No. 5 – Terry Porter
Terry Porter had an incredible 17-year career, evidenced by the Blazers retiring his number 30.
Porter was selected 24th overall by Portland out of the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The Blazers tend to strike gold with guards out of small schools, and Porter was no exception.
Porter went on to play 10 of his 17 seasons with the Blazers, making the All-Star team twice (1991 and 1993). For his career, Porter averaged 12 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, and 1 steal on 46/39/84 shooting splits.
However, because he played so many seasons, Porter’s career averages are skewed and not an accurate portrayal of his prime seasons.
For context, in his first all-star season, Porter averaged 17 points, 8 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals. He was highly efficient as well, with 52/42/82 shooting splits. As a scorer, Porter’s numbers don’t jump off the page, but he did all the little things exceptionally well.
With that kind of scoring efficiency, playmaking ability, and steal frequency, Porter was one of those players that contributed to winning when he was on the court. His ability to impact the game in multiple aspects and the longevity of his career gives him the spot at No. 5 on this list.