Rip City Project
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Portland Trail Blazers: 15 best draft picks of all-time

By John Buhler

BOSTON - 1970: Bill Walton #32 of the Portland Trailblazers makes a pass against the Boston Celtics during the NBA game at the Boston Garden in Boston, Masachussetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON - 1970: Bill Walton #32 of the Portland Trailblazers makes a pass against the Boston Celtics during the NBA game at the Boston Garden in Boston, Masachussetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Clyde Drexler, Portland Trail Blazers
Clyde Drexler, Portland Trail Blazers /

Who else was it going to be? Clyde “The Glide” Drexler remains the greatest player in franchise history. We’re talking about one of the greatest shooting guards in NBA history and a top-five in-game dunker of all-time. After being a collegiate superstar for Phi Slama Jama with the Houston Cougars, Portland made its best selection to date taking Drexler No. 14 overall in the 1983 NBA Draft.

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Of course, Michael Jordan played the same position, went a draft later and Portland took seven-footer Sam Bowie instead, but that’s beside the point. Drexler is Portland basketball.

By year three in the league, Drexler became a perennial NBA All-Star, making his first eight of 10 total while playing for the Trail Blazers. Drexler was a five-time All-NBA selection, making the All-NBA first team in 1992.

That same season saw Drexler be one of 12 Americans to play for the 1992 Dream Team in the Barcelona Games. Drexler was the star player that saw Portland reach two NBA Finals in a three-year span under Rick Adelman’s watch. Again, it’s too bad that Drexler’s NBA career overlapped with Jordan’s.

Regardless, Drexler is basketball royalty, as he has his No. 22 jersey retired by all three teams he played for: the University of Houston, Portland and his hometown Houston Rockets, who he finally won an NBA Championship with in 1995 alongside college teammate Hakeem Olajuwon.

Next: End-of-Season Awards: Portland Trail Blazers Edition

After retiring in 1998, Drexler he would dabble in coaching at his alma mater. No, that did not go over well. Whatever, he ended up being a first-ballot Basketball Hall of Famer like Bill Walton was in 2003. In 12 seasons with Portland, Drexler averaged 20.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 34.0 minutes per game. Drexler now does the color commentary for Rockets games in his native Houston. The guy is a legend in the Pacific Northwest and in Gulf Coast Texas.