Hoops Habit
Fansided

Portland Trail Blazers: Top 10 NBA Draft picks in franchise history

By Raymond Simms

Jan 29, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots a pair of free throws during the second half in a game against the Golden State Warriors at the Moda Center. The Warriors won 113-111. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 29, 2017; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) shoots a pair of free throws during the second half in a game against the Golden State Warriors at the Moda Center. The Warriors won 113-111. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
11 of 11
Next

1. Clyde Drexler (SG) – No. 14 pick in 1983 NBA Draft

Career stats (with the Blazers,1983-95):  867 GP, 20.8 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 5.7 APG, 2.1 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 47.8 FG%, 30.3 3P%, 78.9 FT% 

Clyde Drexler sits atop the list as the best Blazers draft pick of all-time because of his production, longevity with the team, and the distances in the playoffs that he took the team.

Drexler started his career on the bench behind then-All-Star Jim Paxson. However, he quickly supplanted Paxson and became the bigger star of the two. Paxson left the team in 1988 as the franchise’s leading scorer. After eight and a half seasons, Drexler stood at the top of the list with 18,040 total points.

His best stretch came during the 1987-88 and 1988-89 seasons. Over those two seasons he averaged 27.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 2.6 steals per game on 50.1 percent shooting. Drexler was fifth in MVP voting in 1988.

But Drexler was needed most during the Blazers’ Finals runs in 1990 and 1992. He averaged 21.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 7.1 assists and 2.5 steals per game in the 1990 NBA Playoffs. During the 1992 run, he averaged 26.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.0 blocks per game.

Clyde Drexler made eight All-Star appearances and four All-NBA teams as a Blazer. He was named to the First Team in 1992, Second Team in 1988 and 1991, and Third Team in 1990.

Drexler’s run as a Blazer ended in February 1995. He was traded along with Tracy Murray to the Houston Rockets for Otis Thorpe. Drexler would go on to win the 1995 NBA Finals with the Rockets alongside his college teammate and fellow legend Hakeem Olajuwon.

Drexler has played the most games and minutes as a Blazer. He has also holds the franchise lead in total offensive rebounds and steals in addition to points. He is second all-time in total assists and total rebounds.

More hoops habit: NBA: 50 Greatest Players Of All Time

Clyde Drexler was a high-flying superstar for almost a decade in Portland. He helped lead arguably the best continuous stretch of Blazer basketball. His great play now puts him at the top of multiple statistical categories in franchise history. For this reason, he can be looked at as the best Blazers draft pick of all-time.

Home/NBA Draft