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Blazers History

Blazers History

@blazershistory.bsky.social

230 followers 150 following 260 posts

Chronicling what happened #OTD in #Portland @trailblazers history thru old newspapers, magazines, media guides and more

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Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · Nov 17

Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 2d

October 27, 2018 - #DamianLillard scored 42 points but the @trailblazers.bsky.social dropped the road game at the @miamiheat.bsky.social

It was the 18th time Lillard topped the 40-point mark, topping the team record of 17 held by #ClydeDrexler.

#RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

It was Lillard's second straight 40 plus game, tying Drexler for back-to-back games of 40 or more. Drexler had his back-to-back games in 1989.

#GoranDragic led the #Heat with 28 points with #HassonWhiteside grabbing a game-high 16 rebounds and a game-high 6 blocks.

Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 4d

October 25, 2018 - #DamianLillard scored 15 of his 41 points in the fourth quarter to hold off the #OrlandoMagic and secure a @trailblazers.bsky.social road win.

#RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

It is the 17th time that Lillard has topped the 40-point mark, tying #Blazers great #ClydeDrexler for the most games over the 40 points. #GeoffPetrie, with 13 such games, is the only other Blazers player to have more than 8 games.

Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 7d

Good Morning and Happy Opening Day to all of #RipCity from Blazers History Headquarters

Reposted by Blazers History

Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers.bsky.social · 14d

year 3 for Rayan Rupert

Reposted by Blazers History

Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers.bsky.social · 13d

year 3 for Scoot Henderson

Reposted by Blazers History

Portland Trail Blazers @trailblazers.bsky.social · 8d

year 14 for Damian Lillard

Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 8d

October 21, 2022 - For the 41st time in his career with #Portland, #DamianLillard topped the 40 point mark in leading the @trailblazers.bsky.social past the @sunsphx.bsky.social in OT.

#RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

Lillard, who finished with 41 points, connected on all 12 FTA. It is the 51st time a #Blazers player made 10 or more FTA without a miss, and the 20th time for Lillard.

Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 10d

October 19, 1971 - #BobLanier scored a then career-high 44 points. and grabbing 20 rebounds, as the @thepistons.bsky.social squeaked by the @trailblazers.bsky.social

#RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory

#StanMcKenzie led the #Blazers with 25 points, with #GaryGregor adding 21 points and rookie #SidneyWicks adding 20 more. It is the 18th time three Portland players have topped the 20 point mark in a game.

Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 15d

October 14, 1979 - The @trailblazers.bsky.social defeat the
@nuggets.bsky.social as their sold-out streak reaches 100 games

#TomOwens led the #Blazers with 27 points with #RonBrewer adding 25 points, as well as connecting on the first 3-PT FG in team history

#RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory #OTD

Former Blazers assistant coach Jack McKinney, now coaching the Los Angeles Lakers, visits with Mychal Thompson and Maurice Lucas.

Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 21d

October 8 1976 - The @nuggets.bsky.social #DavidThompson provided some excitement for the 7,718 @trailblazers.bsky.social fans at the #MemorialColiseum when he shattered the glass backboard with a dunk midway thru the fourth quarter.

#RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory #OTD

Thompson, the #ABA #ROY winner last year. suffered minor cuts upon his face and body from the flying glass. While not serious, he did not return to the game. “I’m okay (but) I just had bits of glass inside my uniform and some penetrated the skin." Thompson finished with a team-high 18 points in 22 minutes.

It took 34 minutes for the Memorial Coliseum crew to replace the board before the game could resume.

#BillWalton and #MauriceLucas led the #Blazers with 19 and 18 points respectfully, as well as in rebounds with 12 and 10.

Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 27d

October 3, 1971 - #RickAdelman recorded the only triple-double of his career in the @trailblazers.bsky.social victory vs the #SeattleSuperSonics

#RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory #OTD

Adelman scored 13 points, passed for 11 assists, and recorded a career-best 15 steals in the win. Adelman, who was named the #Blazers team captain during the summer, said afterwards, "I thought I played well, but I didn't shoot worth a darn." Adelman finished 5-for-14 FGA.

Missing in the game, but seated court side is #GeoffPetrie, the reigning @NBA #ROY winner. Petrie had knee surgery recently and is not expected back before mid November.

#Portland rookie forward #SidneyWicks faced off against the #SeattleSuperSonics All-Star forward #SpencerHaywood for the first time, and the two players were nearly even. Wicks scored 21 points to 19 for Haywood, with both players finishing 9-of-17 FGA, and both grabbing 16 rebounds.

Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 28d

October 1, 1972 - The @trailblazers.bsky.social will soon open
their third season with a new coach, #JackMcCloskey, as well as the past two @nba.com #ROY winners in #GeoffPetrie and #SidneyWicks.

#RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory #OTD

Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · 29d

September 30, 1977 - The @trailblazers.bsky.social unfurl the @nba.com Championship banner prior to the preseason game vs the #DenverNuggets.

#RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory #OTD

With a capacity crowd of 12,666, the #Blazers received a 90-second standing ovation that would have lasted longer but the start of the National Anthem quieted the crowd. When the music past, the noise started up as the Western Conference Banner was revealed first before the Title Banner.

As a side note, the red banner that is now hanging in the #RoseGarden honoring the 1977 Title is obviously not the same as revealed on this date. I've been assured that the original banner is owned by a fan who wants to remain anonymous, but I wish it could be revealed occasionally.

Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · Sep 28

September 27, 1978 - The @trailblazers.bsky.social suffered their first exhibition loss vs the @warriorsofficial.bsky.social in Oakland despite 26 points and 8 rebounds by #Blazers center #MychalThompson.

#RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory #OTD

Thompson was one of four rookie front-line players, and six rookies overall, in the #Portland lineup today. Forward #ClayJohnson scored 7 points and led the team with 10 rebounds. #KimAnderson scored 12 points while #ClemonJohnson scored only 2 points. Guards #RonBrewer and #KeithHerron scored 10 points and 9 points respectfully, with Brewer tying for a team high 4 assists.

Two of the other three Blazers seeing playing time were second year players, #TRDunn and #WillieSmith, while #TomOwens was the most experienced player with 7-years under his belt.

Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · Sep 27

September 27, 2023 - The @trailblazers.bsky.social traded #DamianLillard to the @themilwaukeebucks.bsky.social

#RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory #OTD

Lillard, the #Blazers All-time leader in scoring with 19,376 points, had requested to be traded to the #MiamiHEAT on July 1, but instead will join 2-time @NBA #MVP #GiannisAntetokounmpo on a #Bucks team that won 58 games in the 2022/23 season.

The Blazers also traded #KeonJohnson, #NassirLittle and #JusufNurkić to the #PhoenixSuns, who in-turn, traded #DeandreAyton and #ToumaniCamara back to #Portland.

The Blazers also received #JrueHoliday from #Milwaukee, as well as three future picks for the rights to Lillard.

Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · Sep 26

September 26, 1997 - The @trailblazers.bsky.social hired two new assistant coaches and signed FA guard #VincentAskew

#RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory #OTD

#TonyBrown and #JimEyen were hired as assistant coaches to new #Blazers head coach #MikeDunleavy, who was hired in May. Both coaches worked under Dunleavy in #Milwaukee.

Brown, a 7-year veteran #NBA player, is in his first year as an assistant coach. He spent the past three seasons with the #Bucks in the scouting department. Eyen is an 8-year veteran assistant coach and worked with Dunleavy from 1989 to 1992 while with the #LosAngelesLakers and with the #Bucks from 1992 to 1995. He spent last season with the #NewYorkKnicks as a scout.

Askew is an 8-year veteran of the #NBA, spending last season dividing his time between the #NewJerseyNets, the #IndianaPacers, and the
#DenverNuggets. He has averaged 7.4 points in 437 games.

Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · Sep 24

September 24, 1970 - The @trailblazers.bsky.social play their first game ever before an estimated 2,800 fans at Mark Morris HS in Longview, Washington

#RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory #OTD

The #Blazers showed the #SanFranciscoWarriors how coach #RollandTodd plans to play basketball this coming expansion season. At least for 36 minutes they did.

Jumping to 14-point first quarter lead over the established club, the Blazers entered the final quarter with a 97-81 lead, only to lose by a point in the final minutes, 119-118.

#JimBarnett and #StanMcKenzie each scored 23 points to lead the Blazers, with Barnett adding a game high- 8 assists. #LeRoyEllis and #GaryGregor helped with 19 and 17 points respectfully, while Gregor pulled down a game high 21 rebounds.

Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · Sep 24

September 24, 1976 - The @trailblazers.bsky.social opened their 7th training camp at #WillametteUniversity under the watchful eye of new coach #JackRamsay.

#RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory #OTD

Ramsay, who previously coached the #BuffaloBraves, has traditionally opened his training camps with a 1-mile run, demanding that players must finish in under 6 minutes. Any player finishing over that time can attempt another run later in the day or pay a fine of $1 per second over.

#LionelHollins led the squad, finishing at 5:14, with #JeffTyson (5:16), #DanAnderson (5:18), and #JohnnyDavis (5:19) on his heels. #BillWalton neared the finish line just behind Hollins, but instead stopped and waited until 5:59 before crossing the line, avoiding a fine.

Only #SteveJones (6:11) and #LloydNeal (6:36) failed to run under 6 minutes and paid the fine rather than run a second time.

Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · Sep 23

September 22, 1974 - Rookie #BillWalton, along with three others, survived the first cuts in the @trailblazers.bsky.social training camp.

#RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory #OTD

#DanAnderson, formally of #USC, #EldridgeBroussard of #PacificUniversity, and #PhilLumpkin of #MiamiUniversity, all survived while four others were let go. #Blazers head coach #LennyWilkens liked how Anderson and Lumpkin "play the small guard role," adding he likes the energy that Broussard showed during the first three days of camp.

#Portland GM #StuInman denied that the Blazers were looking to sign 11-year veteran center #ZelmoBeatty, who was recently released by the #UtahStars of the #ABA. Wilkens was a teammate of Beatty's when the two played for the #StLouisHawks from 1962-68.

Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · Sep 22

September 22, 1972 - #GeoffPetrie and #SidneyWicks combined for 56 points as the @trailblazers.bsky.social upset the #UtahStars in the Inaugural Pro Basketball Classic in Hawaii.

#RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory #OTD

Petrie, who scored 11 points in the final quarter, finished with 30 points, and connected on 11-of-18 FGA. Wicks hit on one less FGM and finished with 13 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, and 5 steals. #TerryDischinger was the only other #Blazers player to hit double-digits, finishing with 14 points.

The defending Western Division Champion #Stars were led by #WillieWise and #ZelmoBeatty. Wise scored 27 points, connecting on 15-of-16 FTA, and grabbed 7 rebounds. Beaty, a 2-time All-Star in the
@NBA before jumping to the rival league, scored 23 points and grabbed 8 rebounds.

The win moves the #Blazers to a 2-0 record in the round-robin tournament, matching the #ChicagoBulls, who defeated the
#SeattleSuperSonics in the game prior to the Stars and Blazers contest. The Blazers will play the #Bulls on Sept 24 to determine the tournament winner after the #Sonics and #Utah play for third place.

Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · Sep 21

A great time indeed!

The Tortured Florist Department 🍉🍎🌺⛓️⏰ @paintnpdx.bsky.social · Sep 21

Another @thethirdbench.bsky.social draft in the books. Welcomed some new faces and missed seeing some past & honorary members. Shot hoops with a toddler and swapped swag with the coolest group of Blazer fans in all of Rip City. Cant wait to watch games with these people for the fourth year in a row.

Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · Sep 19

September 19, 1980 - When the @trailblazers.bsky.social take the court to face the @Bucks in an exhibition game in Little Rock, Arkansas today, #BillSchonely will be in Portland and not behind the mic.

#RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory #OTD

Schonely, who suffered a heart attack during the summer, is doing well but will be sidelined until the regular season starts on Oct. 10. In his place will be #SteveJones, who was sitting next Schonely during the 1979/80 season as the #Blazers color-analyst.

Jones, who has worked with the Blazers TV with #JimmyJones since the 1976/77 season, is in his fifth year providing analysis since being cut by #Portland just before what would have been his then 10th pro season.

Jones will not be only person with potential first game nerves on the broadcast today. #LarrySteele, who is on the Blazers injured list, will be sitting alongside Jones providing the color commentary for his first time. Jones laughed about the duo, saying, "We'll have two blind men on the job."

Prior to today, Schonely had only missed broadcasting two games in the Blazers first 10 years. He was sidelined when he was hospitalized with a virus in December of 1975.

Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · Sep 18

September 18, 1979 - @nba.com Commissioner #LarryOBrien announced the compensation package to the @trailblazers.bsky.social for the signing of #BillWalton in May by the #SanDiegoClippers.

#RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory #OTD

The #Clippers are to send to the #Blazers forward #KermitWashington, center #KevinKunnert, and All-Star guard #RandySmith, as well as the #Clippers 1980 First Round pick.

O'Brien did give the Clippers 48 hours to make an adjustment if they would like. Should the Clippers like to keep Smith, they would then have to send a 1982 First Round pick and $350K to #Portland.

O'Brien cited the 1975 trade of #KareemAbdulJabbar from the #MilwaukeeBucks to the #LosAngelesLakers, who sent 4 players and $1M to #Milwaukee for a former #NBA #MVP, similar to Walton.

Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · Sep 16

September 16, 2000 - On the eve of the 2000 #Olympics in Sydney, #SteveSmith becomes the second active @trailblazers.bsky.social player to play on the @usabasketball.bsky.social team. #ClydeDrexler was a member of the original #DreamTeam in 1992.

#RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory #OTD

Overall, Smith is the 16th #Blazers player to play in the quadrennial games, dating back to #DarrallImhoff and #TerryDischinger who participated in the 1960 Olympic games in Rome, before joining the Blazers in 1971 and 1972 respectfully.

The other 14 players played on the Olympic teams prior to joining the Blazers, including #ShareefAbdurRahim, who is a teammate of Smith on this team.

Blazers History @blazershistory.bsky.social · Sep 16

September 16, 1977 - 13 months after being traded to the #AtlantaHawks, #GeoffPetrie is planning to retire from the
@nba.com.

Petrie, the @trailblazers.bsky.social all-time leading scorer, was unable to play during the 1976/77 season due to a knee injury.

#RipCity #ThisDateinBlazersHistory #OTD

Petrie informed #Hawks GM #MikeStoren his decision this past week according to the #AtlantaConstitution before being reported today.

"I tried to play basketball heavy in late July," Petrie said, adding, "but I realized I there was no way I could compete in the #NBA anymore." Despite his injury, the Hawks offered a contract to Petrie, but he refused to sign, saying, "I couldn't accept it, it would have been dishonest."