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Portland Trail Blazers: The greatest Opening Day performances in franchise history (Pt. 2)

By Marlow Ferguson Jr.

PORTLAND, OR - SEPTEMBER 25: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates after hitting a three point shot late in the fourth quarter of an NBA game against the Utah Jazzat the Moda Center on September 25, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. Lillard scored 39 points as the Blazers won 113-104. 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 Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - SEPTEMBER 25: Damian Lillard #0 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates after hitting a three point shot late in the fourth quarter of an NBA game against the Utah Jazzat the Moda Center on September 25, 2016 in Portland, Oregon. Lillard scored 39 points as the Blazers won 113-104. 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 Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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Portland Trail Blazers
Kiki Vandeweghe, Portland Trail Blazers. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Kiki Vandeweghe

Date: October 27th, 1984 vs. Kansas City Kings
Statistics: 47 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assists | 19-of-23 FG | 9-of-9 FT

To paint a picture on just how historic Kiki Vandeweghe’s Opening Night performance in 1984 was, consider this statistic. For 25 years, it stood as the highest-scoring individual game for a player with a new team before Kyrie Irving stole the show with a 50-point masterpiece in Brooklyn.

Over the two seasons before joining the Trail Blazers, Vandeweghe averaged 28.0 points and 5.1 assists on 55.3 percent shooting from the field, and 26 3-point makes (an elite mark for his time).

That summer, the Blazers offered the motherlode for Vandeweghe’s services, including gritty, 20-point scorer Calvin Natt, talented stat-stuffer Fat Lever, vagabond Wayne Cooper, and Draft capital.

In exchange, Portland received what Jack Ramsey believed to be “the best of the small forwards,” a player on the same level as Bernard King.

Vandeweghe wasted little time showing off his efficient array, above-the-rim baskets, a deceptively-quick first step to the basket, the 16-footer on occasion, and perhaps most redeeming, a patient shot selection.

It isn’t quite as impressive on tape. Defensive philosophies in 1984 simply aren’t what they would become some years later, and Vandeweghe found little resistance, especially against a languid, 31-win Kansas City Kings team.

It’s difficult to ever not have a 47-point, 19-of-23 shooting performance not claim the No. 1 spot. But skill-wise, there is one that may have been a bit better.