The Portland Trail Blazers’ all-time starting 5
By Erris Brown
Small Forward: Clyde Drexler
Career stats: 20.4 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 5.6 APG, 47.2 FG%, 35.3 3P%
When we talk about a Blazers all-time starting lineup, we couldn’t possibly do so without mentioning the greatest Blazer to do it. A 10-time All-Star, a former All-NBA First, Second and Third Team selection, and once of the league’s most dynamic talents on both ends of the court, Clyde Drexler is the quite literally the definition of a Trail Blazer.
In the 1983 NBA Draft, Drexler was drafted 14th overall by Portland in an absolute steal out of the University of Houston.
In his rookie year, Drexler averaged a mere 7.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 17.2 minutes per game. His sophomore season, however, he would see an increase in playing time and production, ultimately commencing Drexler entering the prime of his career. He averaged 17.2 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists a night that season.
Drexler’s efforts and increased production led him to become one of the league’s elites at a time in which the Michael Jordans, Larry Birds and Kareem Abdul-Jabbars of the league were running wild. In addition to this, he would lead the Blazers to the postseason every year for the first 11 seasons of his career before ultimately departing for Houston. He reached the Finals twice in Portland before finally winning a championship with the Rockets in 1995.
In his prime, Drexler averaged 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game in 1988-89, all of which were career highs. Drexler was a memorable icon for the red, black and white, and would also become a member of the legendary 1992 Dream Team that won gold in the Olympics.
Although not a champion in Portland, Drexler’s commitment to the franchise could not be denied as he played his heart out through stellar performances for over a decade with the franchise. Ultimately, his No. 22 would be retired by the team in 2001. A dynamic scorer, a hawking defender, and a true Trail Blazers legend is more than deserving of a spot on the all-time starting five.