A real attempt at making the All-Time Portland Trail Blazers team
By Minh Dao
Shooting Guard: Clyde Drexler
Portland Tenure
- 1983-1995
- 21-6-6-2stl on 48-30-79
Peak PDX Season
1992: 57-25, first in the West, NBA Finals, 25-7-7-2stl on 47-34-79
Accolades (during tenure)
- 8× NBA All-Star (1986, 1988–1994)
- All-NBA first team (1992)
- 2× All-NBA second team (1988, 1991)
- 2× All-NBA third team (1990, 1995)
- No. 22 retired by Portland Trail Blazers
Arguably the greatest Blazer ever. 12 seasons. Two NBA finals and the team did not miss the playoffs once under his reign.
Clyde “the Glide” Drexler was underrated.
Between 1989 and 1992, he was a top-10 player, including his monstrous 1992 season. The stretch included the aforementioned two NBA Finals, and an additional conference final appearance while being the most complete form of himself.
He was in the thick of his prime and the team had the success to show for it: third in the West in ’90, best league record in ’91 and the best in the West in ’92.
Those teams in that 1989-92 period were deep, and Clyde was the No. 1 option.
He was the NBA equivalent of “The Flash”; he had lightning quick speed and would dunk on you if you were in his path.
There is a reason why he was on the 1992 Dream Team. He was an elite scorer, and fits this team as the perfect No. 2 option.
Those successful Blazer teams were led by Drexler, and although he can’t quite go head-to-head with prime Jordan and Kareem, that’s why Walton is there.
Imagine Walton getting the rebound and kicking it ahead to Drexler and Kersey running the break. Or Walton working the high-post throwing it to Drexler on those intricate cuts.
Poetry in motion.