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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 /
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10. Bob Gross (SF) – No. 25 pick in 1975 NBA Draft

Career stats (with the Blazers, 1975-82):  486 GP, 9.2 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 3.0 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 51.4 FG%, 16.0 3P%, 80.2 FT% 

Bob Gross isn’t a household name to the casual NBA fan. However, his play during the 1976-77 season played a major part in helping the Portland Trail Blazers win their first and only championship.

The small forward out of Long Beach State showed his versatility in all 82 games in 1976-77. He averaged 11.4 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.7 blocks in 27.2 minutes per game. Gross shot 52.9 percent from the field, good for sixth-best in the NBA.

Bob Gross would then put on a strong showing in the playoffs. He played in all 19 games of the Blazers’ championship run, averaging 30 minutes per game. He posted two double-doubles in the postseason and four 20-point games.

Gross was particularly hot in the Finals against the Philadelphia 76ers. He averaged 17.3 points per game in the final round, shooting a scorching 66.7 percent from the field. He finished the six-game series with 25- and 24-point performances.

Gross was on his way to repeating that success in 1977-78. He played the first 72 games of the season and held career-high averages in points (12.7), rebounds (5.6), assists (3.5), and steals per game (1.4). Sadly, he went down in late March 1978 with a severe stress fracture in his left ankle and missed the rest of the season.

Gross’s career wasn’t the same after that. He would miss 72 games over his last four seasons with the Blazers, though he did play all 82 in 1980-81. His averages were trending up before his injury, but after that, he would never average double-digit points in a season for the rest of his career.

Gross became a free agent after 1982 and chose to sign with the San Diego Clippers midway through the 1982-83 season. He finished out the season playing all 27 of their games and retired at the end of the season.

Bob Gross’s utility to the Blazers was short-lived. However, this second-round pick delivered for the team at the right time. As a result, he played a role in bringing Portland its first major sports championship.

The Blazers retired his number 30 in 2008.

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