History of the Portland Trail Blazers facts for kids

The Portland Trail Blazers are a professional basketball team that plays in the National Basketball Association (NBA). They are part of the Western Conference. The team is currently celebrating its 50th season in the NBA! Jody Allen owns the team. She took over in 2018 after her brother, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, passed away.

The Trail Blazers' famous cheer is "Rip City." This phrase was first used by announcer Bill Schonely during the team's very first season. The Blazers also hold an NBA record for selling out the most games in a row. This amazing streak lasted from April 9, 1977, to November 16, 1995!

Many great players have had their jerseys retired by the Trail Blazers. These include Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame members Clyde Drexler and Bill Walton. Jack Ramsay, who coached the team from 1976 to 1986, had the number 77 retired in his honor. This was because he led Portland to their only NBA Finals victory in 1977. Four Trail Blazers players have won the NBA Rookie of the Year award: Geoff Petrie (1971), Sidney Wicks (1972), Brandon Roy (2007), and Damian Lillard (2013). The only player to win the NBA Most Valuable Player award while playing for the Trail Blazers was Bill Walton in 1978.

How the Team Started

Harry Glickman wanted to bring an NBA team to his hometown of Portland, Oregon. He got interested when the Memorial Coliseum opened in 1960. At first, the NBA commissioner said no because Oregon was too far away. But in the 1960s, the new commissioner, J. Walter Kennedy, helped the league grow into the West.

So, on February 6, 1970, the NBA allowed Portland to have a team. Two other cities, Buffalo and Cleveland, also got teams. It cost $3.7 million to join the league. Glickman got the money from three real estate businessmen: Robert Schmertz, Larry Weinberg, and Herman Sarkowsky.

Early Years (1970–1974)

The Blazers began playing in the 1970–71 NBA season. Their first coach was Rolland Todd. The team's main players were Geoff Petrie, who was a top pick in the 1970 draft, and LeRoy Ellis. In their first season, the Blazers won 29 games and lost 53. This was the best record among the three new NBA teams. Petrie was named co-Rookie of the Year. He scored 24.8 points per game.

The next season, the Blazers only won 18 games. But rookie Sidney Wicks was named Rookie of the Year. He averaged 24.5 points and 11.5 rebounds per game. The following year, the team picked LaRue Martin first in the NBA draft. The Trail Blazers finished that season with a record of 21 wins and 61 losses.

The Bill Walton Era (1974–1979)

The Blazers didn't have a winning record until they drafted Bill Walton in 1974. In his first two years, the team improved but still didn't make the playoffs. In 1976, coach Lenny Wilkens was replaced by Jack Ramsay. That year, the team also got Maurice Lucas from another league.

1977 Championship

In the 1976–77 season, the Blazers had their first winning record, with 49 wins and 33 losses. Bill Walton was amazing, leading the NBA in rebounds and blocked shots. He was also named to the All-Defensive first team. The team, with Walton, Lucas, Bob Gross, Dave Twardzik, and Lionel Hollins, made the playoffs for the first time.

The Blazers surprised everyone by winning the NBA championship in their first playoff appearance! They beat the Chicago Bulls and the Denver Nuggets. Then, they defeated the strong Los Angeles Lakers, led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, in four straight games. Finally, they beat the Philadelphia 76ers 4–2 to win the championship. Bill Walton was named the MVP of the NBA Finals for his great performance.

The team started the next season (1977–78) very strong, winning 50 of their first 60 games. Many thought they would be a "dynasty," meaning they would win many championships. Walton was named the league's MVP, but then he got a foot injury that ended his season. This injury would bother him for the rest of his career. The team struggled after that and lost in the playoffs. That summer, Walton wanted to leave the team because of his injuries. He didn't play at all in the 1978–79 season and then left as a free agent. Maurice Lucas also left in 1980, and the Blazers' "dynasty" ended.

The Early 1980s

Even after losing key players like Walton, the team continued to play well. The sellout streak at their home games continued. The team made the playoffs almost every year. However, the Los Angeles Lakers were very strong in the Western Conference during this time.

In the 1978 draft, the Blazers got the first pick for the third time in their history. They chose Mychal Thompson, a center from the Bahamas. Over the next few years, the team added other good players like Jim Paxson, T. R. Dunn, Fat Lever, and Wayne Cooper.

The Clyde Drexler Era (1983–1994)

In 1983, the team drafted Clyde Drexler, who would become a Hall of Fame player. He later won an NBA title with the Houston Rockets.

Looking for a strong center, the Blazers used the second pick in the 1984 draft to choose Sam Bowie. Bowie had missed two full college seasons because of leg injuries. Even so, the Blazers picked him before Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, and John Stockton. Bowie had many leg injuries that limited his playing time with the team. He even missed the entire 1987–88 season. Many people now see Bowie as one of the biggest "draft busts" in NBA history. The Blazers had much better luck with their second-round pick, Jerome Kersey, who became a key player for a decade. That summer, the team traded several players to the Denver Nuggets for forward Kiki Vandeweghe.

In 1985, the team drafted point guard Terry Porter. After several seasons of losing in the first round of the playoffs, coach Ramsay was fired in 1986. Mike Schuler became the new coach.

Summer of 1986

In the 1986 draft, the Blazers picked forward Walter Berry and center Arvydas Sabonis from the Soviet Union. They also chose guard Dražen Petrović from Yugoslavia. Picking two players from Eastern Europe was unusual because of the Cold War. Many wondered if these players would be allowed to play in the NBA. Sabonis's selection became even more interesting in 1988. He was allowed to train in Portland and then led the Soviet Union to a gold medal in the 1988 Summer Olympics.

After only a few months, Berry was traded for another rookie, center Kevin Duckworth.

Mike Schuler Era (1986–1988)

Mike Schuler became the head coach before the 1986–87 season. In his first two seasons, the Blazers had good records: 49 wins and 33 losses in 1986–87, and 53 wins and 29 losses in 1987–88. Both teams made the playoffs but lost in the first round. The Blazers were great at scoring but struggled with defense and rebounding.

There were some discussions about who should start on the team. Clyde Drexler won the starting guard spot over veteran Jim Paxson. Paxson then asked to be traded. Later, when veteran center Steve Johnson was injured, Duckworth took his place and became the starting center.

A Season of Change (1988–1989)

At the end of the 1987–88 season, Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft, bought the team for $70 million. Allen, who was 35, became the youngest owner in major professional sports. The team struggled that year, finishing with a 39–43 record and barely making the playoffs. Coach Schuler was fired, and assistant Rick Adelman took over as interim head coach.

That summer, Sam Bowie was traded for veteran forward Buck Williams, who was good at defense and rebounding. Dražen Petrović was allowed to come to Portland and join the team. In the second round of the draft, Portland picked a young forward named Clifford Robinson.

Return to the Finals (1989–1992)

The early 1990s are seen as one of the best times in team history, besides the championship year. In the 1989–90 season, the team had a 59–23 record. They won against the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, and Phoenix Suns in the playoffs. But they lost to the defending champion Detroit Pistons in the NBA Finals, 4–1.

After that season, Petrović left for the New Jersey Nets. To replace him, the team signed guard Danny Ainge. In the 1990–91 season, the Blazers had an amazing 63–19 record, which was the best in the league and the best in franchise history. They won their division and had home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. However, they lost to the Lakers in the Western Conference finals.

In the 1991–92 season, the Blazers won their division again. They easily made it through the Western Conference playoffs to face the Chicago Bulls in the NBA Finals. They lost the series 4–2. This series made Michael Jordan and Drexler famous, with Jordan being seen as the better player.

End of the Adelman Era (1992–1994)

After the 1991–92 season, Ainge left for Phoenix. The Trail Blazers signed guard Rod Strickland to replace him.

In 1992–93, the team started having problems with injuries. Duckworth, Drexler, Kersey, and Buck Williams all struggled. Drexler and Kersey missed a lot of games. Even so, the team had a 51–31 record and made the playoffs. They lost to the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. Owner Paul Allen started building the Rose Garden Arena, which would become the team's new home.

In the 1993–94 season, Terry Porter was injured, and Strickland took his place as a starter. Duckworth was traded for forward Harvey Grant. The team signed center Chris Dudley. The Blazers finished the season with a 49–33 record and made the playoffs. They lost to the Houston Rockets in the first round. Adelman was then fired, and P. J. Carlesimo became the new coach.

The Bob Whitsitt Era (1994–1996)

The 1994–95 season was the first for "Trader" Bob Whitsitt. He was known for being smart with team finances. Whitsitt was hired by Paul Allen to rebuild the team.

This season was also Clyde Drexler's last with the Blazers after 11 years. Drexler was traded to the Houston Rockets during the season. He went on to help the Rockets win another NBA title. Drexler is considered one of the best Blazers players ever, and his number (22) was retired in 2001. The 1994–95 season was also the last year the team played in the Memorial Coliseum.

The Blazers were good at defense but struggled with offense that year. They had a 44–38 record and lost to Phoenix in the first round of the playoffs.

In 1995–96, the team moved into their new home, the Rose Garden Arena, which is now called the Moda Center. Clifford Robinson was the team's top scorer. Bob Whitsitt also signed Lithuanian center Arvydas Sabonis, who had played in Europe. Sabonis had some past injuries, but he played well for the Blazers. He averaged 14.5 points and 8.1 rebounds in his first year and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1996. The Blazers finished the season with a 44–38 record. They lost to the Utah Jazz in the Western Conference semifinals. This season was the last for Buck Williams, a key player in the team's past success.

Wallace & Pippen (1996–2000)

The 1996 off-season brought many changes to the Blazers' roster. Rod Strickland and Harvey Grant were traded to the Washington Bullets (now the Washington Wizards). In return, the team got forward Rasheed Wallace, who became one of the best players in franchise history. The Blazers also signed guard Kenny Anderson. In the 1996 draft, the team picked high school player Jermaine O'Neal.

Coach Carlesimo was fired in 1997 and replaced by Mike Dunleavy. The 1997–98 season also saw new players like forward Brian Grant and guard Damon Stoudamire. Stoudamire, who was from Portland, had won Rookie of the Year honors with the Toronto Raptors. Many hoped he would become the team's main star after Drexler left. Clifford Robinson also left the team to join the Phoenix Suns.

In the shortened 1999 season, the Blazers made it to their third conference final of the decade. But they were swept by the Spurs. That off-season, the Blazers made a big trade for six-time NBA champion Scottie Pippen.

In the 1999–2000 season, the team finished with a 59–23 record, the second-best in the Western Conference. With players like Stoudamire, Anderson, Pippen, Wallace, Sabonis, and Grant, they were a very strong team. They reached the Western Conference finals again, playing against the Los Angeles Lakers with Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. The Blazers lost the series.

The "Jailblazers" Era (2000–2003)

In the 2000 off-season, Brian Grant was traded, and Shawn Kemp joined the Blazers. The team also traded Jermaine O'Neal for Dale Davis. This trade was seen as a bad move because Jermaine O'Neal later became a six-time All-Star. Steve Smith was traded for Derek Anderson. The Blazers also signed forward Ruben Patterson.

With the new players, the team started strong. But after some injuries, they lost to the Lakers in the playoffs. Coach Dunleavy was fired and replaced by Maurice Cheeks.

The Patterson/Nash Era

Steven Patterson and general manager John Nash tried to improve the team's image. They announced a "25-point pledge" to fans, which was a code of conduct to promote good sportsmanship. The Blazers drafted Travis Outlaw, whose father was a police officer. Many thought this was part of the plan to rebrand the team.

In the 2003–04 season, Bonzi Wells was suspended for arguing with coach Cheeks. He was then traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. Rasheed Wallace claimed that the NBA treated African American players unfairly after the media called the team the "Jailblazers." The team and the league disagreed with his claims.

During the season, Jeff McInnis was traded for Darius Miles. Wallace was traded for Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Theo Ratliff, and Dan Dickau. The team finished the season with a 41–41 record and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1981. This ended their streak of 21 straight playoff appearances.

2004–2005 Season

The team picked Sebastian Telfair, a high school player, in the draft. They also drafted two European players and a Korean center. Three players—Darius Miles, Ratliff, and Zach Randolph—were given large contract extensions. Dale Davis was traded for Nick Van Exel, and Joel Przybilla was signed.

When the season started, the main players were Ratliff, Randolph, Abdur-Rahim, Stoudamire, and Anderson. The team had a mixed record and struggled with injuries to many players. The team's home arena also faced financial problems, which was a distraction.

On March 2, 2005, coach Cheeks was fired. Kevin Pritchard took over as interim coach. More playing time was given to young players like Telfair, Travis Outlaw, and Przybilla. The team ended up in the draft lottery.

Financial Problems

After the 2003 season, the team openly talked about its money problems. Many players were traded or left the team. The company that owned the Blazers' arena went bankrupt in 2004. Because of this, owner Paul Allen lost control of the Rose Garden arena.

In February 2006, the team said that without the money from the arena, it was hard to make a profit. NBA Commissioner David Stern said he wanted the team to stay in Portland. Allen put the Blazers up for sale but later decided not to sell the team in August 2006.

2005–2006 Season

In July 2005, the Blazers hired Nate McMillan as their new head coach.

The Blazers got the third pick in the 2005 draft. But on draft day, they traded that pick for the sixth and 27th picks. They used the sixth pick to draft Martell Webster. They also drafted Jarrett Jack.

2005–2006 Season

Several problems happened during the 2005–06 season. Sebastian Telfair had issues with coach McMillan. Ruben Patterson was suspended for conflicts with McMillan. Zach Randolph was criticized for not working hard enough. Darius Miles also had problems with McMillan, even changing into street clothes during a game to protest not playing. Many players were injured, including Telfair, Miles, Randolph, Ratliff, and Przybilla. The Blazers finished the season with only 21 wins and 61 losses, the worst record in the NBA. They got the fourth pick in the 2006 NBA draft.

LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy Era (2006–2012)

In the 2006 NBA draft, the Blazers traded for the draft rights to LaMarcus Aldridge. They also picked Brandon Roy sixth in the draft.

In 2007, Paul Allen bought back the Rose Garden arena. On the court, the team improved, finishing with 32 wins and 50 losses. Rookie shooting guard Roy was named the Rookie of the Year. That summer, Pritchard became general manager. The Blazers won the 2007 NBA Draft Lottery and picked center Greg Oden first overall. Some thought they might pick Kevin Durant instead. Oden got a knee injury before the season and missed the entire 2007–08 season. Oden's constant injuries and Durant's success led to comparisons to the Blazers picking Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan in 1984.

The team had a 13-game winning streak in December, which was the best in the NBA for that month. McMillan won Coach of the Month, and Roy won Player of the Week twice. Roy was also named an All-Star, the first Blazer All-Star since Rasheed Wallace in 2001. The Blazers finished the season 41–41, their best record since 2003–04.

In the 2008–09 season, Greg Oden played in 61 games. Portland also welcomed Spanish player Rudy Fernández and French player Nicolas Batum. Roy was an All-Star again. The Blazers made the playoffs for the first time since 2003 and had a 54–28 record. They lost to the Houston Rockets in the first round. Many believed the team was too young and didn't have enough experience. However, this season was important because it showed great team spirit and brought respect back to the franchise.

In the 2009 off-season, the Trail Blazers made some trades and signed point guard Andre Miller.

Many players suffered injuries during the 2009–10 season, including Nicolas Batum, Rudy Fernández, Travis Outlaw, Greg Oden, Joel Przybilla, Brandon Roy, and LaMarcus Aldridge. Coach Nate McMillan also got injured. Because of the injuries, the Blazers traded for Marcus Camby. Even with all the injuries, the Blazers finished with 50 wins and 32 losses and made the playoffs. Brandon Roy had knee surgery but returned for Game 4 of the first round against the Phoenix Suns. However, the injuries were too much, and the Blazers lost the series 4–2.

In the 2010 off-season, Rich Cho became the new general manager, the first of Asian descent in NBA history. The Blazers also hired new assistant general managers and coaching staff.

The Blazers acquired rookies Armon Johnson, Luke Babbitt, and Elliot Williams. They also signed Wesley Matthews. In October, former Blazer Maurice Lucas passed away. The 2010–11 Blazers team honored him by wearing special patches on their jerseys.

In the 2010–11 season, more injuries hit the team. Oden had another knee surgery, ending his season. Three-time All-Star Brandon Roy also had knee surgery, which put his future in doubt. Despite the injuries, Portland played well. LaMarcus Aldridge became the team's main player and had a great season. Wesley Matthews also played very well. The Blazers made a trade for former All-Star forward Gerald Wallace. The team made the playoffs again, winning 48 games. But they were eliminated in the first round by the Dallas Mavericks.

In the 2011 off-season, Rich Cho was released. Chad Buchanan became the interim General Manager. In the 2011 NBA Draft, the Blazers drafted Nolan Smith and Jon Diebler. They also made a three-team trade that sent Andre Miller and Rudy Fernández away, and brought Raymond Felton to Portland.

Because of the 2011 NBA lockout, team changes were on hold. On December 9, 2011, it was announced that three-time All-Star guard Brandon Roy would retire due to ongoing knee problems. Center Greg Oden also had more knee issues. LaMarcus Aldridge had a heart procedure. The Blazers signed veteran players Kurt Thomas and Jamal Crawford. They started the season well, but then struggled. Aldridge was named to his first All-Star Game.

On March 15, 2012, the Trail Blazers made several trades. They sent Marcus Camby to Houston and Gerald Wallace to New Jersey. They also released Oden. Finally, head coach Nate McMillan was fired. Portland named Kaleb Canales as the interim head coach. The team finished the season with 28 wins and 38 losses, missing the playoffs for the first time in three years.

In the 2012 NBA draft lottery, the Blazers got the number 6 and number 11 picks.

The Damian Lillard Era (2012–2023)

On June 28, 2012, the Blazers drafted guard Damian Lillard with the sixth pick and center Meyers Leonard with the 11th pick. They also drafted Will Barton.

The Blazers signed Joel Freeland and Víctor Claver. They also re-signed J. J. Hickson and Nicolas Batum. They signed veteran point guard Ronnie Price to back up Lillard. Terry Stotts was hired as the new head coach on August 7, 2012.

With Lillard leading the way, the Blazers played well at the start of the 2012–13 season. However, injuries to Batum, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Wesley Matthews, along with a 13-game losing streak, caused the team to finish 11th in the Western Conference. Lillard was named Rookie of the Year, becoming one of only a few players to be chosen unanimously.

In the 2013 NBA draft, the Trail Blazers had four picks. They selected guard CJ McCollum with their 10th pick. They also acquired Allen Crabbe.

The Blazers improved a lot in the 2013–14 season, winning 21 more games than the previous season. They had an 11-game winning streak in November. Coach Terry Stotts won Coach of the Month. On December 12, 2013, Aldridge scored 31 points and grabbed 25 rebounds, a rare achievement for a Blazers player. The Blazers also set a team record by making 21 three-pointers in a game. Lillard was voted into his first All-Star game, joining Aldridge. Portland finished with 54 wins and 28 losses, earning the fifth seed in the playoffs against the Rockets.

The first-round series against the Rockets was very close. In Game 6, with the Blazers down by two points and only 0.9 seconds left, Damian Lillard hit a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer! This moment was called "Rip City Revival." Portland advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2000, where they lost to the San Antonio Spurs.

In the 2014 off-season, the Blazers signed center Chris Kaman and guard Steve Blake. Expectations were high for the 2014–15 season. The Blazers started strong, winning nine straight games in November. However, injuries started to affect the team. Starting center Robin Lopez broke his hand and missed many games. Lillard and Aldridge continued to play well, and all three were selected for the All-Star Weekend.

More injuries happened, with Aldridge, Batum, and Joel Freeland missing time. The biggest injury was Wesley Matthews' season-ending Achilles tendon tear on March 5, 2015. Matthews was a very important player for the team. The Blazers clinched a playoff spot on March 30, 2015. They finished the season with 51 wins and 31 losses, winning their first Northwest Division title since 1999. But they lost to the Memphis Grizzlies in five games in the first round of the playoffs.

In the 2015 NBA draft, the Blazers selected Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and then traded him for center Mason Plumlee and Pat Connaughton.

After losing four of their five starters at the end of the 2015–16 season, the Blazers still won 44 games. They were the fifth seed in the Western Conference and beat the Clippers in the first round. But they were eliminated by the Golden State Warriors in the Conference Semifinals.

In May 2017, the team showed off their new logo, which was an updated version of their classic pinwheel design.

The 2017–18 season saw the Blazers finish with the third seed, their best since the 1999–2000 season. However, they were swept by the New Orleans Pelicans in the first round of the playoffs.

In the 2018–19 season, the Blazers finished the regular season 53–29, again earning the third seed. In the first round of the playoffs, the Trail Blazers defeated the favored Oklahoma City Thunder in five games. This series included Damian Lillard's game-winning, buzzer-beating three-pointer from 37 feet away in Game 5! This was their first playoff series win since 2016. In the second round, they faced the Denver Nuggets. Game 3 of that series went into quadruple overtime, a very rare event in the NBA playoffs. The Blazers eventually won the series in seven games and reached their first Conference Finals since 2000. In the Western Conference Finals, they faced the two-time defending champion Golden State Warriors. However, they lost the series in four games.

After the 2019–20 NBA season was paused, the Blazers were one of the teams invited to the NBA Bubble to finish the regular season. They made it to the eighth seed and won a "play-in game" against Memphis. But they were eliminated by the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs.

On June 4, 2021, after losing in the first round of the 2021 NBA playoffs to the Denver Nuggets, the team and head coach Stotts decided to go their separate ways. The team then hired Chauncey Billups as their next head coach.

On February 8, 2022, during a tough season with many injuries, the Blazers traded CJ McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans. This gave Anfernee Simons a chance to lead the Blazers' offense. Simons played well and earned a new contract.

On June 22, 2022, the Blazers got forward Jerami Grant from the Detroit Pistons.

In the 2022 NBA draft, the Blazers selected guard Shaedon Sharpe and forward Jabari Walker. In the 2022–23 regular season, the Blazers started well and were even the top team in the West at one point. But then they started to lose games and fell out of playoff contention. Lillard asked to be traded on July 1, and the team began looking for options.

In the 2023 NBA draft, the Blazers selected guard Scoot Henderson with the third overall pick. Henderson was a standout player from the NBA G League Ignite team.

Post-Lillard Era (2023–Present)

On September 27, 2023, the Blazers acquired Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, and Toumani Camara as part of a trade that sent Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks. The Blazers also got a future draft pick. Four days later, Holiday was traded to the Boston Celtics for Robert Williams III, Malcolm Brogdon, and two more future draft picks.

Rivalries

The "I-5 Rivalry"

The Seattle SuperSonics used to be the Blazers' biggest rivals. Because the two cities are close, their rivalry was called the "I-5 Rivalry," named after the freeway that connects them. Many fans would travel to watch the games. Both teams won one championship each. The SuperSonics had a slightly better record in this rivalry, 98 wins to 94 losses.

Fan Support and "Blazermania"

The relationship between the team and its fans is very special and is known as "Blazermania." The Trail Blazers have usually been one of the most popular teams in the NBA.

"Blazermania" truly began during the 1976–77 season. That's when the team had its first winning record, made its first playoff appearance, and won its only NBA title. Since then, the team has been incredibly popular in Portland. That season, they started their amazing streak of selling out every home game. This streak continued until the team moved into the Rose Garden arena in 1995. The team continued to have over 19,000 fans at almost every game until the 2003–04 season.

Attendance dropped in the 2003–04 season because of the team's image problems and because they weren't winning as much. Some people even said "Blazermania" was "dead." After drafting Brandon Roy in 2006, attendance started to climb again. Even when Greg Oden was injured, the team's home opener in 2007–08 was sold out. That season, the team had 32 sold-out home games.

List of Coaches

Here is a list of the Trail Blazers' head coaches and when they coached:

• Rolland Todd, 1970–1972
• Stu Inman, 1972 (interim)
• Jack McCloskey, 1972–1974
• Lenny Wilkens, 1974–1976
• Dr. Jack Ramsay, 1976–1986
• Mike Schuler, 1986–1989
• Rick Adelman, 1989 (interim), 1989–1994
• P. J. Carlesimo, 1994–1997
• Mike Dunleavy, 1997–2001
• Maurice Cheeks, 2001–2005
• Kevin Pritchard, 2005 (interim)
• Nate McMillan, 2005–2012
• Kaleb Canales, 2012 (interim)
• Terry Stotts, 2012–2021
• Chauncey Billups, 2021–present

Some former Blazers assistant coaches who became head coaches for other NBA teams include Dick Harter, Mike D'Antoni, Bill Musselman, and Rick Carlisle.

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