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6 Portland Trail Blazers represented on B/R’s top 50 players of all-time list

By Austin Carroll

PORTLAND - 1993: Clyde Drexler #22 of the Portland Trail Blazers gets set to drives against the Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls circa 1993 during the NBA game at Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon. 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. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright NBAE 1993 (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/ NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND - 1993: Clyde Drexler #22 of the Portland Trail Blazers gets set to drives against the Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls circa 1993 during the NBA game at Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon. 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. Mandatory copyright notice: Copyright NBAE 1993 (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/ NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Bleacher Report recently took a shot at ranking the 50 best players in NBA history. Find out where your favorite Portland Trail Blazers ended up.

Bleacher Report’s Andy Bailey underwent the bold task of ranking the top 50 players in NBA history, and inevitably offending each and every single franchise along the way. The Portland Trail Blazers however, were relatively fairly assessed, with three players cracking the list and another three deserving mention of being in the debate.

Here’s how the Trail Blazers were represented on their top 50 players of all-time list.

It’s no surprise that Clyde the Glide places high on this list. Ten All-Star appearances, five All-NBA nominations and a championship ring are the kind of resume that gets you into the Hall of Fame, and lists like these. To this day, Drexler holds almost every meaningful record in franchise history, including total points scored, steals, offensive rebounds and games played.

If he played in a different era — one where he wouldn’t be eclipsed by the greatest basketball player to ever walk the Earth — perhaps he could have ended up higher on this list, or won more championships. But even though things may have not panned out the way we would have liked them to for Clyde’s time in Portland, most fans can still look back and appreciate his immense contributions to the franchise.

Not far behind Drexler on this list, you can find the Red Baron Bill Walton. However short-lived his prime was due to injuries, Walton was a force so unstoppable at his peak, it would be a crime to not include him in this last. Basketball has never seen another player of his size that could score, defend, and pass all at incredibly high levels.

If Walton stays healthy, there’s no telling how many championships he might have won with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Pau Gasol is the last player to suit up for the Blazers and crack the top 50 here. And trust me, we know. Pau isn’t really a Blazer. When it’s all said and done, he’ll probably have his gold and yellow jersey hung from the rafters at the Staples Center. But what matters now is that Gasol is here and willing to play his heart out for Portland.

So whether or not he’s eyeing the possibility of hanging it all up after this season, Rip City will be proud to claim such a talented player and more important, great person, as one of our own.

Three Blazers also made the rather lengthy honorable mentions list here, including Damian Lillard, LaMarcus Aldridge and Arvydas Sabonis. While it was nice to get a little nod for these franchise legends, this list ended up leaving us with a little salt in our mouths.

Russell Westbrook ranked as No. 35 best player of all-time on this list. You’re telling me that Dame doesn’t even crack the top 50, but Westbrook is one of the best ever? Even better than Walton? Now, I understand the significance and cultural impact of Westbrook’s statistical prowess, but it seems ridiculous placing Russ ahead of Lillard in any ranking of skill or talent.

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By the time it’s all said and done and Dame decides to hang it up, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he surpasses both Westbrook and Drexler on this list, as he blazes his own path towards becoming the best player in franchise history.