History of the Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers joined the NBA as an expansion franchise in 1970 and quickly became one of the league's most beloved organizations. The franchise captured its first and only NBA Championship in 1977, just seven years after entering the league, behind Hall of Famer Bill Walton. Throughout their history, the Trail Blazers have consistently fielded competitive teams led by stars such as Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, Damian Lillard, and LaMarcus Aldridge. Known for one of the NBA's most loyal fan bases and one of the longest home sellout streaks in professional sports, Portland remains one of the league's most respected franchises.

NBA Comes to Portland

The NBA awarded Portland an expansion franchise in 1970, bringing major professional basketball to Oregon for the first time.

The team's nickname, "Trail Blazers," was selected through a fan contest to honor the pioneers who helped settle the Pacific Northwest.

The Blazers played their home games at Memorial Coliseum during their early years and quickly developed a passionate following despite early struggles.

Portland finished 29–53 during its inaugural season but began laying the foundation for future success through the NBA Draft.

Bill Walton Changes Everything

The franchise's fortunes changed dramatically when Portland selected Bill Walton with the first overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft.

Although injuries limited Walton during his first two seasons, the arrival of head coach Jack Ramsay helped transform the team into a championship contender.

Walton was surrounded by a talented supporting cast that included:

• Maurice Lucas
• Lionel Hollins
• Bob Gross
• Dave Twardzik

The 1977 NBA Championship

The 1976–77 Trail Blazers produced one of the greatest seasons in franchise history.

Portland defeated the Chicago Bulls, Denver Nuggets, and Los Angeles Lakers to reach its first NBA Finals.

Facing Julius Erving and the heavily favored Philadelphia 76ers, the Trail Blazers lost the first two games before winning four consecutive contests to capture the 1977 NBA Championship.

Bill Walton was named NBA Finals MVP, while Jack Ramsay's disciplined, team-oriented style became one of the defining stories of the season.

Walton's Injuries

The following season appeared even more promising.

Portland raced to the NBA's best record before Bill Walton suffered a devastating foot injury that ended his season.

Without Walton, the Trail Blazers were eliminated in the playoffs.

Contract disputes and lingering injuries eventually led Walton to leave Portland, ending one of the franchise's greatest eras far too soon.

The Clyde Drexler Era

The Trail Blazers returned to prominence during the late 1980s behind Hall of Fame guard Clyde Drexler.

General Manager Stu Inman assembled one of the deepest rosters in the NBA featuring:

• Clyde Drexler
• Terry Porter
• Jerome Kersey
• Kevin Duckworth
• Buck Williams
• Cliff Robinson

Under head coach Rick Adelman, Portland became one of the NBA's elite teams.

Back to the NBA Finals

The Trail Blazers reached the 1990 NBA Finals, defeating the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, and Phoenix Suns before losing to the Detroit Pistons.

Portland returned to the Finals in 1992 after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns, and Utah Jazz.

The Blazers faced Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls but lost the series in six games.

Despite failing to win another championship, Drexler established himself as one of the greatest players in franchise history.

The Jail Blazers Era

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Portland remained one of the Western Conference's strongest teams but developed a reputation for off-court controversies that earned the nickname "Jail Blazers."

The roster featured talented players including:

• Rasheed Wallace
• Scottie Pippen
• Steve Smith
• Damon Stoudamire
• Bonzi Wells

The 1999–2000 team came within one quarter of reaching the NBA Finals before surrendering a 15-point fourth-quarter lead in Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Brandon Roy Era

The franchise successfully rebuilt around Brandon Roy, selected sixth overall in the 2006 NBA Draft.

Roy won the 2007 NBA Rookie of the Year Award and quickly became one of the NBA's brightest young stars.

Alongside LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland returned to playoff contention.

Unfortunately, chronic knee injuries forced Roy into an early retirement, ending what many believed would have been a Hall of Fame career.

The Damian Lillard Era

The Trail Blazers found another franchise cornerstone when they selected Damian Lillard with the sixth overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft.

Lillard won the 2013 NBA Rookie of the Year Award and quickly became one of the league's premier guards.

Partnering with LaMarcus Aldridge and later CJ McCollum, Lillard led Portland to numerous playoff appearances.

Among his most memorable moments were his series-winning buzzer beaters against the Houston Rockets in 2014 and the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2019.

The Trail Blazers reached the 2019 Western Conference Finals, their deepest playoff run since 2000.

A New Beginning

Following Lillard's departure in 2023, Portland entered another rebuilding phase centered around young talent.

The franchise now looks toward the future with promising players including:

• Scoot Henderson
• Shaedon Sharpe
• Donovan Clingan

The organization hopes its next generation of stars can eventually return the Trail Blazers to championship contention.

Home Arenas

Franchise Timeline

Franchise Greats

• Bill Walton
• Clyde Drexler
• Damian Lillard
• Terry Porter
• LaMarcus Aldridge
• Maurice Lucas
• Lionel Hollins
• Jerome Kersey
• Cliff Robinson
• Kevin Duckworth
• Buck Williams
• Brandon Roy
• CJ McCollum
• Rasheed Wallace
• Scottie Pippen

Notable Coaches

• Jack Ramsay
• Rick Adelman
• Mike Dunleavy
• Terry Stotts
• Chauncey Billups

Awards and Achievements

• 1977 NBA Champions
• 3 NBA Finals appearances (1977, 1990, 1992)
• Bill Walton – 1978 NBA MVP and 1977 NBA Finals MVP.
• Brandon Roy – 2007 NBA Rookie of the Year.
• Damian Lillard – 2013 NBA Rookie of the Year.
• Multiple Pacific and Northwest Division championships.

Legacy

The Portland Trail Blazers have enjoyed sustained success throughout their history, highlighted by the unforgettable 1977 championship team, Clyde Drexler's Finals squads, and Damian Lillard's era of unforgettable playoff performances. Few franchises have maintained such consistent fan support, with Portland's passionate followers creating one of the NBA's best home-court advantages for more than five decades.

As the franchise develops another talented young core, the Trail Blazers continue pursuing a second NBA championship while honoring a proud tradition built on teamwork, resilience, and exciting basketball.