October 1
1974
The Portland Trail Blazers record their first road victory versus the New York Knicks today, with a 100-93 victory at The Garden. Geoff Petrie (26) and Sidney Wicks (21) combined for 47 points off a combined 28 shots while Bill Walton grabbed 11 rebounds and 6 points in 30 minutes of action. Walton struggled from the field, shooting 3 for 18. Only two other Blazers scored in double figures, with John Johnson adding 14 points and Lloyd Neal with 12. Seven Knicks scored in double figures, led by Phil Jackson with 16 points. |
October 2
Happy Birthday to Former #Blazer
Aaron McKie @TUcoachMcKie was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1994 NBA draft and played 3 seasons with #Portland. McKie averaged 8 points and 3 rebounds during his time with the Blazers He was traded to the Detroit Pistons in 1997 before heading to the Philadelphia @sixers a year later. McKie played 8 seasons with #Philadelphia before retiring in 2007 and moved to the coaching ranks. He is currently the head coach at #TempleUniv. |
1972
The Portland Trail Blazers traded away an original #Blazer when they traded Dale Schlueter to the @Sixers for guard Dave Wohl.
Schlueter was acquired by the Blazers in the expansion draft in 1970 and played during the first two seasons with Portland before this trade, averaging 9.95 points and 9.25 rebounds in 161 games. Mainly a backup center, Schlueter started over half the second season after injuries
He would be the first Blazer player to come back and play another season when he arrived late in the 1977/78 season. That was the season when injuries decimated the defending NBA champions. He retired after the season ended and worked for the Blazers as part of their community outreach program.
The Portland Trail Blazers traded away an original #Blazer when they traded Dale Schlueter to the @Sixers for guard Dave Wohl.
Schlueter was acquired by the Blazers in the expansion draft in 1970 and played during the first two seasons with Portland before this trade, averaging 9.95 points and 9.25 rebounds in 161 games. Mainly a backup center, Schlueter started over half the second season after injuries
He would be the first Blazer player to come back and play another season when he arrived late in the 1977/78 season. That was the season when injuries decimated the defending NBA champions. He retired after the season ended and worked for the Blazers as part of their community outreach program.
October 3
1970
1971
Granted, it was a preseason game, but Rick Adelman had his only triple-double in his career in the Portland Trail Blazers 108-98 victory over the #SeattleSuperSonics with 13 points, 11 assists, and 15 steals.
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1975
For the first time in his coaching career, Lenny Wilkens was just the coach and not a player/coach, as the Portland Trail Blazers defeat the Golden State Warriors 111-83. This is the debut of rookies Lionel Hollins, Bob Gross, and also a 2nd year rookie, local college player Eldridge Broussard of Pacific University Pacific Men's Basketball. While Hollins and Gross would play a big part of the 1976/77_Blazers Championship, Broussard was attempting to make the #Blazers a second time after being drafted in the 1974 NBA Draft. He was waived prior to the start of the 74/75 season before resigning again prior to the training camp of 75/76. |
Broussard would soon be waived again and move to the Watts area of Los Angeles to become a Minister and form the Ecclesia Athletic Association. The EAA had a stated mission of "helping children escape the dangers of inner-city Los Angeles through strict discipline and athletic training."
The EAA was very successful for quite some time but soon was referred to as a cult. By 1987, the group moved to Sandy Oregon. In 1988, Broussard's daughter Dayna was killed and Broussard accused of child slavery among other charges. He died in 1991 before any legal convictions. |
I apologize for the downer of this post. More can be read of Broussard at this link ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecclesia_Athletic_Association
... and I promise to be more upbeat for future posts but I saw promise in Broussard as a player and initially applauded him for his EAA work in LA and when he moved to Sandy. |
October 4
1974
#BillWalton meets #KareemAbdulJabbar for the first time. The Portland Trail Blazers traveled to Dayton, OH to play the Milwaukee Bucks before a sellout crowd of 13,458 where the Bucks pulled off a 103-96 victory over the #Blazers. The game was covered by SportsIllustrated and Walton made the cover of SI again, but the first time as a Blazer. It can be read at the link below.
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October 6
Happy Birthday to former Blazer player @StanMcKenzie
McKenzie was an original Portland Trail Blazers player when he was selected in the expansion draft from the Phoenix Suns. McKenzie averaged 13.5 points with the Blazers during that initial season and had a career high 31 points vs the Cleveland Cavaliers in a 118-105 victory on 11/19/71. McKenzie was know for his terrific free throw percentages, hitting on .834 while in #Portland and .802 for his career. He was ranked in the Top-10 in the NBA during the 1970/71 and 1971/72 seasons with Portland. He briefly held the #NBA record of free throw attempted, and made, in a quarter when he attempted 16 tries, and connected on 15, as a Sun. McKenzie played 171 straight games with the Blazers before he was traded to the Houston Rockets on October 27, 1972 for Greg Smith. The consecutive game streak stood as a team record until passed by Tom Owens in 1980. The streak is now currently the 6th best in team history. He would retire from the NBA in 1974. |
Stan, who was married to Vashti Murphy McKenzie, who became the first woman Bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Stan was also a leader in the AME church, and served as the first male Supervisor of Missions in the AME Church's more than 200-year history. He served as head of missions for three districts, including the 18th, 13th and 10th Episcopal Districts. He passed away on July 21, 2021
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1993
The @trailblazers hired former player #JimPaxson to be shooting coach. Paxson, the 1st #Blazers player to top 10K pts, retired in 1990 & has been working as Asst GM under @GeoffPetrie since 1991. He would move on to be GM w/@cavs from 1999 to 2006
The @trailblazers hired former player #JimPaxson to be shooting coach. Paxson, the 1st #Blazers player to top 10K pts, retired in 1990 & has been working as Asst GM under @GeoffPetrie since 1991. He would move on to be GM w/@cavs from 1999 to 2006
October 7
1970
Blazers trade #PatRiley 's contract to #LosAngeles
The Portland Trail Blazers trimmed their roster to 12 with the sale of Pat Riley's contract to the Los Angeles Lakers. After missing the first few days of the training camp due to the death of his father, Leon Riley, on September 13. Riley played in 5 exhibition games and scored 39 points for a 7.9 average. He had a high of 12 vs the Lakers just 5 days ago while rumours swirled that Riley might be on his way south. With this trade, of the 11 players drafted in the expansion draft in May, only six players remain on the active roster.
The elder Riley appeared in 2,267 minor league games for 21 different teams, with a brief trial with the 1944 Philadelphia Phillies during the World War II manpower shortage. In 21 seasons of minor league ball, Riley batted .314 with 2,418 hits and 248 home runs. In April 1944, at age 37, Riley appeared in four games for the Phillies, with 12 at bats, one hit (a double), and one RBI — for a career MLB batting average of .083.
The Blazers also announced that rookie Bill Stricker would be given a tryout to provide backup to the forward position. Stricker was cut by the Baltimore Bullets and the Utah Stars of the ABA.
The Portland Trail Blazers trimmed their roster to 12 with the sale of Pat Riley's contract to the Los Angeles Lakers. After missing the first few days of the training camp due to the death of his father, Leon Riley, on September 13. Riley played in 5 exhibition games and scored 39 points for a 7.9 average. He had a high of 12 vs the Lakers just 5 days ago while rumours swirled that Riley might be on his way south. With this trade, of the 11 players drafted in the expansion draft in May, only six players remain on the active roster.
The elder Riley appeared in 2,267 minor league games for 21 different teams, with a brief trial with the 1944 Philadelphia Phillies during the World War II manpower shortage. In 21 seasons of minor league ball, Riley batted .314 with 2,418 hits and 248 home runs. In April 1944, at age 37, Riley appeared in four games for the Phillies, with 12 at bats, one hit (a double), and one RBI — for a career MLB batting average of .083.
The Blazers also announced that rookie Bill Stricker would be given a tryout to provide backup to the forward position. Stricker was cut by the Baltimore Bullets and the Utah Stars of the ABA.
1974
The #Blazers acquire the playing rights to coach #LennyWilkens ; cut Broussard and Fryer.
With just 10 days before the opening of the 1974/75 season, the Portland Trail Blazers acquired the playing rights of their coach Lenny Wilkens. Wilkens had retired after last season had ended from the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was hired to coach the #Blazers this past May but now he can play along the rookie #BillWalton. "I've never played with a big center like Bill Walton before," said Wilkens. He expects to be in NBA playing shape in a few days.
To make the room for Wilkens, the Blazers cut rookie forward Eldridge Broussard and guard Bernie Fryer. Broussard had been drafted this past spring while Fryer played for the Blazers last season. He played 80 games in the 1973/74 season and was named to the All-Rookie Second Team after averaging 7.0 points and 3.5 assists per game. Fryer would divide time in the 74/75 season and play for the New Orleans/ Utah Jazz and the Spirts of St. Louis of the #ABA. Starting in 1978, Fryer would become an NBA #Referee and officiate over 1800 games until he retired in 2007.
With just 10 days before the opening of the 1974/75 season, the Portland Trail Blazers acquired the playing rights of their coach Lenny Wilkens. Wilkens had retired after last season had ended from the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was hired to coach the #Blazers this past May but now he can play along the rookie #BillWalton. "I've never played with a big center like Bill Walton before," said Wilkens. He expects to be in NBA playing shape in a few days.
To make the room for Wilkens, the Blazers cut rookie forward Eldridge Broussard and guard Bernie Fryer. Broussard had been drafted this past spring while Fryer played for the Blazers last season. He played 80 games in the 1973/74 season and was named to the All-Rookie Second Team after averaging 7.0 points and 3.5 assists per game. Fryer would divide time in the 74/75 season and play for the New Orleans/ Utah Jazz and the Spirts of St. Louis of the #ABA. Starting in 1978, Fryer would become an NBA #Referee and officiate over 1800 games until he retired in 2007.
October 8
1976
Sidney Wicks is a Blazer again, but for how long? Wicks was traded to the New Orleans Jazz under the conditions
Sidney Wicks is a Blazer again, but for how long? Wicks was traded to the New Orleans Jazz under the conditions
1979 The Portland Trail Blazers traded Jim Brewer to the Los Angeles Lakers
In an otherwise typical move to get to the 11-man roster, the #Blazerstraded little used forward Jim Brewer to the Lakers for a future 1984 draft pick. Though he only played 67 games with Portland, Brewer has an intriguing story with regards to basketball history and with the Blazers.
On April 24, 1973, the Blazers traded their 1973 1st round draft pick along with their 1973 3rd round draft pick (Jim O'Brien was later selected) to the Cleveland Cavaliers for John Johnson, Rick Roberson and a 1973 1st round draft pick (Barry Parkhill was later selected). The #Cavs were coached at the time by Bill Fitch who had been the coach at Minnesota @GopherMBB, which is where the 6'9" 210 pound forward Brewer had played his college ball. The #Gophers team had another future NBA player in Ron Behagen and future #MLB Baseball Hall of Fame player Dave Winfield.
In an otherwise typical move to get to the 11-man roster, the #Blazerstraded little used forward Jim Brewer to the Lakers for a future 1984 draft pick. Though he only played 67 games with Portland, Brewer has an intriguing story with regards to basketball history and with the Blazers.
On April 24, 1973, the Blazers traded their 1973 1st round draft pick along with their 1973 3rd round draft pick (Jim O'Brien was later selected) to the Cleveland Cavaliers for John Johnson, Rick Roberson and a 1973 1st round draft pick (Barry Parkhill was later selected). The #Cavs were coached at the time by Bill Fitch who had been the coach at Minnesota @GopherMBB, which is where the 6'9" 210 pound forward Brewer had played his college ball. The #Gophers team had another future NBA player in Ron Behagen and future #MLB Baseball Hall of Fame player Dave Winfield.
Brewer was selected to play for the United States team in the 1972 Summer Olympics. The United States team lost in the final controversial Gold Medal game to the Soviet Union.
Brewer played 6 years with the @cavs before coming to @trailblazers on Sept 18, 1979 for a 1981 draft pick. That future 1984 2nd round draft pick that Blazers received for Brewer would turn out to be a small forward from @longwoodu named @JeromeKersey25 Kersey would play 11 seasons for the Blazers, totaling over 10,000 points and over 5,000 rebounds. |
1987
The Blazers offer a FA contract to Ralph Sampson
The Blazers offer a FA contract to Ralph Sampson
October 9
October 10
Happy Birthday to former #Blazer Joel Przybilla
Przybilla, a 7'-1" center, was original drafted by the Houston Rockets but was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks where he spent the first 4 years in the NBA before he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. Signed by the Portland Trail Blazers as a Free Agent in the summer of 2004, Przybilla spent the 6 1/2 seasons with the Blazers.
Known more for his defensive abilities than the offensive side, and for the nickname The Vanilla Gorilla, Przybilla averaged 5 points and 7 rebounds in his time with #Portland. He gathered 3010 rebounds, ranking in the top 15 all-time with Portland, and four times grabbed more than 20 rebounds. His career high of 26 rebounds on March 22, 2008 vs the L.A. Clippers tied the Blazers team record in regulation play. (The club record of 27 was set in an overtime game which will be shared at a later date)
As well, he is 5th all-time with 623 blocked shots, and tied the team record of 9 blocks on April 2, 2006 vs the #Sonics. Three other times he blocked 8 shots.
Przybilla, a 7'-1" center, was original drafted by the Houston Rockets but was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks where he spent the first 4 years in the NBA before he was traded to the Atlanta Hawks. Signed by the Portland Trail Blazers as a Free Agent in the summer of 2004, Przybilla spent the 6 1/2 seasons with the Blazers.
Known more for his defensive abilities than the offensive side, and for the nickname The Vanilla Gorilla, Przybilla averaged 5 points and 7 rebounds in his time with #Portland. He gathered 3010 rebounds, ranking in the top 15 all-time with Portland, and four times grabbed more than 20 rebounds. His career high of 26 rebounds on March 22, 2008 vs the L.A. Clippers tied the Blazers team record in regulation play. (The club record of 27 was set in an overtime game which will be shared at a later date)
As well, he is 5th all-time with 623 blocked shots, and tied the team record of 9 blocks on April 2, 2006 vs the #Sonics. Three other times he blocked 8 shots.
1972
The Blazers signed Bill Turner
The Blazers signed Bill Turner
1980
The @trailblazers signed @kelvin_ransey. Ransey was 4th pick in 1980 NBA draft by the @chicagobulls but was traded to Portland for the Blazers selection of Ronnie Lester. Ransey avg 15.2 points & 6.9 assists as rookie, with 17 games passing for 10 or more assists. Ransey was 1 vote shy of tying @utahjazz Darrell Griffith for Rookie of the Year award. "I felt I should have won ROY but I probably didn't have the exposure," Ransey said. "Our team went to playoffs and he (Griffith & @utahjazz) didn't. I feel I got robbed on that one." |
Ransey retired following the 1985–86 season and has been a preacher in Tupelo Miss. since 2001
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1997
October 10, 1997: As part of a 3-team trade, traded by the Portland Trail Blazers to the New York Knicks; the New York Knicks traded a 1998 1st round draft pick (Bryce Drew was later selected) to the Portland Trail Blazers; the New York Knicks traded John Wallace to the Toronto Raptors; the Toronto Raptors traded a 2000 1st round draft pick (Quentin Richardson was later selected) to the New York Knicks; and the Toronto Raptors traded a 2007 2nd round draft pick (Taurean Green was later selected) to the Portland Trail Blazers. |
October 11
Happy Birthday to former #Blazer Darrall Imhoff
Imhoff came to the Portland Trail Blazers during the last year of his 12-year NBA career to shore up a front line that was young and inexperienced. While only playing 40 games on old knees, the Portland fans cheered whenever "The Axe" came off the bench.
Imhoff, originally a walk-on at @UofCalifornia, he helped lead the Cal Men's Basketball to the 1959 NCAA Championship. Imhoff scored 22 points and had 16 rebounds in the semifinals against a University of Cincinnati team featuring the all-American Oscar Robertson. He scored the decisive basket in the waning seconds of the final against West Virginia and its all-American guard Jerry West, leading the Golden Bears to a 71-70 victory. Hoping to repeat in 1960, Imhoff’s Cal team made it to the N.C.A.A. tournament final in 1960 before losing to Ohio State team led by Jerry Lucas.
Imhoff came to the Portland Trail Blazers during the last year of his 12-year NBA career to shore up a front line that was young and inexperienced. While only playing 40 games on old knees, the Portland fans cheered whenever "The Axe" came off the bench.
Imhoff, originally a walk-on at @UofCalifornia, he helped lead the Cal Men's Basketball to the 1959 NCAA Championship. Imhoff scored 22 points and had 16 rebounds in the semifinals against a University of Cincinnati team featuring the all-American Oscar Robertson. He scored the decisive basket in the waning seconds of the final against West Virginia and its all-American guard Jerry West, leading the Golden Bears to a 71-70 victory. Hoping to repeat in 1960, Imhoff’s Cal team made it to the N.C.A.A. tournament final in 1960 before losing to Ohio State team led by Jerry Lucas.
Imhoff played on the USA Basketball team that won gold at the Rome Olympics in 1960. Before the 1992 Dream Team, the 1960 team was considered to be the best of all-time as it consisted of 7 future #NBAplayers including Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, Jerry Lucas. The coach, Pete Newell, was Imhoff's coach at Cal.
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Drafted by the New York Knicks as the 3rd overall pick (behind West and Robertson) Imhoff played 2 seasons there, becoming infamous as the player who let Wilt Chamberlain score 100 points in a game. “I only played the first 10 minutes of the game and the first 10 minutes of the fourth quarter before I fouled out,” Imhoff once told The San Francisco Chronicle. “Somebody else was responsible for the other 28 minutes.” Imhoff scored 7 points in 20 minutes before fouling out.
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Imhoff was traded to the Detroit Pistons in 1962 and then to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1964 It was as a Laker that Imhoff was selected to the 1967 All-Star game. He averaged 10.7 points and 13.3 rebounds that year playing along side Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. He played 1 more season in Los Angeles before going to the philadelphia76ers in a trade that brought Chamberlain to the Lakers. He eventually was traded to the #CincinnatiRoyals (now known as the Sacramento Kings ) before the Blazers signed him in December of 1971. In 801 career NBA games, over twelve seasons, Imhoff averaged 7.2 points, 7.6 rebounds.
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1981
1976
Sidney Wicks is traded to the Celtics.
Sidney Wicks is traded to the Celtics.
1979
Jim Paxson made his NBA debut in the Portland Trail Blazers 101-85 victory over the Utah Jazz. Paxson played 10 minutes and scored a single basket. Paxson would be an NBA All-Star player in 1983 and 84 when he averaged 20 points per game. He would be the first Blazer player to score 10,000 points
Other Game Notes: Just 15 months after winning the 77 Title, only Lionel Hollins and Larry Steele from that team played in this game as Maurice Lucas was injured. Larry Steele had attempted the 1st 3-pointer in the previous game versus the Utah Jazz.
Other Game Notes: Just 15 months after winning the 77 Title, only Lionel Hollins and Larry Steele from that team played in this game as Maurice Lucas was injured. Larry Steele had attempted the 1st 3-pointer in the previous game versus the Utah Jazz.
October 13
1972
Lloyd Neal, LaRue Martin and Jack McCloskey made their NBA debuts in the Portland Trail Blazers 92-84 loss to the Seattle #Sonics
Lloyd Neal was a 3rd round draft pick but earned the starting position at center despite standing 6'-7' and his 15 rebounds and 14 points show why. Neal would go on to gather 967 rebounds during his rookie season, which still stands as the club record for a season. Neal would make the All-Rookie and just miss out giving #Portland their 3rd straight #ROY award as Bob McAdoo would win the award.
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LaRue Martin, the #1 pick in the draft, came off the bench and hit his lone shot for 2 points and gathered 2 rebounds in 6 minutes. Martin would spend 4 seasons with the Blazers before retiring and have a successful career with Nike and UPS
Jack McCloskey was making his head coaching debut in the #NBAafter 10 years coaching at #Penn and 6 more years at #WakeForest. McCloskey would coach the Blazers for 2 seasons before moving to the Los Angeles Lakers as an assistant coach from 1976-79 before becoming the GM at the Detroit Pistons. As the GM, he assembled the players to give the Pistons the #NBATitle in 1989 over the Lakers and in 1990 against the Blazers.
McCloskey passed away in 2017
Jack McCloskey was making his head coaching debut in the #NBAafter 10 years coaching at #Penn and 6 more years at #WakeForest. McCloskey would coach the Blazers for 2 seasons before moving to the Los Angeles Lakers as an assistant coach from 1976-79 before becoming the GM at the Detroit Pistons. As the GM, he assembled the players to give the Pistons the #NBATitle in 1989 over the Lakers and in 1990 against the Blazers.
McCloskey passed away in 2017
1973
The Portland Trail Blazers debut of newly acquired John Johnson and Rick Roberson proved too much for the Capital #Bullets /Washington Wizards in the Blazers 132-87 victory. Geoff Petrie led the Blazers with 29 points and 9 assists with Johnson right behind at 24 and 9 rebounds. Roberson, a little undersized at center at 6'-9", gathered 17 rebounds and added 19 points.
The game was halted midway through the first quarter with the Blazers leading 11-10 due to condensation on the floor. The basketball court is built over the ice used by the Portland Buckaroos hockey team. Once play resumed, Portland built a 5 point lead at 29-24 before scoring 45 points in the 2nd quarter to get to a 74-47 halftime lead. |
October 14
1979
Ron Brewer becomes the first Portland Trail Blazersplayer to hit a 3-point field goal in the Blazers 109-93 victory over the Denver Nuggets. Brewer, drafted by Portland with the 7th pick in the 1978 NBA draft, played two plus seasons with Portland, scoring 2,581 points in 192 games for a 13.4 average. He would go on to play 8 years in the NBA. |
1987
Kermit Washington, who last played during the Blazers 1981/82 season, was traded to the Golden State Warriors.
Washington was attempting a comeback with the Blazers during this off-season, but decided that he would rather try to out for the Warriors instead.
Washington was attempting a comeback with the Blazers during this off-season, but decided that he would rather try to out for the Warriors instead.
October 15
1971
The Portland Trail Blazers opened their second season today with a 119-88 loss to the #Seattle #Sonics. It was the debut of rookies Sidney Wicks, Larry Steele, Bill Smith, Charlie Yelverton, and Jim Marsh.
Sidney Wicks, the highly touted forward from UCLA Men's Basketball, was running a temperature of 100 degrees and was advised not to play. He played 27 minutes, scoring only 13 points but fatigue was evident in his 5 of 27 shooting from the field. After the game, Wicks was advised to go home and rest putting doubt into Wicks playing in the second game in two days.
Bill Smith, the 7'-0" rookie center from Syracuse University came off the bench for a solid 19 minutes. He intimated the Sonics on a few occasions and gathered 7 rebounds.
Jim Marsh, a small forward from University of Southern California scored 5 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and passed for 4 assists in 22 minutes.
Charlie Yelverton, a guard from Fordham University scored 6 points in 13 minutes.
Larry Steele, from University of Kentucky Basketball played 5 minutes and only produced 2 rebounds and did not attempt any shots.
Sidney Wicks, the highly touted forward from UCLA Men's Basketball, was running a temperature of 100 degrees and was advised not to play. He played 27 minutes, scoring only 13 points but fatigue was evident in his 5 of 27 shooting from the field. After the game, Wicks was advised to go home and rest putting doubt into Wicks playing in the second game in two days.
Bill Smith, the 7'-0" rookie center from Syracuse University came off the bench for a solid 19 minutes. He intimated the Sonics on a few occasions and gathered 7 rebounds.
Jim Marsh, a small forward from University of Southern California scored 5 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and passed for 4 assists in 22 minutes.
Charlie Yelverton, a guard from Fordham University scored 6 points in 13 minutes.
Larry Steele, from University of Kentucky Basketball played 5 minutes and only produced 2 rebounds and did not attempt any shots.
1973
SportsIllustrated does their yearly forecast of the NBAand Portland Trail Blazers captain Rick Adelman makes the cover, albeit not in a flattering position. Inside there is an article about #NateArchibald and another picture showing @nate_tiny driving the lane past 4 #Portland players, again not playing the best of defense.
SportsIllustrated does their yearly forecast of the NBAand Portland Trail Blazers captain Rick Adelman makes the cover, albeit not in a flattering position. Inside there is an article about #NateArchibald and another picture showing @nate_tiny driving the lane past 4 #Portland players, again not playing the best of defense.
October 16
1970
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeBcZxC4VMg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeBcZxC4VMg
Below are screen shots of the first game. On left, is Jim Barnett shooting jumper while Geoff Petrie drives on the right.
October 17
Born in Louisiana but raised in #Portland, Jones attended #FranklinHSwhere guided the school to the Oregon School Activities Association state championship in 1959. Jones payed for the University of Oregon #Ducksfrom 1961-64, leading the Ducks in scoring his senior season, where he played along side former Blazer Jim Barnett
Jones became an #ABA original when he joined the Oakland Oaks in the inaugural season of 1967-68. He was traded to the New Orleans Buccaneers during the first off season, where he became an All-Star the first time during the 1969-70 season when he averaged 21 points. Known for an accurate jumper, Jones maintained a 21 point average for 4 seasons for the Bucs and the Memphis Pros before he became a backup for the Carolina Cougars and Spirits of St. Louis. In all, Steve competed in eight of the nine seasons that the ABA existed, totaling 10,258 points which ranks him 12th on the all-time list. Combined, Jones scored an average of 15 points in 704 games in the two leagues.
His last season as a professional, he came home to join the Blazers for the 1975-76 season where he befriended a young, and oft-injured, Bill Walton. “Steve saved my career,” said @BillWalton many years later. “I was going to quit basketball. We took a drive to Kah-Nee-Ta and sat in the hot springs. He said, 'Faith and patience. It will get better, little Billy."
Jones was let go just days before the 1976-77 season but was in attendance for Game 6 between the Blazers and Sixers as a member of the CBS Sports TV crew. That was the first of a 29 year broadcasting career, working with the Blazers radio and TV and for many of the national networks (including ESPN, NBC Sports, FOX Sports) that broadcast the NBA at the same time. For many of those years, he and #Walton were teamed together on games and had many “arguments” during the telecasts. Jones passed away in 2017 after many years of health issues. |
1972
The Portland Trail Blazers pulled off the 111-108 upset win over the Milwaukee Bucks despite the 49 points and 23 rebounds that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar tallied. The point total would be a season high for #AbdulJabbar. Sidney Wicks led #Portland with 33 points while rookie Ollie Johnson scored 20 points in his first start.
The Portland Trail Blazers pulled off the 111-108 upset win over the Milwaukee Bucks despite the 49 points and 23 rebounds that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar tallied. The point total would be a season high for #AbdulJabbar. Sidney Wicks led #Portland with 33 points while rookie Ollie Johnson scored 20 points in his first start.
October 18
1970
John Havlicek becomes the first opponent to record a triple-double vs the Blazers |
1974 - Bill Walton debut in 4 OT game
The Blazers made Bill Walton's pro debut a memorable one with a 131-129 4-overtime victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Walton ended the game with 24 rebounds and 18 points before fouling out. John Johnson and Sidney Wicks paced the Blazers with 29 points each with Geoff Petrie adding 24 points including the game winner.
Lenny Wilkens, recently activated as a player, played career-high 60 minutes. |
Happy Birthday to former Portland Trail Blazer John Johnson.
Known as JJ, Johnson was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1970 NBA draft, 1 pick ahead of the Blazers pick of Geoff Petrie. Johnson played his college ball at the University of #Iowa and averaged a school-record 27.9 points as a senior in 1969-70 and scored a record 49 points against University of Northwestern on Feb. 24, 1970. Johnson and future Seattle teammate Fred Brown led the Ralph Miller-coached 1969-70 Hawkeyes to a 14-0 record in the Big Ten and a 20-5 overall mark, losing in the #sweetSixteen round of the NCAA March Madness. Miller would move on to coach the Oregon State Men's Basketball from 1970-1989.
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While with the Blazers, JJ averaged 16 points per game in 158 games. He also averaged 3.5 assists and 6.7 rebounds. Nine games into the 1975/76 season, Johnson was traded to the Houston Rockets for Steve Hawes as the Blazers needed a center to back up Bill Walton. He played for Houston for two seasons before being traded to #Seattle Super SonicsRising, being reunited with Brown and Lenny Wilkens, whom he played with in Cleveland and Portland.
The Sonics defeated the Blazers in the 1977/78 playoffs and went to the #NBA Championship where they lost to the Washington Wizards / Bullets. The next season the two teams met again and this time the Sonics emerged the 1979 champions. The Sonics lost in the #WCF to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1980. Johnson retired in 1982 and lived in Seattle area until moving to San Jose area when his son Mitch was playing basketball at Stanford University from 2006-2009 and continued to live in the area until he passed away in 2016
The Sonics defeated the Blazers in the 1977/78 playoffs and went to the #NBA Championship where they lost to the Washington Wizards / Bullets. The next season the two teams met again and this time the Sonics emerged the 1979 champions. The Sonics lost in the #WCF to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1980. Johnson retired in 1982 and lived in Seattle area until moving to San Jose area when his son Mitch was playing basketball at Stanford University from 2006-2009 and continued to live in the area until he passed away in 2016
October 19
Happy Birthday to former Blazer @LionelHollins14
Drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the sixth pick of the 1975 NBA draft out of Arizona State University, Hollins made an impact with the Blazers right away with a 10.8 point and 4.1 assists average, earning a spot on the All-Rookie first team honors that season. Over the next two seasons, Hollins led the Blazers to an @NBA title in 1977 and to the best record in the league the following season, making his lone All-Star game appearance in 1978. In all, Hollins, nicknamed “Train” or “L-Train” averaged 14 points and 4.4 assists in 315 games for the Blazers.
Traded to Philadelphia in Feb of 1980, Hollins helped the Sixers to the NBA championship series where they lost to the @Lakers and a rookie named Magic Johnson @MagicJohnson. Hollins spent the 2 1/2 seasons with Philadelphia before heading to the San Diego Clippers before the 1982/83 season. For his career, Train totaled 7809 points for an 11.6 points average.
Since retiring from playing in 1985, Hollins has been a coach in the college and NBA ranks. His record as a head coach in the NBA is 262-272 and 20-21 in the playoffs. Hollins was signed as an assistant coach with the Lakers this past summer |
October 20
1970 - First In-season acquisition brings Shaler Halimon to Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers made their first in-season acquisition when they acquired Shaler Halimon from the Chicago Bulls. Halimon played 79 games during the 1970/71 season with the Blazers, averaging 8.9 points and 5.3 rebounds during his 20 minutes of play.
Halimon was released after the season and played 2 years in the ABA before retiring in 1975. After his playing career, Halimon initially landed a job as a social worker in San Antonio, where he ran a halfway house among other things, but soon returned to Oregon and settled into a decorated career with TriMet for over 30 years. In 2002, Halimon earned the title of Master Operator after netting TriMet’s “Superior Performance Award” 10 times. Eight years later, in 2010, TriMet named him its bus operator of the year. Halimon passed away on April 19, 2021 |
2021
October 21
Happy Birthday to former Blazer Johnny Davis
The Portland Trail Blazers selected "JD" in the 1976 NBA Draft from Dayton Flyers Basketball and spent his first 2 years with the Blazers. His rookie season he averaged 8 points a game but he made his impact in the playoffs.
In Game 5 of the Western Conference Semi-finals vs the Denver Nuggets, Dave Twardzik was injured in the 105-114 loss. Going into Game 6, with the Blazers leading 3-2, Coach Jack Ramsay was leaning towards starting the veteran Larry Steele but was persuaded by @BillWalton and asst. coach Jack McKinney to go with Davis. The Blazers pulled out a 108-92 series clincher with Davis shooting 10-14 from the field and scoring 25 points.
The next round, with Twardzik still out, Davis spearheaded the fast-break against the Los Angeles Lakers resulting in a 4-0 sweep sending the Blazers to the NBA title against the Philadelphia #sixers. In his 11 games that he started, the Blazers were 9-2 and he averaged 13 points and 4 assists.
Davis played 1 more season with the Blazers before being traded, along with the #3 pick, to the Indiana Pacers for the #1 pick in the 1978 draft, where the Blazers selected Mychal Thompson. Davis would play 4 seasons in Indiana before adding the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers to his playing resume.
Since retiring Davis has been an assistant coach with 9 different NBA teams including the Blazers (1994-96) and the head coach of the @sixers Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies. |
https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest/video/johnny-davis-takes-you-there-final-seconds?fbclid=IwAR0x8fb1BzumWG2pTNSJngsirOGn1YZQBV7x6aFC0pT3Dpju26K8_Fcrvm4 |
1972 - Sidney Wicks 1st Triple-double
Sidney Wicks records his 1st triple-double for the Portland Trail Blazers in the 104-97 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Wicks recorded 28 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high 12 assists in the loss. For the Warriors, Jeff Mullins scored 23 points with Rick Barry right behind at 22 points while Nate Thurmond pulled down 24 rebounds.
Sidney Wicks records his 1st triple-double for the Portland Trail Blazers in the 104-97 loss to the Golden State Warriors. Wicks recorded 28 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high 12 assists in the loss. For the Warriors, Jeff Mullins scored 23 points with Rick Barry right behind at 22 points while Nate Thurmond pulled down 24 rebounds.
NBA Commissioner Walter Kennedy, attending the Blazers / Warriors game, doesn't feel that a merger with the ABA will happen anytime soon.
1980
The @trailblazers continue their dominance over @Lakers with a 107-103 win as @MagicJohnson records 11 turnovers. The 11 turnovers ties a record for a Blazers opponent, originally set by Bob Lanier in 1978.
The Blazers have defeated #Lakers, including playoffs, 16 of last 20 games. The also have won 8 of the last 9 regular season games at the friendly confines of the MC.
The @trailblazers continue their dominance over @Lakers with a 107-103 win as @MagicJohnson records 11 turnovers. The 11 turnovers ties a record for a Blazers opponent, originally set by Bob Lanier in 1978.
The Blazers have defeated #Lakers, including playoffs, 16 of last 20 games. The also have won 8 of the last 9 regular season games at the friendly confines of the MC.
October 22
Today is the birthday of the late #DrazenPetrovic who was a
Portland Trail Blazers from 1989 to 1990. Here are some highlights of Drazen before he became an All-Star for the New Jersey / Brooklyn Nets He would have been 55 today https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL6cMP7JfdI |
1970 - First in-season trade of player
The Portland Trail Blazers made their first in-season trade of a player when they traded Dorie Murrey to the Baltimore Bullets/ Washington Wizards for the rights to Bill Stricker. Murrey, selected by the Blazers from Seattle in the expansion draft, played 2 games for the Blazers, totaling 20 minutes and 11 points. Stricker played at the University of Pacific Men's Basketball team where he averaged 22 points as a senior.
1974 - Walton sets team record for Blocks / Wilkens passes 7,000 Assists
October 22, 1974 -- In only his third game, Bill Walton set the Portland Trail Blazers record for blocked shots when he swatted away 9 of the Golden State Warriors shots in a 107-106 victory. The previous record was 4 blocks held by LaRue Martin, Rick Roberson and Sidney Wicks. Walton also grabbed 20 rebounds for the second time in 3 games. In his rookie season, Walton grabbed 20 or more rebounds four times in his first nine games before averaging 12.6 in 35 games.
Other Game Notes: Lenny Wilkens assisted on a pass to Walton which gave him 7,000 total for his career. Wilkens ended his career with 7,211 assists, which was ranked 2nd behind Oscar Robertson with 9,887. Currently Wilkens is now ranked 14th in NBA history. |
October 23
1970 - The Portland Trail Blazers played on local TV for the first time
The game between #Portland and #Seattle is the first of 192 games between the Northwest rivals before the Sonics move and become the Oklahoma City Thunder. Over the 38 years, the Sonics would lead the series 98-94 with the Blazers finishing with a 13-15-10 yearly series record against them
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#KPTV now a FOX 12 Oregon station traveled to Seattle to televise the Blazers 141-111 loss to the #SuperSonics. Lenny Wilkens recorded 19 assists with Don Smith pulling down 21 rebounds in the rout but the biggest news from this game was the Sonics loss of All-Star Bob Rule.
With under 3 minutes remaining in the half, Rule and Blazers center Dale Schlueter bumped each other on a rebound, with Schlueter getting the foul but Rule getting a ruptured achilles once he landed. Rule missed the rest of the 1970/71 season. Until this injury, Rule had been averaging 31 points and 11 rebounds this season and 24 points and 10.5 rebounds in his 3 year career. Rule would play 3 more seasons but was never close to what he had been. Rule recently passed away at the age of 75. https://www.seattletimes.com/…/bob-rule-forward-for-origin…/ |
1975 - The Portland Trail Blazers signed the first local High School player when they signed Steve Jones who played at Franklin HS (1956-60) before going to Oregon Men's Basketball (1960-64). Jones would play the 1975/76 season with Portland and average 6.5 in 64 games in the last of 9 professional seasons. He averaged 16 points for his career
October 24
1970
Jerry Lucas of the San Francisco/ Golden State Warriors grabbed 28 rebounds and chipped in 26 points in the 118-115 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Geoff Petrie gave San Francisco quite a scare as he scored 10 points in the final 44 seconds and finished with a career high 38 points.
1972
The Blazers acquired Charlie Davis from the Cleveland Cavaliers for a future 3rd round pick and cash
Davis best known for being an outstanding college basketball player in the late 1960s and early ’70s for Wake Forest University From New York City, he was the second African American player in Wake Forest's history. Davis was the 1971 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Men's Basketball Player of the Year, and the first black player to win the award. Davis garnered first-team All-ACC honors for three years in a row, and was an eighth-round NBA draft pick (120th overall) by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1971.
Davis continues to hold three school records: career scoring average (24.9 ppg), career free-throw accuracy (87.3 percent) and single-game scoring (51 points), according to wakeforestsports.com.
Davis best known for being an outstanding college basketball player in the late 1960s and early ’70s for Wake Forest University From New York City, he was the second African American player in Wake Forest's history. Davis was the 1971 Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Men's Basketball Player of the Year, and the first black player to win the award. Davis garnered first-team All-ACC honors for three years in a row, and was an eighth-round NBA draft pick (120th overall) by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1971.
Davis continues to hold three school records: career scoring average (24.9 ppg), career free-throw accuracy (87.3 percent) and single-game scoring (51 points), according to wakeforestsports.com.
1973
LeRoy Ellis, the former center for the Portland Trail Blazers paid a little revenge to the franchise that traded him away 2 years ago as he tied his career high in rebounds in leading the @Sixers to a 132-110 victory.
Ellis set his career-high of 26 rebounds when he was playing with #Portland in the 70/71 season. Ellis added 21 points while Steve Mix added a career-high 38 points. For the Blazers, Geoff Petrie and Sidney Wicks combined for 50 points in the loss.
Other Notes: Ellis was traded by the Blazers to the Los Angeles Lakers prior to the 1971/72 season where he backed up Wilt Chamberlain during that championship season. That year the Lakers won an NBArecord with 69 wins and even set a record with a 33-game winning streak. Ten games into the 1972/73 season, he was traded to #Philadelphia and played for the team that finished with the worst record in #NBA history as the #Sixers finished with a 9-73 record.
Ellis set his career-high of 26 rebounds when he was playing with #Portland in the 70/71 season. Ellis added 21 points while Steve Mix added a career-high 38 points. For the Blazers, Geoff Petrie and Sidney Wicks combined for 50 points in the loss.
Other Notes: Ellis was traded by the Blazers to the Los Angeles Lakers prior to the 1971/72 season where he backed up Wilt Chamberlain during that championship season. That year the Lakers won an NBArecord with 69 wins and even set a record with a 33-game winning streak. Ten games into the 1972/73 season, he was traded to #Philadelphia and played for the team that finished with the worst record in #NBA history as the #Sixers finished with a 9-73 record.
LeRoy Ellis talks about the 1971/72 #NBA Champions @Lakers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihd4OxglVoM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihd4OxglVoM
1975
Bill Walton and John Hummer were ejected for a scuffle that got out of hand in the first game for the Portland Trail Blazers and #Sonics. #Seattle pulled out the 105-97 victory, which Blazer coach Lenny Wilkens planned to protest.
Other Notes: In 2002 during a The New York Times interview with Walton and Bill Russell, the coach of the Sonics at the time, the incident was brought up. The two had a good laugh about the incident.
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October 25
1974
Bill Walton grabbed 25 rebounds in the Portland Trail Blazers 99-97 loss to the Golden State Warriors. It would be Walton's highest rebound total for his rookie year.
CBS Sports was in attendance doing a "dry run" for the nationally televised game between the Blazers and Sonics that would be in 2 days. Along with the recently retired and future NBA Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Oscar Robertson, the first female reporter covering the NBA, Jane Chastain. |
CBS hired Chastain in 1974 to provide commentary for various televised sports events, including the NFL, where she became the first female NFL announcer, brought in as a commentator alongside Don Criqui and Irv Cross on October 13, 1974. The mail and telephone calls ran heavily against her. Bob Wussler, CBS VP in charge of sports, admitted that he made a mistake by using her on a major team sport and not introducing her slowly. "The biggest problem was that she was the first."
Chastain was used on occasional NFL and NBA broadcasts the rest of the 1974 season. She currently lives in California and is a political writer and commentator.
Chastain was used on occasional NFL and NBA broadcasts the rest of the 1974 season. She currently lives in California and is a political writer and commentator.
1975
Sidney Wicks recorded his final triple-double with the Portland Trail Blazers with 21 points, 18 rebounds, and 10 assists in the Blazers 88-89 loss to the Phoenix Suns. Bill Walton had his 4th 30 point game in his career, finishing with 33 points and 18 rebounds |
1985
Terry Porter made his debut with the Portland Trail Blazers today, scoring 6 points in 18 minutes of play. He also passed for 6 assists and had 3 steals in the Blazers 128-123 overtime victory over the Phoenix Suns
Kiki VanDeWeghe led the Blazers with 31 points. |
October 26
Happy Birthday to former Portland Trail Blazers Assistant Coach Tom Meschery.
Meschery coached alongside Lenny Wilkens from 1974 until 1976, during the first two injury plagued seasons of Bill Walton’s tenure in Portland. Meschery has repeatedly remarked how he enjoyed his time with Walton, Bob Gross, Lloyd Neal, among others. He was quoted after being dismissed, that he expected the “…Blazers to do great things.” They won their only NBA title to date the following season. |
Meschery, who was the 1961 West Coast Conference Player of the Year at Saint Mary's College of California, was the starting forward on the 61-62 Philadelphia Warriors team that featured legendary #WiltChamberlain. Meschery was playing alongside Chamberlain when he scored 100 points against the New York Knicks on March 2, 1962. Meschery led the NBA in personal fouls that season and he became the first foreign born player to play in an NBA All-Star Game when he played in the 1963 NBA All-Star Game.
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In the Seattle Supersonics inaugural season, Meschery led the team in rebounds (10.2 per game) as well as personal fouls. He retired following the 1970–71 season, having played four seasons for the #SuperSonics, three alongside Lenny Wilkens. After retiring as a player, Meschery became head coach of the ABA's Carolina Cougars, which he guided to a record of 35–49 in the 1971–72 season before being replaced by Larry Brown. He published his second book, Caught In The Pivot, about that season.
Meschery, who was born Tomislav Nikolayevich Meshcheryakov in Harbin, Manchukuo, better known as Manchuria. His parents were Russian emigrants who fled from the October Revolution in 1917 and settled in Northern China. The Meschery’s were attempting to immigrate to the US when World War II broke out and were interned in a Japanese concentration camp in Tokyo for the duration of the war. After the war ended, they were brought to San Francisco via the Red Cross. His father renamed the family "Meschery" due to the anti-Communist/anti-Soviet Red Scare under Joseph McCarthy, and Tomislav Nikolayevich was renamed Thomas Nicholas, which later was abbreviated to Tom.
Since 1974, Meschery has written 6 other books to his first two, four of which are poetry. Meschery also has blog of his many musings at http://mescherysmusings.blogspot.com/
October 27
1970 - LeRoy Ellis records the first 20/20 game in Portland Trail Blazers history when he grabs scores 25 points and grabs 26 rebounds in the Blazers 119-108 victory over the Buffalo Braves. The 26 rebounds remained a team record for rebounds in a regulation game until April 1, 2021 when Enes Kanter grabbed 30 rebounds.
1972
The Portland Trail Blazers trade Stan McKenzie to the Houston Rockets for Greg Smith. As he was an original member of the expansion club, McKenzie had played in every Blazer game prior to this trade with a 171 straight. That number had held until Tom Owens passed it in 1979/80 season. McKenzie scored 2302 points with #Portland for a 13.5 average. He would retire with a total 3579 points in 396 games for an average of 9 points per game.
Smith arrives from Houston but had his greatest success with the Milwaukee Bucks when he was the starter for the 1970/71 NBAChampions. Smith averaged 9.7 points and 8.4 rebounds in his 3 1/2 seasons with the Bucks. Smith would end up playing 195 for the Blazers and average 4.9 points and 3.3 rebounds during that time. The link below has highlights of Smith when he played with Milwaukee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB06FQeH8fE
Smith arrives from Houston but had his greatest success with the Milwaukee Bucks when he was the starter for the 1970/71 NBAChampions. Smith averaged 9.7 points and 8.4 rebounds in his 3 1/2 seasons with the Bucks. Smith would end up playing 195 for the Blazers and average 4.9 points and 3.3 rebounds during that time. The link below has highlights of Smith when he played with Milwaukee
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yB06FQeH8fE
1984
KANSAS CITY -- Kiki VanDeWeghe made his Portland Trail Blazers debut by scoring 47 points in the Blazers 140-119 victory over the Kansas City Kings in Kansas City. It is still the highest point total debut by any Blazer, rookie or veteran. |
It was also the debut of rookies Sam Bowie and Jerome Kersey. Bowie, the second pick in the 1984 Draft, totaled 4 points and 6 rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench. Bowie would finish the season averaging 10 points and 8.6 rebounds and earn a position on the All-Rookie Team. Kersey, the Blazers 2nd round pick, only played 3 minutes and grabbed a rebound. He would average 6.1 points and 2.7 rebounds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7qH0GBKpKU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7qH0GBKpKU
October 28
1973
Elmore Smith set an NBA record with 17 blocked shots against the Portland Trail Blazers in the Los Angeles Lakers 111-98 victory. The record still stands. Led by Gail Goodrich's career-high 49 points, the Lakers jumped out to win their 17th straight game vs #Portland. Smith ended with a triple-double of 12 points and 16 rebounds to go along with the 17 blocks. Jerry West scored 24 points.
The Blazers, who have have yet to win a regular season game against Los Angeles, had no player score more than the 19 points that Lloyd Neal tallied. Neal also secured 23 rebounds, which is the 5th highest total in team history.
The Blazers, who have have yet to win a regular season game against Los Angeles, had no player score more than the 19 points that Lloyd Neal tallied. Neal also secured 23 rebounds, which is the 5th highest total in team history.
1975
Bob Gross made his debut with the Portland Trail Blazers in a 99-90 loss to the New Orleans / Utah Jazz. Gross played 3 minutes, hitting his only shot to score 2 points
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1983
Clyde Drexler made his NBA debut in the Portland Trail Blazers 107-93 victory over the San Diego / L.A. Clippers. Drexler played 11 minutes and scored 2 points and grabbed 2 rebounds. |
October 29
1972
Ray Scott, a former University of Portland player, won his 1st NBA game as a coach against the Blazers. Scott had been the Pistons assistant coach to Earl Lloyd at the start of the 1972/73 season but took over when Lloyd was released prior to the game against Portland. |
Less than 11 months ago, Earl Lloyd took over a Piston team that was 6-6 and coached his first game against Portland on November 10, a 139-122 Detroit victory. Scott, who was Lloyd's assistant last season, coached the Pistons for 3 1/2 seasons, from 1972 to 1976, amassing a record of 147-134. In 1974, he won the NBA Coach of the Year Award after guiding the Pistons to a 52–30 regular season record and the playoffs for the 1st time since 1968. The Pistons slipped to 40-42 in 1975, still making the playoffs but were again eliminated in the 1st round. Scott was fired by the Pistons on January 26, 1976, and replaced with assistant Herb Brown. At the time he was fired, the Pistons were 17–25.
Scott was selected with the fourth pick of the 1961 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons, and was a deadly shooter on the perimeter. Scott had an 11-year career dividing his time with the Pistons and the Baltimore Bullets before jumping to the Virginia Squires of the ABA. He averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2021/02/21/ray-scott-first-black-nba-coach-year-followed-mentor-history/6799953002/ |
1981
Bill Schonely will miss games starting today due to having heart surgery. Schonely, who had only missed 1 game in 11 seasons, would return by Christmas. Al Keck of KGW-TV would broadcast games in Schonely's absence.
Bill Schonely will miss games starting today due to having heart surgery. Schonely, who had only missed 1 game in 11 seasons, would return by Christmas. Al Keck of KGW-TV would broadcast games in Schonely's absence.
October 30
1970 - Rookie Pete Cross of the Seattle Supersonics grabbed 22 rebounds in the 115-104 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Lenny Wilkens had a triple double with 35 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.
Cross, drafted from @USFDonsMBB in the 2nd round, averaged 8 points and 12 rebounds in his first season in the NBA but was an All-Star vs the Blazers. The Blazers and Sonics played 6 games against each other, with the Sonics winning 4, and Cross had 22 rebounds today, a career-high 25 in the next contest and had 19 rebounds in two other games.
Cross eventually had injury issues and only played 3 seasons in the league. He played 1 season in Italy before retiring for good. He passed away in 1977 at the age of 28 due to epileptic seizures.
Cross, drafted from @USFDonsMBB in the 2nd round, averaged 8 points and 12 rebounds in his first season in the NBA but was an All-Star vs the Blazers. The Blazers and Sonics played 6 games against each other, with the Sonics winning 4, and Cross had 22 rebounds today, a career-high 25 in the next contest and had 19 rebounds in two other games.
Cross eventually had injury issues and only played 3 seasons in the league. He played 1 season in Italy before retiring for good. He passed away in 1977 at the age of 28 due to epileptic seizures.
1973 - For the first time in franchise history, the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers with a nail-biting 114-112 victory. Geoff Petrie led the Blazers with 26 points but plenty of others get nods too. Bernie Fryer came off the bench to get 8 points, Rick Roberson scored 21 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, Greg Smith scored 8 points as well as the winning shot, and John Johnson added 20 points and 14 rebounds and had a timely steal with 2 seconds left to secure the win.
The Blazers had lost all 17 contests, including the game 2 days ago when Elmore Smith set the NBA record with 17 blocks.
For the Lakers, Gail Goodrich tallied 35 two days after getting a career-high 49. Elmore Smith had another triple-double with 14 points, 14 blocks, and 11 rebounds. Jerry West added 23 points and passed for 8 assists.
The Blazers had lost all 17 contests, including the game 2 days ago when Elmore Smith set the NBA record with 17 blocks.
For the Lakers, Gail Goodrich tallied 35 two days after getting a career-high 49. Elmore Smith had another triple-double with 14 points, 14 blocks, and 11 rebounds. Jerry West added 23 points and passed for 8 assists.
2001 -
Zach Randolph makes his @NBA debut in the @trailblazers 87-98 loss to the @Lakers.
Randolph was very active in his 1 minute of play as he missed 1 FG, scored 1 FT, grabbed 1 rebound, and had 1 turnover. finished his rookie season averaging 2.8 pts and 1.7 rebs in 41 games as a rookie. He played 6 seasons with Portland and avg. 16 pts and 7.7 rebs in 387 games.
Zach Randolph makes his @NBA debut in the @trailblazers 87-98 loss to the @Lakers.
Randolph was very active in his 1 minute of play as he missed 1 FG, scored 1 FT, grabbed 1 rebound, and had 1 turnover. finished his rookie season averaging 2.8 pts and 1.7 rebs in 41 games as a rookie. He played 6 seasons with Portland and avg. 16 pts and 7.7 rebs in 387 games.
October 31
1977 - Maurice Lucas is on the over of Sports Illustrated
1986
Fernando Martín was the first Spanish player to play in the NBA, in 1986, and was also the second European to play in the league. Martin was considered to be one of the best Spanish basketball players ever. Martín primarily played at the center position in Spain but played forward with Portland. Martín wore the number 10 jersey, which Real Madrid retired after his death. He was named one of FIBA's 50 Greatest Players, in 1991. In 2007, he was enshrined into the FIBA Hall of Fame. He played in Spain for Estudiantes and Real Madrid before coming the play for the Blazers during the 1986/87 season. Martin would only play in 24 games in the for the Blazers due to injuries. At the end of the season, he returned to Spain, to play again for Real Madrid. Martín died in a car accident on December 3, 1989 on the M-30 motorway in Madrid. His death caused an enormous shock in Spanish basketball. For his first dunk in the 2009 NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Contest, Portland Trail Blazers' player Rudy Fernández, wore a #10 Martín Blazers jersey, in his honor. The article below is from todays date in 1986 in the Oregonian. |
2010 - From Al McGuire's Wit, Wisdom, and Warriors Facebook page
On today's date nine years ago, Warrior legend Maurice Lucas, Al's All-American center and MVP of the '73-'74 Warriors, succumbed to bladder cancer at his home in Portland, Oregon at the age of 58.
Lucas' beloved Portland Trailblazers would honor his memory by donning Lucas’s familiar #20 on a patch that would adorn the team’s jerseys for the balance of the 2010-'11 season.
Lucas attended Pittsburgh’s Schenley High School, where he was the Pennsylvania State swim champion and earned All-American honors as he led the Spartans to the State basketball title. As a 6'9" senior, Lucas averaged 27.5 points and 24.3 rebounds per game while notching game highs of 46 points and 44 rebounds to become one of the most coveted high school players in the country.
"It was a Fort Apache-type place, wild school, the halls were like track meets," said Al when recalling his recruitment of Lucas. "But Maurice was always above that," continued Al. “He was always a Beau Brummel-type of dresser and, y'know, it's tough for a big guy to be that well-groomed. And he was a quality person. I ran kind of a tough ship, and in all those years, I never heard Maurice use any street language. That was the thing that fascinated me."
"There was a discipline about him," agreed Hank Raymonds. “I always said he was 18 or 19 going on 30."
While coaching Lucas on the freshman team during the '71-'72 season, Raymonds observed, "He's the strongest physical freshman at this stage I've ever coached. A fine rebounder. He handles himself extremely well for a big man and is extremely coachable." “Luke as a freshman was a man among boys,” remembers reserve guard Gary Grzesk, who was a senior during Lucas’ first season at Marquette. “No one would mess with him.” But a “[g]reat guy with lots of great stories,” Grzesk adds.
On today's date nine years ago, Warrior legend Maurice Lucas, Al's All-American center and MVP of the '73-'74 Warriors, succumbed to bladder cancer at his home in Portland, Oregon at the age of 58.
Lucas' beloved Portland Trailblazers would honor his memory by donning Lucas’s familiar #20 on a patch that would adorn the team’s jerseys for the balance of the 2010-'11 season.
Lucas attended Pittsburgh’s Schenley High School, where he was the Pennsylvania State swim champion and earned All-American honors as he led the Spartans to the State basketball title. As a 6'9" senior, Lucas averaged 27.5 points and 24.3 rebounds per game while notching game highs of 46 points and 44 rebounds to become one of the most coveted high school players in the country.
"It was a Fort Apache-type place, wild school, the halls were like track meets," said Al when recalling his recruitment of Lucas. "But Maurice was always above that," continued Al. “He was always a Beau Brummel-type of dresser and, y'know, it's tough for a big guy to be that well-groomed. And he was a quality person. I ran kind of a tough ship, and in all those years, I never heard Maurice use any street language. That was the thing that fascinated me."
"There was a discipline about him," agreed Hank Raymonds. “I always said he was 18 or 19 going on 30."
While coaching Lucas on the freshman team during the '71-'72 season, Raymonds observed, "He's the strongest physical freshman at this stage I've ever coached. A fine rebounder. He handles himself extremely well for a big man and is extremely coachable." “Luke as a freshman was a man among boys,” remembers reserve guard Gary Grzesk, who was a senior during Lucas’ first season at Marquette. “No one would mess with him.” But a “[g]reat guy with lots of great stories,” Grzesk adds.
Ellis credits Lucas as the reason for his successful freshman season. “He was one of the reasons I got off to the start that I did my freshman year-- he was gobbling up almost 11 rebounds and I was getting around 9. That's because he was beating everybody up and I would just slip in and go above everybody and grab them and keep going."
Lucas led the Warriors in scoring with 15.8 points per game and in rebounding with 10.3 boards per contest while being named the team’s MVP during the '73-'74 season. Lucas again hit 50% from the field while connecting at a 73% clip from the line and even finished third on the team in assists. Unfortunately, Marquette would fall just short of fulfilling Lucas' bold promise to Ellis, losing the National Championship game to David Thompson's N.C. State Wolfpack, despite Lucas's team-high 21 points and 13 rebounds. |
Leading up to the NCAA Finals, there had been rumblings that the junior Lucas was contemplating a jump to the NBA after the season. "Throughout the tournament, McGuire admonished Lucas for thinking he was ready for the pros," remembers Ellis. “They had a love-hate thing goin' on, but Coach wasn't saying Luke wasn't good enough. He was a master psychologist. He was just trying to motivate Luke, push him to carry us over that hump and it almost worked to perfection-- he got us to the Final Two."
"I don't think Al was being selfish about it," explains Mike Gonring, Marquette's Sports Information Director at the time. “There was no peevishness about it. I think Al really thought that Luke should stay and develop more as a player. But Luke really took that personally. He was a really proud guy."
"According to Al, I was never intended to play in this business," said Lucas in 1983. “He told me when I left school, 'Luke, you're just not ready.' I said, 'We'll see.'"
"A lot of people were thrown off about that whole thing with him and Al," said Ellis. “That was a true love-hate affair. They got along wonderful, but they had their spats. What had happened was Coach had heard Luke was thinking about leaving once we got into the NCAA tournament in 1974. We got on a roll and Luke was playing well. Actually, he carried us. Earlier that year when Luke was thinking about it and Coach had heard something about it, Luke would have been the third one in a row (to leave early)-- it had been Jim Chones and Larry McNeill the year before. Coach used one of those Al McGuire-isms with him and started to motivate him by telling him he wasn't good enough and wasn't ready for the pros. All that did was light Luke's fire. Coach knew he was going to be a great pro, and he said it years later, but Coach was a master psychologist. That's how he got Luke fired up. I know because Luke used to talk stuff about it. That lit the fire under Luke, and we just got on his back."
When Lucas made his decision to leave Marquette after the '73-'74 season, he sought out Ellis to apologize.
"One of the things I'll always remember,” says Ellis, “when he came back to town after he decided that he was going to go hardship, he came to me and he hugged me and he apologized to me and said, 'Slim, I'm sorry. I talked you into coming to Marquette because I said we were going to win a championship together, and I'm leaving.' And I stopped him and I told him, 'You don't have to explain. You're doing what's best for you and your family. Take care of your mom and get out of them projects in Pittsburgh.' That just kind of showed you the kind of person that he was."
As for what might have been, Ellis added, "Luke put us on his back, and that's what made him his money. It was tough because he knew what he was leaving. He knew we had a chance to win a national championship, and even next year, which would have been his senior year, we only lost four games and Kentucky beat us in the tournament. It just shows you how things go. I'm sure it was a tough decision, though, because Lloyd was just getting going and the foundation was just starting to get laid. But when it was all said and done, his mother was still living in public housing in Pittsburgh, and it was the right thing to do. And I don't think he ever looked back."
"I don't think Al was being selfish about it," explains Mike Gonring, Marquette's Sports Information Director at the time. “There was no peevishness about it. I think Al really thought that Luke should stay and develop more as a player. But Luke really took that personally. He was a really proud guy."
"According to Al, I was never intended to play in this business," said Lucas in 1983. “He told me when I left school, 'Luke, you're just not ready.' I said, 'We'll see.'"
"A lot of people were thrown off about that whole thing with him and Al," said Ellis. “That was a true love-hate affair. They got along wonderful, but they had their spats. What had happened was Coach had heard Luke was thinking about leaving once we got into the NCAA tournament in 1974. We got on a roll and Luke was playing well. Actually, he carried us. Earlier that year when Luke was thinking about it and Coach had heard something about it, Luke would have been the third one in a row (to leave early)-- it had been Jim Chones and Larry McNeill the year before. Coach used one of those Al McGuire-isms with him and started to motivate him by telling him he wasn't good enough and wasn't ready for the pros. All that did was light Luke's fire. Coach knew he was going to be a great pro, and he said it years later, but Coach was a master psychologist. That's how he got Luke fired up. I know because Luke used to talk stuff about it. That lit the fire under Luke, and we just got on his back."
When Lucas made his decision to leave Marquette after the '73-'74 season, he sought out Ellis to apologize.
"One of the things I'll always remember,” says Ellis, “when he came back to town after he decided that he was going to go hardship, he came to me and he hugged me and he apologized to me and said, 'Slim, I'm sorry. I talked you into coming to Marquette because I said we were going to win a championship together, and I'm leaving.' And I stopped him and I told him, 'You don't have to explain. You're doing what's best for you and your family. Take care of your mom and get out of them projects in Pittsburgh.' That just kind of showed you the kind of person that he was."
As for what might have been, Ellis added, "Luke put us on his back, and that's what made him his money. It was tough because he knew what he was leaving. He knew we had a chance to win a national championship, and even next year, which would have been his senior year, we only lost four games and Kentucky beat us in the tournament. It just shows you how things go. I'm sure it was a tough decision, though, because Lloyd was just getting going and the foundation was just starting to get laid. But when it was all said and done, his mother was still living in public housing in Pittsburgh, and it was the right thing to do. And I don't think he ever looked back."
After declaring for the NBA draft, Lucas was chosen in the 1st round by the Chicago Bulls.
However, when the Bulls and Lucas failed to agree on a contract, Lucas actually contemplated suing the NCAA to allow for his return to Marquette. But when the ABA's Carolina Cougars, who had the foresight to draft Lucas as a sophomore, moved to St. Louis and became the Spirits, they retained Lucas' rights and swooped in to sign him when Chicago couldn't. Indeed, Lucas never looked back. |
During his 14 professional seasons, Lucas defined the power-forward position while spending time with the Spirits of St. Louis, Kentucky Colonels, Portland Trailblazers, New Jersey Nets, New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, and Seattle Supersonics.
"When we were in school he was a beast, but he wasn't real big, strong and powerful like he was once he became a pro," says Ellis. "I think he had that type of image as a tough guy because he WOULD bang," explains Ellis. “He was very aggressive and very physical. He wasn't one of those real high-flying, athletic guys. I mean, he could dunk and stuff, but the key part to his game was being physical. He really became 'The Enforcer' more when we got to the pros. Don't get me wrong-- he did his share of damage in college, too. I remember Dave Delsman running a guard off of one of Luke's screens, and Luke splitting that kid's mouth open. But he became the REAL Enforcer when he went to the NBA. He was a fierce competitor and a banger."
Dubbed "The Enforcer" by both teammates and opponents alike, Lucas was well known in the pros for his toughness and competitive spirit.
“I was playing for the Squires and Luke was with the Spirits," recalls ABA contemporary Willie Wise. “[Coach] Al Bianchi had a play ‘1 down' and [guard] Dave Twardzik called it. I was to give the ball back to him, peel over the top of our center, guarded by Maurice, and take a lob from Dave. As I peeled over, Maurice stepped out, hit me with such a vicious forearm, I thought my head literally was going to come off my shoulders," laughs Wise. “He then recovered to his position on our center as if nothing happened. I was hot, scared and provoked all at the same time," remembers Wise. “I told Dave to call the play again. When he did, I was ready for Maurice to do the same thing, which he surely intended to do. But this time, I hit him first when he stepped out, and thought I would soon see my maker. The ref called a double foul. And while running back down the floor to the other end, he caught up and patted me on the backside and said, ‘Good play, baby.'”
"For me, Maurice Lucas epitomized what you would want in a Marquette basketball player," remembered Rick Majerus. “He had toughness, perseverance and a get-it-done mentality that made him not only one of the greatest leaders in Marquette history, but one of the most beloved and respected teammates throughout his championship NBA career. Maurice was one of the all-time greats for a reason."
During his illustrious career, Lucas averaged 14.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per contest while playing in 1,021 career games.
"When we were in school he was a beast, but he wasn't real big, strong and powerful like he was once he became a pro," says Ellis. "I think he had that type of image as a tough guy because he WOULD bang," explains Ellis. “He was very aggressive and very physical. He wasn't one of those real high-flying, athletic guys. I mean, he could dunk and stuff, but the key part to his game was being physical. He really became 'The Enforcer' more when we got to the pros. Don't get me wrong-- he did his share of damage in college, too. I remember Dave Delsman running a guard off of one of Luke's screens, and Luke splitting that kid's mouth open. But he became the REAL Enforcer when he went to the NBA. He was a fierce competitor and a banger."
Dubbed "The Enforcer" by both teammates and opponents alike, Lucas was well known in the pros for his toughness and competitive spirit.
“I was playing for the Squires and Luke was with the Spirits," recalls ABA contemporary Willie Wise. “[Coach] Al Bianchi had a play ‘1 down' and [guard] Dave Twardzik called it. I was to give the ball back to him, peel over the top of our center, guarded by Maurice, and take a lob from Dave. As I peeled over, Maurice stepped out, hit me with such a vicious forearm, I thought my head literally was going to come off my shoulders," laughs Wise. “He then recovered to his position on our center as if nothing happened. I was hot, scared and provoked all at the same time," remembers Wise. “I told Dave to call the play again. When he did, I was ready for Maurice to do the same thing, which he surely intended to do. But this time, I hit him first when he stepped out, and thought I would soon see my maker. The ref called a double foul. And while running back down the floor to the other end, he caught up and patted me on the backside and said, ‘Good play, baby.'”
"For me, Maurice Lucas epitomized what you would want in a Marquette basketball player," remembered Rick Majerus. “He had toughness, perseverance and a get-it-done mentality that made him not only one of the greatest leaders in Marquette history, but one of the most beloved and respected teammates throughout his championship NBA career. Maurice was one of the all-time greats for a reason."
During his illustrious career, Lucas averaged 14.6 points and 9.1 rebounds per contest while playing in 1,021 career games.
But his finest seasons came with the Portland Trailblazers. During the '76-'77 campaign, Lucas averaged 20.2 points and 11.4 rebounds per game while helping Bill Walton lead the Trailblazers to their only NBA Championship, then averaged 20.4 points and 10.4 rebounds per game the following season.
Lucas earned five All-Star selections and was included on the ABA's All-Time team in 1997, despite having spent just two years in the league. "He prepared me very well," Lucas once said of his time with Al. “Some of the things he told me didn't make any sense at the time, but as my career went on, a lot of light was shed on what he said. He told me little things like don't mess around on the free throw line and approach the game as a business. But the biggest thing he ever told me was, 'Watch your own money,' and I've done that since day one." "He was tremendously confident," admired Majerus. “His presence on the court. He was a good shooter, but he had the confidence of a great shooter. He was extraordinarily self-assured about his game-- and about life, too.” After his playing career, Lucas served as an assistant coach for the Trailblazers during the '88-'89 season and then again from 2005 to 2010, until health reasons forced him to step down. Rest in peace, Big Luke. |
2012 - Damian Lillard made his @NBA debut when he scored 23 points and passed for 11 assists in the Portland Trail Blazers 116-106 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers
Lillard became only the 3rd rookie in #NBA history to have more than 20 points and 10 assists. Oscar Robertson and Isiah Thomas were the other rookies.
Lillard became only the 3rd rookie in #NBA history to have more than 20 points and 10 assists. Oscar Robertson and Isiah Thomas were the other rookies.