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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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Geoff Petrie, Portland Trail Blazers
Geoff Petrie, player for the Portland Trail Blazers basketball team. /

The Trail Blazers were a brand new expansion franchise in 1970. They had the No. 8 overall pick in the 1970 NBA Draft. While future Basketball Hall of Famers like Bob Lanier, Pete Maravich and Dave Cowens were already off the board, Portland made a great selection in taking shooting guard Geoff Petrie out of Princeton.

While his NBA career lasted only six seasons due to a career-ending knee injury, Petrie was an electric scorer for the Trail Blazers in the early to mid-1970s. As a rookie in 1970-71, Petrie made his first All-Star Game appearance, making the All-Rookie first team and winning NBA Rookie of the Year. That season saw Petrie average 24.8 points, 4.8 assists and 3.4 rebounds per game in 37.0 minutes per contest.

Petrie would go on to appear in no fewer than 60 games per season, averaging no worse than 18.3 points per game in his final five seasons with the Trail Blazers. He would make his second of two NBA All-Star Games in 1974 when Petrie averaged 24.3 points, 4.3 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game in 38.4 minutes per contest. Too bad he never got to play for a playoff team while with the Trail Blazers. He would have to retire medically before the famous 1976-77 championship season. Petrie was only 28.

Truth be told, Petrie would have a second life in the NBA as an executive. He would work in the Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings’ front offices from 1985 to 1994 and 1994 to 2013, respectively. Petrie won NBA Executive of the Year twice with the Kings in 1999 and 2001. In six seasons with the Trail Blazers, Petrie averaged 21.8 points, 4.6 assists and 2.4 rebounds per game in 37.6 minutes per contest. Though he’s not Springfield material as a player, Petrie would have his No. 45 jersey retired by the Trail Blazers.