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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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9. Jerome Kersey (SF) – No. 46 pick in 1984 NBA Draft

Career stats (with the Blazers, 1984-95):  831 GP, 12.1 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 47.6 FG%, 19.8 3P%, 69.9 FT% 

Jerome Kersey was a hidden gem in the second round of the 1984 NBA Draft. The small forward out of Longwood started his career as a reserve, playing 156 games and averaging 13.9 minutes per game in his first two seasons. He only started two games in that span, both during the 1985-86 season.

However, Kersey’s role began to grow in his third season. After the removal of legendary coach Dr. Jack Ramsay during the 1986 offseason, new coach Mike Schuler increased his minutes. Kersey played all 82 games and averaged 25.5 minutes per game. This time allowed him to crack a double-digit scoring average for the first time in his career, as he had 12.3 points per game in 1986-87.

By this point Kersey proved he could be an NBA starter. 1987-88 marked a five-year stretch of him averaging over 30 minutes per game. Even as the coaching reins went from Schuler to Rick Adelman, Kersey was a key member of the core that helped the Blazers become a championship contender at the beginning of the NBA’s Expansion Era.

From 1987-92, Kersey averaged 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.6 steals in 34.5 minutes per game. He delivered even more in the postseason over the same span, averaging 18.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game.

Kersey’s best playoff run was 1990. He averaged playoff career highs in points (20.7) and rebounds per game (8.3). He also averaged 2.1 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.0 block during that stretch. Those numbers helped the Blazers capture their first conference title since 1977, but they fell in the final round to the Detroit Pistons, 4-1.

Jerome Kersey fell back into a reserve role following the 1991-92 season. Eventually he was taken by the Toronto Raptors in the 1995 expansion draft. However, he was released before their inaugural season and instead picked up by the Golden State Warriors.

Kersey would proceed to play for four more teams over the next five seasons. He won a ring in 1999 as a member of the San Antonio Spurs. Kersey retired in 2001 and died in 2015 due to a pulmonary embolism.

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