - 56 pts 22 Rebs 22 assts @phattime12- 38 pts 22 Rebs 23 assts |
1978
Amidst counter-charges between @trailblazers front office, medical staff & @BillWalton regarding pain-killers, the @warriors physician has now had to answer questions about the same issue. Walton has told #Blazers he would like to be traded to #Warriors. Walton's attorney John Bassett has told the #Blazers that his client plans to sue |
1987
The Blazers trade of Jim Paxson to Cleveland was rescinded due to Keith Lee not passing his physical. The initial trade between the clubs was on June 22
The Blazers trade of Jim Paxson to Cleveland was rescinded due to Keith Lee not passing his physical. The initial trade between the clubs was on June 22
1989
The @trailblazers announce that they will match @nuggets FA offer to @terryporter30 he signed 9 days ago. See article to right. The Blazers have signed #DrazenPetrovic. Lawyers from @RealMadrid have filed suit to prevent Petrovic from playing. |
1992
The @trailblazers offered restricted FA guard #MarioElie a contract. Under @NBA rules, the @warriors have 15 days to match the offer Forward #MarkBryant has re-signed w/#Blazers for an additional 3 years. Bryant has played w/Portland since 1988
The @trailblazers offered restricted FA guard #MarioElie a contract. Under @NBA rules, the @warriors have 15 days to match the offer Forward #MarkBryant has re-signed w/#Blazers for an additional 3 years. Bryant has played w/Portland since 1988
2020
The Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Lakers are meeting in the NBA Playoffs for the 12th time, and for the 1st time since 2002. The Lakers lead in series wins 9-2. Series starts Tonight (8/18) at 6:00 PM PT on NBA on TNT |
August 19
1987
NY Times -- Two basketball players crossed the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday, one seeking a multimillion-dollar contract in Europe and the other pursuing the opportunity of playing in what he called the best league in the world, the National Basketball Association. Randy White, the first-round draft pick of the Dallas Mavericks, turned down the Mavericks' latest offer and flew to Europe to discuss an offer from a team in northern Greece. Drazen Petrovic, the Yugoslav star of the Spanish professional league, flew to Portland to sign a contract with the Trail Blazers. White, the 6-foot-7-inch forward from Louisiana Tech and the eighth selection over all in the N.B.A. draft in June, rejected a five-year contract from Dallas reported to be worth $3.3 million. Petrovic, a 6-3 guard who is considered one of the top three players in Europe, reached a multiyear agreement with the Trail Blazers after a circuit court in Portland granted a temporary restraining order that allowed the N.B.A. team to sign him. The N.B.A., citing an agreement with the Spanish professional league, had prohibited Portland from negotiating with Petrovic, who signed a four-year contract with Real Madrid in 1986. But Petrovic has maintained that the contract had a buyout clause, and he has sought his release and $10 million in damages against the team. The circuit court in Portland will hear his request for a permanent injunction Aug. 24. |
Petrović earned two silver medals and one bronze in Olympic basketball, a gold and a bronze in the FIBA World Cup, a gold and a bronze in the FIBA EuroBasket, and two EuroLeague titles. He represented Yugoslavia's national team and, later, Croatia's national team. He earned four Euroscars, and was named Mr. Europa twice. In 1985, he received the Golden Badge award for best athlete of Yugoslavia.
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1992
The Blazers announce that Bill Schonely, the only Radio Announcer the team has ever employed, will become the teams Television Announcer starting in the 1992/93 season. Schonely, who will replace Pat Lafferty, will work again with former Blazer player Steve "Snapper" Jones
The Blazers announce that Bill Schonely, the only Radio Announcer the team has ever employed, will become the teams Television Announcer starting in the 1992/93 season. Schonely, who will replace Pat Lafferty, will work again with former Blazer player Steve "Snapper" Jones
August 20
August 21
1978
Jack Scott, Bill Walton's advisor, announced on August 4 of Walton wanting to be traded. The Blazers said they would oblige and the news made the cover of the August 21st edition of Sports Illustrated.
Jack Scott, Bill Walton's advisor, announced on August 4 of Walton wanting to be traded. The Blazers said they would oblige and the news made the cover of the August 21st edition of Sports Illustrated.
August 22
1993
The @trailblazers held their 4th annual Slam 'N Jam event and raised over 100K for Oregon schools. A game that included #KevinDuckworth, #ClydeDrexler, @UncleCliffy30, @danielrainge, @JeromeKersey25, and @RealTracyMurray |
A 3-point contest between @danielrainge, @terryporter30, former @trailblazers player #JimPaxson & Salem resident Travis Heyerly, who won a contest to compete vs @NBAplayers. Porter defeated Ainge in final to win 5K before he donated back to cause
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2020
The Blazers drop Game 3
The Blazers drop Game 3
August 24
August 26
The Blazers / Lakers Game 5 was cancelled and moved to a later date.
August 29
August 30
1978 or 1979
Not sure of actual publication date but it's listed as in the 1978 The Complete Handbook of Pro Basketball which is published prior to the season. Considering lead times for the times, I'm putting it on this date. The article also references info regarding Walton being a member of the San Diego Clippers which would be prior to the 1979 season, not 1978. To the left are the covers of the respective handbooks, with Walton on both covers. |
2000
The Blazers acquire Shawn Kemp
The Blazers acquire Shawn Kemp
August 31
2000
The Blazers traded Jermaine O'Neal and center Joe Kleine to the Indiana Pacers for Dale Davis. Both teams were considered contenders for the NBA championship in the coming season, with the Blazers having lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals in May, while the Pacers fell to the Lakers in the NBA Finals in June. Both teams took steps backwards after the trade in the first year but the Pacers would improve afterwards as O'Neal became an All-Star in Indiana.
O'Neal, who was only 17 when he was drafted out of High School in 1996, was the youngest player to ever play an NBA game when he made his debut on December 5, 1996 at the age of 18 years, one month and 22 days. Andrew Bynum would eventually become the youngest but O'Neal is still the youngest to score at least 20 points when he did so on January 22, 1997, against the Seattle SuperSonics.
The Blazers traded Jermaine O'Neal and center Joe Kleine to the Indiana Pacers for Dale Davis. Both teams were considered contenders for the NBA championship in the coming season, with the Blazers having lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals in May, while the Pacers fell to the Lakers in the NBA Finals in June. Both teams took steps backwards after the trade in the first year but the Pacers would improve afterwards as O'Neal became an All-Star in Indiana.
O'Neal, who was only 17 when he was drafted out of High School in 1996, was the youngest player to ever play an NBA game when he made his debut on December 5, 1996 at the age of 18 years, one month and 22 days. Andrew Bynum would eventually become the youngest but O'Neal is still the youngest to score at least 20 points when he did so on January 22, 1997, against the Seattle SuperSonics.
O'Neal averaged 3.9 points in 12.3 minutes in 2000 while playing behind the deep front-line of Portland that included Brian Grant, Rasheed Wallace, Arvydas Sabonis. Kleine, who only played 7 games with the Blazers, signed a three-year contract for the trade with only the first year guaranteed. O'Neal was entering the second year of a four-year, $24 million contract.
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Davis would spend 4 years with the Blazers, putting up much the same numbers as he did with the Pacers—roughly 8 points and 8 rebounds per game. He played 313 games for the Blazers, starting 235 times. Davis played with teams whose defensive options were rapidly diminishing around him. Arvydas Sabonis was on his last legs. Steve Smith was never a defensive-minded guard. He and Stacey Augmon were about to be replaced by Derek Anderson, to be paired with Damon Stoudamire in the backcourt. Rasheed Wallace was always solid, but Shawn Kemp was little help. Increasingly, Davis became the defensive pillar of the club. For four seasons, he toiled away, rebounding and moving his feet even when teammates didn’t, or couldn’t. He shot 54% from the field in 2002-03 and averaged 51% during his Portland tenure. On July 20, 2004, the Blazers traded Davis and Dan Dickau to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Nick Van Exel. |