Portland Trail Blazers facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Portland Trail Blazers
Conference	Western
Division	Northwest
Founded	1970
History	Portland Trail Blazers 1970–present
Arena	Moda Center
Location	Portland, Oregon
Team colors	Red, black, white
Main sponsor	Brightside Windows
President	Dewayne Hankins
General manager	Joe Cronin
Head coach	Chauncey Billups
Ownership	Paul G. Allen Estate (Jody Allen, chairwoman)
Affiliation(s)	Rip City Remix
Championships	1 (1977)
Conference titles	3 (1977, 1990, 1992)
Division titles	6 (1978, 1991, 1992, 1999, 2015, 2018)
Retired numbers	12 (1, 13, 14, 15, 20, 22, 30, 30, 32, 36, 45, 77)
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The Portland Trail Blazers, often called the Blazers, are a professional basketball team located in Portland, Oregon. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as part of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference. The team played at the Memorial Coliseum until 1995, when they moved to the Moda Center.

The Blazers joined the NBA in 1970 as a new team. They quickly gained a huge fan base. From 1977 to 1995, they sold out 814 home games in a row. This was the longest streak in major American professional sports at the time. The Trail Blazers are the only NBA team in the Pacific Northwest.

The team has reached the NBA Finals three times. They won the NBA championship once in 1977. Their other Finals appearances were in 1990 and 1992. The Blazers have made it to the playoffs in 37 of their 55 seasons. This includes a streak of 21 straight appearances from 1983 to 2003. Many great players have been part of the team, including Bill Walton and Clyde Drexler.

Team History

Starting the Team (1970–1974)

Sidney Wicks was a four-time NBA All-Star with the Trail Blazers. He won the 1971–72 NBA Rookie of the Year Award.

Harry Glickman, a sports promoter, worked for years to bring an NBA team to Portland. On February 6, 1970, the NBA finally approved a team for Portland. The team held a contest to choose a name. "Pioneers" was popular, but it was already used by a local college. The name "Trail Blazers" was chosen, meaning explorers making paths. This name reflected the spirit of the Pacific Northwest.

The Trail Blazers joined the NBA in 1970 along with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Buffalo Braves. Early stars like Geoff Petrie and Sidney Wicks led the team. However, the team did not make the playoffs in its first six seasons.

The Bill Walton Years (1974–1979)

In 1974, the team picked Bill Walton as the number one draft pick. In 1976, the ABA and NBA leagues merged. The Blazers added Maurice Lucas from the ABA. They also hired Jack Ramsay as head coach.

Jack Ramsay led the Trail Blazers to their first championship in 1977. Bill Walton was the NBA Finals MVP.

These changes helped the team achieve its first winning season (49–33). They also made the playoffs for the first time and won the NBA championship in 1977. On April 5, 1977, the team started a streak of 814 sold-out home games. This streak lasted until 1995.

The team started the 1977–78 season very strong. But Bill Walton got a foot injury that affected his career. The team struggled after that. Walton later left the team.

Building a New Team (1980–1983)

In the early 1980s, the Blazers often made it to the playoffs. However, they never got past the second round. The Los Angeles Lakers were very strong in their division during this time. Key players for the Blazers included Mychal Thompson and Jim Paxson.

The Clyde Drexler Era (1983–1995)

Drafting Key Players

Clyde Drexler played for Portland from 1983 to 1995.

In the 1983 draft, the team picked Clyde Drexler. He became a star for the team for over ten years. In the next year's draft, the Blazers had the second pick. They chose Sam Bowie, a center. The Chicago Bulls then picked Michael Jordan third. Many people now see picking Bowie over Jordan as a big mistake in sports history.

The Blazers also added Terry Porter in the 1985 draft. Porter became one of the best point guards in the league.

Arvydas Sabonis joined the Trail Blazers in the 1995–96 season after being drafted years earlier.

The team continued to struggle in the playoffs. In 1986, Mike Schuler became the new coach. The team also drafted two international players, Arvydas Sabonis and Dražen Petrović.

Paul Allen Becomes Owner

In 1988, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen bought the Blazers. He was the youngest team owner in major professional sports at 35. His first season as owner was difficult. The team fired coach Schuler and replaced him with Rick Adelman. The team also traded Sam Bowie for Buck Williams.

Reaching the NBA Finals Again

With Williams, the team became much better at defense. Led by Drexler, the Blazers reached the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992. They lost to the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls. In between these Finals appearances, the team had a league-best 63–19 record in 1991. However, they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals.

After failing to win a championship, Adelman was fired in 1994. Bob Whitsitt became the new team president. He started to change the team's roster. Drexler was traded to the Houston Rockets. In 1995, the team moved to the new Rose Garden Arena (now Moda Center).

Rebuilding and Challenges (1995–2006)

To rebuild, the Blazers acquired talented players who sometimes had off-court issues. These included Isaiah Rider and Rasheed Wallace. The team found success and reached the Western Conference finals in 1999. They beat the Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz before losing to the San Antonio Spurs.

In the 1999–2000 season, the team added Scottie Pippen. They reached the Western Conference finals again, facing the Los Angeles Lakers. The Blazers had a 15-point lead in the final quarter of Game 7 but lost the game.

"The Jail Blazers" Era

This period is known as the "Jail Blazers" era. The team faced criticism for its players' behavior and off-court incidents. Fans and media were unhappy with the team's image. In 2001, Maurice Cheeks became the new coach. Despite efforts to improve the team's image, more incidents occurred.

In 2003, attendance at games started to drop. The team's general manager, Bob Whitsitt, left. John Nash and Steve Patterson took over. They promised to focus on good character. Many players with past issues were traded. However, the team missed the playoffs in 2004, ending a 21-year streak.

In the 2005–06 season, the Blazers had a very poor record of 21–61. There were still player incidents. Nash was fired, and Patterson became general manager. Paul Allen decided not to sell the team and invested more money.

Roy, Oden, and Aldridge (2006–2012)

Brandon Roy was named the NBA Rookie of the Year in 2007.

In the 2006 NBA draft, the Blazers traded for LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy. Roy was named the 2006–07 Rookie of the Year. In 2007, the Blazers won the NBA draft lottery and picked Greg Oden as the number one pick. Oden had a knee injury and missed his first season. His injuries and Kevin Durant's success (picked second by Seattle) reminded people of the Sam Bowie/Michael Jordan draft.

Despite Oden's injury, the team had a 13-game winning streak in December 2007. Roy became an All-Star. The Blazers finished the season 41–41. In the 2008–09 season, Oden finally played. The team also added international players Rudy Fernández and Nicolas Batum. Roy continued to be a star. The Blazers made the playoffs in 2009 but lost in the first round.

LaMarcus Aldridge played his first nine professional seasons in Portland.

The 2009–10 season was full of injuries to key players. Despite this, the Blazers finished 50–32 and made the playoffs again. They lost to the Phoenix Suns. In 2010, Rich Cho became the new general manager. The 2010–11 season also saw many injuries, including Oden and Roy. LaMarcus Aldridge stepped up as a team leader. The Blazers made the playoffs but lost to the Dallas Mavericks.

In 2011, Cho was released. Chad Buchanan became interim general manager. Brandon Roy retired due to chronic knee problems. In March 2012, the Blazers traded several players and fired coach Nate McMillan. The team finished with a 28–38 record and missed the playoffs. Neil Olshey became the new general manager in June 2012.

The Damian Lillard Era (2012–2023)

Damian Lillard is a seven-time NBA All-Star and was the unanimous NBA Rookie of the Year in 2013.

On June 28, 2012, the Blazers drafted Damian Lillard with the sixth pick. Lillard quickly became a star. Terry Stotts was hired as head coach. Lillard was named Rookie of the Year, becoming one of only a few players to be a unanimous choice.

CJ McCollum, drafted in 2013, formed a strong back-court with Lillard.

In the 2013 NBA draft, the Blazers picked CJ McCollum. The team improved greatly in the 2013–14 season, winning 21 more games than the year before. They won 11 straight games in November. Lillard and Aldridge became All-Stars. The Blazers finished 54–28 and made the playoffs. In the first round, Lillard hit a game-winning three-pointer against the Houston Rockets to win the series. This moment was called "Rip City Revival." They then lost to the San Antonio Spurs.

In the 2014–15 season, the Blazers continued to play well. However, injuries affected the team, especially a season-ending injury to Wesley Matthews. The Blazers won their first Northwest Division title since 1999 but lost in the first round of the playoffs.

After losing four of their five starters in 2015, the Blazers still won 44 games in the 2015–16 season. They beat the Clippers in the first round but lost to the Golden State Warriors.

In the 2017–18 season, the Blazers finished third in the Western Conference. However, they were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the New Orleans Pelicans.

In the 2018–19 season, the Blazers finished third again. They defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games, with Lillard hitting another game-winning shot. They then beat the Denver Nuggets in a tough seven-game series, reaching the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2000. They were swept by the Golden State Warriors.

After the 2019–20 season was paused, the Blazers played in the "NBA Bubble." They made the playoffs but lost to the Lakers. In June 2021, coach Stotts left, and Chauncey Billups became the new head coach.

Chauncey Billups has coached the Blazers since 2021.

In February 2022, the Blazers traded CJ McCollum. Anfernee Simons stepped up to lead the offense. In the 2022 NBA draft, the Blazers selected Shaedon Sharpe. The team started the 2022–23 season well but eventually fell out of playoff contention. Lillard then asked to be traded.

Post-Lillard Era and Rebuilding (2023–present)

In September 2023, the Blazers traded Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks. They received Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, and Toumani Camara in return. Holiday was then traded to the Boston Celtics for other players and draft picks. The Blazers also re-signed Jerami Grant. The team had a difficult year in 2023–24, missing the playoffs with a 21–61 record.

In the 2024 NBA draft, the Blazers selected Donovan Clingan. They also traded for Deni Avdija from the Washington Wizards.

Recent Seasons

Here are the results for the last five seasons:

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, W–L% = Winning percentage

Team Members

Current Roster

Retired Numbers

Bill Walton

The Trail Blazers have honored several important people by retiring their jersey numbers.

Portland Trail Blazers Retired Numbers
No.	Player	Position	Years with Team	Retired
1 1	Larry Weinberg	Owner	1970–1988	1992
13	Dave Twardzik	Guard	1976–1980	October 11, 1981
14	Lionel Hollins	Guard	1975–1980	April 18, 2007
15	Larry Steele	Guard	1971–1980	October 11, 1981
20	Maurice Lucas	Forward	1976–1980 1987–1988	November 4, 1988
22	Clyde Drexler	Guard	1983–1995	March 6, 2001
30	Bob Gross	Forward	1975–1982	December 18, 2008
	Terry Porter	Guard	1985–1995	December 16, 2008
32	Bill Walton	Center	1974–1979	November 3, 1989
36	Lloyd Neal	Forward/Center	1972–1979	March 24, 1979
45	Geoff Petrie	Guard	1970–1976	October 11, 1981
77 2	Jack Ramsay	Head coach	1976–1986	January 14, 1993
	Bill Schonely	Broadcaster	1970–1998	November 3, 2003

Notes:

• ¹ This number honors the team's founder and owner, Larry Weinberg. It can still be used by players.
• ² This number honors coach Jack Ramsay for winning the 1977 NBA Championship. He did not play for the team.
• The NBA retired Bill Russell's No. 6 for all teams on August 11, 2022.

Basketball Hall of Famers

Dražen Petrović was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Scottie Pippen played in Portland from 1999 to 2003.

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

Many former Trail Blazers players and coaches have been inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Notes:

• ¹ Lenny Wilkens was inducted three times: as a player, as a coach, and as part of the 1992 Olympic team.
• ² Inducted after their passing.
• ³ Clyde Drexler was inducted twice: as a player and as part of the 1992 Olympic team.
• ⁴ Scottie Pippen was inducted twice: as a player and as part of the 1992 Olympic team.
• ⁵ Rick Adelman also played for the team from 1970–1973.

FIBA Hall of Fame

Some Blazers players have also been inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame, which honors international basketball stars.

Notes:

• ¹ Inducted after their passing.

Team Leaders

NBA Draft Picks

The Trail Blazers have had the first pick in the NBA draft four times. Each time, they chose a center. These picks were LaRue Martin (1972), Bill Walton (1974), Mychal Thompson (1978), and Greg Oden (2007).

Some of their draft choices have been widely discussed. For example, in the 1984 NBA draft, they picked Sam Bowie second, while Michael Jordan was picked third by the Chicago Bulls. In 2007, they picked Greg Oden over Kevin Durant.

Head Coaches

Team Look and Feel

Previous logos of the Portland Trail Blazers

1970 to 1990

2002 to 2003

1990 to 2002

2003 to 2004

2004 to 2017

The team's colors are red, black, and white. Their "pinwheel" logo was designed by the cousin of founder Harry Glickman. It shows two basketball teams facing each other. One side is red, the other is black or white. The logo has changed slightly over the years.

The Blazers' uniforms have also changed. Their first uniforms were white at home and red on the road. In 1977, after winning the championship, they added a "blaze" stripe that goes diagonally down the uniform. They also started using black road uniforms. Over the years, they've added silver accents and different alternate uniforms, including ones with their "Rip City" nickname.

Recently, the Blazers have created special "City" uniforms each season. These uniforms often honor Portland's history or culture. For example, some have featured a plaid pattern to honor former coach Jack Ramsay, or designs inspired by the Portland International Airport carpet.

The team's official mascot is Blaze the Trail Cat, a silver-colored mountain lion. He has been the mascot since 2002. Before Blaze, the team had a mascot named Bigfoot from 1987 to 1989.

Team Management

Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen owned the Trail Blazers from 1988 until his passing in 2018.

From 1988 until 2018, the team was owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. Now, his sister Jody Allen leads his estate and is the team's chairwoman. The team is managed by Vulcan Sports and Entertainment, which also handles other sports teams owned by Paul Allen's estate.

The general manager is Joe Cronin. The team has had several general managers over the years, including Kevin Pritchard, Rich Cho, and Neil Olshey.

Home Arenas

Portland's Memorial Coliseum, home of the Blazers from 1970 to 1995

Moda Center (originally Rose Garden), home of the Blazers since 1995

The team's headquarters and practice facility are in Tualatin, Oregon.

The Trail Blazers play their home games at the Moda Center in Portland. This arena opened in 1995 and can hold nearly 20,000 fans for basketball games. The Moda Center is also owned by Paul Allen's estate. Its name was changed from the Rose Garden to the Moda Center in 2013.

Before 1995, the Blazers played at the Memorial Coliseum. This building was built in 1960 and is next to the Moda Center.

Game Entertainment

The Blazers have a cheerleading and dance team called the BlazerDancers. They perform routines at home games and other events. There is also a junior dance team and a hip hop dance group. Other acts include an acrobatic stunt team and percussion groups.

Fan Support and "Blazermania"

The strong connection between the team and its fans is known as "Blazermania." The Trail Blazers have always been one of the NBA's most popular teams.

"Blazermania" truly began during the 1976–77 season when the team won its first NBA title. Since then, the team has been very popular in Portland. They had a long streak of sold-out games that lasted until 1995. Even after some difficult years, fan attendance improved again in the late 2000s.

The team's famous phrase, "Rip City," was created by broadcaster Bill Schonely during the team's first season in 1970. It is still a big part of the team's and fans' identity.

The Blazers are also using new technology to help fans. In the 2023–24 season, they started testing "OneCourt Haptic Displays." This device lets fans with low vision or blindness "feel" the game through vibrations.

Media Coverage

Television

Mike Rice was a Trail Blazers TV analyst.

Mike Barrett was Portland's TV play-by-play announcer.

Trail Blazers games are shown on television. In the past, games were shown on local channels and a special pay-per-view service. Later, the team tried to launch its own sports channel, but it didn't work out. They then made deals with other sports networks.

Currently, the Blazers have a new agreement with Sinclair Broadcast Group to launch the Rip City Television Network. This network will show games on local TV channels in Oregon and Washington. The team also brought back BlazerVision as a streaming service. The current TV announcers are Kevin Calabro, Lamar Hurd, and Brooke Olzendam.

Radio

All Trail Blazers games are broadcast on the radio. The games are carried on the Portland Trail Blazers Radio Network, which includes 25 stations in the Pacific Northwest. The main station is 620 KPOJ in Portland. The radio announcers are Travis Demers and Jay Allen.

The original radio announcer for the team was Bill Schonely, who called games from 1970 to 1998. He is famous for coining the phrase "Rip City."

News Coverage

Local news outlets provide detailed coverage of the Trail Blazers. The Oregonian is the largest newspaper in Oregon and covers the team closely. Other papers like the Portland Tribune also cover the team. Online, OregonLive.com provides news and blogs about the Blazers.

The relationship between the team and The Oregonian has sometimes been difficult. However, many journalists continue to provide in-depth reporting on the team.

Images for kids

• 

  Dražen Petrović, who was drafted by the Trail Blazers, was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the FIBA Hall of Fame.

• 

  Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame member Scottie Pippen played in Portland from 1999 to 2003.

• 

  Dražen Petrović was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

• 

  Scottie Pippen played in Portland from 1999 to 2003.

• 

  1970 to 1990

• 

  2002 to 2003

• 

  1990 to 2002

• 

  2003 to 2004

• 

  2004 to 2017

• 

  Mike Rice was a Trail Blazers TV analyst.

• 

  Mike Barrett was Portland's TV play-by-play announcer.

See also

In Spanish: Portland Trail Blazers para niños