The Portland Trail Blazers franchise has had its fair share of ups and downs since being founded in 1970. Their most significant accomplishment came in 1977 when they won the NBA championship.
Led by legendary players like Bill Walton and Maurice Lucas, the Blazers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers in six games to win their only title.
They’ve also been unfortunate at times, specifically in terms of injury. Players such as Greg Oden, Brandon Roy, and Walton all had their Blazers careers hindered.
Portland has also had unique personalities to keep things interesting, like Walton and Rasheed Wallace.
While not particularly competitive this season, there was a time not too long ago when the Blazers were atop the Western Conference. That said, here’s a ranking of the top 10 all-time Blazers greats who helped contribute to those special teams that solidified their place in NBA history.
No. 10 – Rasheed Wallace
Wallace had career averages of 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 block on 47 percent field goal/34 percent 3-point/72 percent free-throw shooting shooting splits. However, his time in Portland saw him emerge as one of the best power forwards in the league.
He averaged 17 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block during his time with the Blazers. He was ahead of his time in terms of a power forward that could shoot from beyond the arc; his ability to stretch the floor and protect the paint made him a nightmare for opposing teams.
Wallace’s personality wasn’t for everyone. He was a player you loved if he was on your team and likely despised if he wasn’t. He’s top five all-time in technical fouls with 317. He holds the record for most technical fouls (41) and most ejections (29) in a season.
While Wallace’s personality may have rubbed some people the wrong way, there is no denying his impact on the Blazers.
He helped lead the team to four straight playoff appearances from 1999 to 2002, including a Western Conference Finals appearance in 2000. Wallace went on to win an NBA championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004, but his time in Portland remains one of the highlights of his career.