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)
Association Icon Statement

The Portland Trail Blazers, often called the Blazers, are a professional basketball team from Portland, Oregon. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as part of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference. The team played their home games at the Memorial Coliseum before moving to the Moda Center in 1995.

The Blazers started playing in the NBA in 1970. They quickly gained a huge following. From 1977 to 1995, they sold out 814 home games in a row, which was a record at the time for major professional sports in America. The Trail Blazers are the only NBA team in the Pacific Northwest now, after other teams like the Vancouver Grizzlies and Seattle SuperSonics moved away.

They've played in the NBA Finals three times and won the NBA championship once in 1977. Their other Finals appearances were in 1990 and 1992. The team has made it to the playoffs in 37 of their 54 seasons, including an amazing streak of 21 straight appearances from 1983 to 2003. This is tied for the second-longest playoff streak in NBA history!

Many famous players have been part of the Trail Blazers. Six players who played for the team are now in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Bill Walton is one of the most famous; he was the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 1977 and the regular season MVP in 1978. Four Blazers rookies have won the NBA Rookie of the Year award: Geoff Petrie, Sidney Wicks, Brandon Roy, and Damian Lillard.

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.

Sports promoter Harry Glickman dreamed of bringing an NBA team to Portland since 1955. His dream came true on February 6, 1970, when the NBA allowed a team in Portland. To get the money needed, Glickman teamed up with Robert Schmertz, Larry Weinberg, and Herman Sarkowsky.

The team held a contest to choose a name, and over 10,000 ideas came in! "Pioneers" was popular, but it was already used by a local college. The name "Trail Blazers" got 172 entries and was chosen. It means explorers making new paths, which Glickman felt showed the strong spirit of the Pacific Northwest and the start of a new era for sports in Oregon. People often shorten it to "Blazers."

The Trail Blazers joined the NBA in 1970 as a new team, along with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Buffalo Braves. In their first six seasons, led by players like Geoff Petrie and Sidney Wicks, the team didn't make the playoffs. During this time, they had three head coaches. They also got the first pick in the NBA draft twice, picking LaRue Martin in 1972.

The Bill Walton Years: 1974–1979

In 1974, the team picked Bill Walton from UCLA as the number one draft pick. In 1976, the ABA and NBA leagues joined together. The Blazers picked Maurice Lucas in a special draft for players from the ABA. That summer, they also hired Jack Ramsay as their new head coach.

In his first season as head coach, Jack Ramsay led the Trail Blazers to their first playoff spot and then to the championship. Bill Walton was the NBA Finals MVP.

These changes, along with great playing, led to the Blazers' first winning season (49–33), first playoff appearance, and their first NBA championship in 1977. On April 5, 1977, the team started a streak of 814 sold-out games in a row. This was the longest streak in American professional sports history at the time and lasted until 1995.

The team started the 1977–78 season very strong, but Bill Walton got a foot injury that ended his season. This injury would bother him for the rest of his career. The team then struggled and lost in the playoffs. That summer, Walton wanted to be traded because he was unhappy with his medical care in Portland. He never got traded and left the team as a free agent in 1979.

The Clyde Drexler Era: 1983–1995

Drafting Clyde Drexler

Clyde Drexler played for Portland from 1983 to 1995.

In the 1983 draft, the Blazers picked Clyde Drexler with the 14th pick. "Clyde the Glide" became a huge star for the team for over ten years. In the next year's draft, the Blazers had the No. 2 pick. After the Houston Rockets picked Hakeem Olajuwon, the Blazers chose Sam Bowie. The Chicago Bulls then picked Michael Jordan at No. 3. Many people now say picking Bowie over Jordan was one of the biggest mistakes in sports draft history.

In 1985, the Blazers picked Terry Porter with the last pick of the first round. Porter became one of the best point guards in the league and the Blazers' all-time leader in assists.

Arvydas Sabonis made his NBA debut with the Trail Blazers in the 1995–96 season.

The Blazers still had trouble winning in the playoffs. In 1986, coach Ramsay was fired and Mike Schuler took over. The team drafted two international players, Arvydas Sabonis and Dražen Petrović. However, Sam Bowie broke his leg early in the 1986–87 season, missing a lot of time.

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 had some challenges, but the team improved after Rick Adelman became coach and they traded for Buck Williams.

Reaching the NBA Finals

With Williams and Jerome Kersey improving their defense, the team became very strong. Led by Drexler, the Blazers reached the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992. They lost to the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls. In between those Finals appearances, the team had the best record in the league (63–19) in 1991, but lost to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference finals.

After the 1994 season, Adelman was fired. In 1994, the Blazers hired Bob Whitsitt as team president. He was known for making many player trades. He started changing the team, and Drexler asked to be traded. The Blazers sent him to the Houston Rockets. In 1995, the team moved from the Memorial Coliseum to their new home, the 20,000-seat Rose Garden Arena (now Moda Center).

Rebuilding and Challenges: 1995–2006

Many players left the team, and the Blazers tried to rebuild quickly. They brought in talented players who sometimes had issues off the court. These included Isaiah Rider and Rasheed Wallace. At first, this worked well. The team reached the Western Conference finals in 1999 under coach Mike Dunleavy. After losing, they traded for Steve Smith and Scottie Pippen.

The team made it to the Western Conference Finals again in 2000, playing against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Blazers had a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter of Game 7, but they couldn't hold on and lost the game and the series. The Lakers went on to win the championship.

"The Jail Blazers" Era

The Blazers made more player changes in 2000 and 2001, but they didn't work out. The team started well in 2001 but then lost many games and were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Lakers. Some people in the media started to criticize the team and its management. Because of several players' issues off the court, the team was often called the "Jail Blazers."

In 2003, with attendance dropping and high player salaries, team president Whitsitt left. The team hired John Nash as general manager and Steve Patterson as team president. They promised to focus on good character. Problem players were traded, but the team missed the playoffs in 2004, ending their 21-year streak.

The next season was even worse, with a 21–61 record. Attendance was low, and there were more player incidents. Nash was fired, and Patterson took over as general manager. It was thought that Paul Allen might sell the team, but he decided to keep it and invest more.

New Stars: Roy, Oden, and Aldridge (2006–2012)

Brandon Roy was named the NBA Rookie of the Year after the 2006–07 season.

In the 2006 NBA draft, the Blazers traded for LaMarcus Aldridge and also picked Brandon Roy. In 2007, Roy was named Rookie of the Year. That summer, the Blazers won the 2007 NBA draft lottery and picked Greg Oden as the No. 1 pick. Oden got a knee injury before the season and missed the whole year. His injuries, and the success of Kevin Durant (who was picked after Oden), reminded people of the Sam Bowie/Michael Jordan draft mistake.

Despite Oden's injury, the Blazers had a 13-game winning streak in December 2007. Roy was selected for the 2008 NBA All-Star Game. The Blazers finished the season 41–41, their best record in years.

In the 2008–09 season, Greg Oden finally played in 61 games. The team also added international players Rudy Fernández and Nicolas Batum. Roy made his second All-Star Game. The Blazers made the playoffs for the first time since 2003, with a 54–28 record, but lost in the first round.

The 2009–10 season was full of injuries to key players like Oden, Joel Przybilla, and Roy. To help, the Blazers traded for Marcus Camby. Despite the injuries, they finished 50–32 and made the playoffs again, but lost to the Phoenix Suns.

LaMarcus Aldridge played the first nine years of his professional career in Portland.

In the 2010 off-season, Rich Cho became the new general manager, the first Asian-American GM in NBA history. The 2010–11 season also saw many injuries, including Oden's season-ending knee surgery and Roy's knee problems. LaMarcus Aldridge stepped up as a leader. The Blazers traded for Gerald Wallace and made the playoffs again, but lost to the Dallas Mavericks.

In 2011, Cho was released, and Chad Buchanan became interim GM. Brandon Roy announced his retirement due to chronic knee problems. Greg Oden had more knee issues. The Blazers traded Andre Miller and Rudy Fernández and got Raymond Felton.

The 2011–12 season was shortened. The Blazers started well but then struggled. LaMarcus Aldridge made his first All-Star Game. In March 2012, the Blazers traded Marcus Camby and Gerald Wallace. They also released Greg Oden and fired coach Nate McMillan. The team finished 28–38 and missed the playoffs. In June 2012, Neil Olshey became the new general manager.

The Damian Lillard Era: 2012–2023

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

On June 28, 2012, the Blazers drafted Damian Lillard with the 6th pick and Meyers Leonard with the 11th pick. Lillard was named co-MVP of the 2012 Las Vegas Summer League. Terry Stotts was hired as head coach in August 2012.

With Lillard leading, the Blazers played well at the start of the 2012–13 season. However, injuries to key players and a 13-game losing streak led them to finish 11th in the Western Conference. Lillard was unanimously named Rookie of the Year, a rare achievement.

CJ McCollum, drafted 10th overall in 2013, formed a strong back-court duo with Lillard.

In the 2013 NBA draft, the Blazers picked CJ McCollum with the 10th pick. The Blazers had a much better 2013–14 season, winning 21 more games than the year before. This was the biggest improvement in team history. They won 11 games in a row in November. Lillard and Aldridge both made the All-Star team. Portland finished 54–28 and got the fifth seed in the playoffs.

In the first round of the playoffs, the Blazers faced the Houston Rockets. The series was very close. In Game 6, with the Blazers down by two points and less than a second left, Damian Lillard hit a game-winning three-pointer! This moment was called "Rip City Revival." The Blazers advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2000, where they lost to the San Antonio Spurs.

In the 2014–15 NBA season, the Blazers started strong again. However, injuries to players like Robin Lopez and Wesley Matthews hurt the team. Matthews tore his Achilles tendon, which was a big loss. 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 NBA season. They beat the Clippers in the first round of the playoffs but lost to the Golden State Warriors.

In May 2017, the team updated their logo, keeping the "pinwheel" design. The 2017–18 season saw the Blazers finish with the third seed in the West, but they were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the New Orleans Pelicans.

In the 2018–19 season, the Blazers finished third in the Western Conference. They beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games in the first round, with Damian Lillard hitting another game-winning, buzzer-beating three-pointer from far away in Game 5. They then won a tough seven-game series against the Denver Nuggets, including a game that went into quadruple-overtime! This sent them to their first Conference Finals since 2000, where they lost to the Golden State Warriors.

After the suspension of the 2019–20 NBA season, the Blazers were invited to the NBA Bubble. They made it to the playoffs but were eliminated by the Lakers. In June 2021, coach Stotts left the team, and Chauncey Billups became the new head coach.

In February 2022, the Blazers traded CJ McCollum to the New Orleans Pelicans. This gave Anfernee Simons a chance to lead the offense. In June 2022, the Blazers got Jerami Grant from the Detroit Pistons. They also drafted Shaedon Sharpe and Jabari Walker. The Blazers started the 2022–23 NBA season well, but then slipped out of playoff contention. Lillard asked for a trade in July 2023.

In the 2023 NBA draft, the Blazers picked Scoot Henderson with the third overall pick.

After Lillard: 2023–Present

On September 27, 2023, the Blazers traded Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a big trade. They received Jrue Holiday, Deandre Ayton, and Toumani Camara. A few days later, Holiday was traded to the Boston Celtics for more players and draft picks. Jerami Grant also signed a new contract. The Blazers had a tough year, 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.

Season-by-Season Results

Here are the results for the last five seasons. For all seasons, see List of Portland Trail Blazers seasons.

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

Team Personnel

Current Roster

Retired Numbers

Bill Walton

The Trail Blazers have honored many important people by retiring their jersey numbers. This means no other player on the team can wear that number.

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 is for the team's owner and founder, so players can still use it.
• ² Ramsay was a coach, not a player. The number 77 stands for the 1977 NBA Championship he won as coach.
• The NBA retired Bill Russell's No. 6 for all teams on August 11, 2022.

Basketball Hall of Famers

Dražen Petrović, drafted by the Trail Blazers, is in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Scottie Pippen played for Portland from 1999 to 2003 and is in the Hall of Fame.

Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame

These players and coaches who were part of the Trail Blazers are now in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, which honors the greatest people in basketball history.

Notes:

• ¹ Wilkens was inducted into the Hall of Fame three times: as a player, as a coach, and as part of the 1992 Olympic team.
• ² Inducted after they passed away.
• ³ Drexler was inducted twice: as a player and as part of the 1992 Olympic team.
• ⁴ Pippen was inducted twice: as a player and as part of the 1992 Olympic team.
• ⁵ Adelman also played for the team from 1970–1973.

FIBA Hall of Fame

These players who were part of the Trail Blazers are also in the FIBA Hall of Fame, which honors international basketball legends.

Notes:

• ¹ Inducted after they passed away.

Team Branding and Look

Previous logos of the Portland Trail Blazers

1970 to 1990

2002 to 2003

1990 to 2002

2003 to 2004

2004 to 2017

The Blazers' team colors are red, black, and white. Their famous "pinwheel" logo was designed by the cousin of founder Harry Glickman. It looks like two basketball teams facing each other, five players on each side. One side of the pinwheel is red, and the other is black or white.

The team's first uniforms were white for home games and red for away games. Over the years, the uniforms have changed. After their 1977 championship, they added a "blaze" stripe that goes diagonally down the uniform. They also started using black road uniforms.

The Blazers have also had special alternate uniforms. One design features the team's "Rip City" nickname. In recent years, they've created "City" uniforms that honor different parts of Oregon, like the Portland city flag or the state's landscape. Some uniforms have even paid tribute to former coach Jack Ramsay with a plaid pattern.

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 Locations

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 almost 20,000 fans for basketball games. Like the team, the Moda Center is owned by Paul Allen's estate. In 2013, the arena's name changed from the Rose Garden to the Moda Center.

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

In-Game Entertainment

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

Fan Support: "Blazermania"

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

"Blazermania" truly began during the 1976–77 season, when the team had its first winning record and won its only NBA title. Since then, the team has been very popular in Portland. That season, they started their amazing sellout streak that lasted until 1995.

After drafting future All-Star Brandon Roy in 2006, attendance started to grow again. The final 27 home games of the 2007–2008 season were sold out, and this streak continued for several more seasons.

The team's famous rallying cry, "Rip City," was created by announcer Bill Schonely during the team's first season. It's still a big part of the team's and fans' identity today.

Media Coverage

Television

Mike Rice was a Blazers TV analyst from 2006 to 2016.

Mike Barrett was Portland's TV play-by-play announcer from 2003 to 2016.

The Trail Blazers' games are shown on TV. In the past, they had different TV partners. For the 2007–08 season, most games were on Comcast SportsNet Northwest (now NBC Sports Northwest).

In 2016, the team changed its TV broadcast team. Kevin Calabro became the new lead commentator. He later left but returned to call games. His current partners are Lamar Hurd and Brooke Olzendam.

Before the 2021–22 season, the Blazers moved their TV broadcasts to Root Sports Northwest. This channel was available to more viewers. However, the Blazers announced in August 2024 that they would leave Root Sports Northwest.

On September 23, 2024, the Blazers announced a new plan. They will launch the Rip City Television Network, which will show games on local TV channels in Oregon and Washington. They also brought back "BlazerVision" as a streaming service where fans can watch games online.

Radio

All Trail Blazers games are also broadcast on the radio. The games are heard on the Portland Trail Blazers Radio Network, which includes 25 stations across the Pacific Northwest. The main station in Portland is 620 KPOJ.

The radio team includes play-by-play announcer Travis Demers and studio host Jay Allen. Before and after each game, there are special shows called Blazers Courtside and The 5th Quarter. The original radio announcer for the team was Bill Schonely, who called over 2,500 Blazers games.

Images for kids

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  1970 to 1990

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  2002 to 2003

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  1990 to 2002

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  2003 to 2004

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  2004 to 2017