The Portland Trail Blazers are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. The Trail Blazers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league’s Western Conference Northwest Division. The team was founded in 1970 and has played its home games at Moda Center since 1995.
The Trail Blazers have won one NBA championship, in 1977. They have also made the NBA playoffs 32 times, including the last two seasons. The team’s most prominent players include Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, Jusuf Nurkic, Anfernee Simons, and Jerami Grant.
- Team Name: Portland Trail Blazers
- Short Name: Blazers
- Team Owner(s): Paul G. Allen Trust (Jody Allen, chairwoman)
- Prominent Players: Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, Jusuf Nurkic, Anfernee Simons, Jerami Grant
The Trail Blazers are a popular team in the Pacific Northwest, and they have a passionate fan base. The team’s colors are red, black, and white, and their mascot is Blaze the Trail Cat.
History about Portland Trail Basketball Team
- The Trail Blazers were founded in 1970 as an expansion team. They were the third NBA team to be located in the Pacific Northwest, after the Seattle SuperSonics and the Seattle PNE All-Stars.
- The Trail Blazers’ first head coach was Rolland Todd. The team’s first two seasons were not very successful, as they finished with losing records both years.
- In 1972, the Trail Blazers drafted Geoff Petrie with the first overall pick in the NBA draft. Petrie was a star player for the Trail Blazers, and he helped the team to its first playoff appearance in 1974.
- In 1977, the Trail Blazers won their only NBA championship. The team was led by Bill Walton, who was named the NBA Finals MVP.
- The Trail Blazers made the NBA Finals again in 1990 and 1992, but they lost both times.
- The Trail Blazers have had a number of other notable players over the years, including Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, Rasheed Wallace, and Damian Lillard.
- The Trail Blazers have played their home games at Moda Center since 1995. The arena is located in downtown Portland, and it is one of the most popular arenas in the NBA.
Here are some of the Trail Blazers’ most notable moments in history:
- 1970: The Trail Blazers are founded.
- 1977: The Trail Blazers win their only NBA championship.
- 1990: The Trail Blazers make their second NBA Finals appearance.
- 1992: The Trail Blazers make their third NBA Finals appearance.
- 2000: The Trail Blazers draft Damian Lillard with the sixth overall pick in the NBA draft.
- 2013: Lillard is named the NBA Rookie of the Year.
- 2019: The Trail Blazers make their first Western Conference Finals appearance since 1992.
The Trail Blazers are a proud franchise with a rich history. They have won one NBA championship, and they have made the NBA Finals three times. The team has a passionate fan base, and they are always contenders to make the playoffs.
Coaching Staff Information about Portland Trail Basketball Team
Head Coach:
- Chauncey Billups
Billups is a former NBA player who won a championship with the Detroit Pistons in 2004. He has also been an assistant coach with the Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets. Billups’ coaching philosophy is based on ball movement and defense. He wants his teams to play fast and share the ball, and he believes that defense is the foundation of any good team.
Assistant Coach:
- Scott Brooks
Brooks is a former NBA head coach who has led the Oklahoma City Thunder, Washington Wizards, and Detroit Pistons. He has also been an assistant coach with the Seattle SuperSonics and the San Antonio Spurs. Brooks’ coaching philosophy is based on pace and spacing. He wants his teams to play fast and spread the floor, and he believes that this is the best way to create scoring opportunities.
- Roy Rogers
Rogers is a former NBA player who played for the Portland Trail Blazers, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Sacramento Kings. He has also been an assistant coach with the Trail Blazers, the Kings, and the New Orleans Pelicans. Rogers’ coaching philosophy is based on toughness and defense. He wants his teams to be physical and play hard on defense, and he believes that this is the best way to win games.
- Steve Hetzel
Hetzel is a former NBA assistant coach who has worked for the Charlotte Hornets, the Orlando Magic, and the Canton Charge of the NBA G League. Hetzel’s coaching philosophy is based on player development. He wants to help his players improve their skills and become better players, and he believes that this is the best way to build a successful team.
- Jonah Herscu
Herscu is a former NBA advance scout who has worked for the Sacramento Kings and the Los Angeles Lakers. Herscu’s coaching philosophy is based on analytics. He wants to use data and analytics to help his team make better decisions, and he believes that this is the best way to compete in the modern NBA.
The Trail Blazers’ coaching staff is a diverse group of experienced coaches with different backgrounds and philosophies. However, they all share a common goal: to help the Trail Blazers win games.
Portland Trail Basketball Team information about players
| Name | Jersey | Position | Height | Weight | High School | 2K23 Rating |
| Damian Lillard | 0 | Point Guard | 6’3″ | 195 lbs | St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia) | 96 |
| CJ McCollum | 3 | Shooting Guard | 6’3″ | 205 lbs | Lehigh | 89 |
| Jusuf Nurkic | 27 | Center | 7’0″ | 280 lbs | KK Cedevita (Croatia) | 87 |
| Anfernee Simons | 11 | Shooting Guard | 6’3″ | 190 lbs | IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) | 83 |
| Jerami Grant | 12 | Small Forward | 6’8″ | 215 lbs | Syracuse | 81 |
| Josh Hart | 30 | Small Forward | 6’5″ | 215 lbs | St. Joseph’s (Philadelphia) | 80 |
| Nassir Little | 2 | Small Forward | 6’6″ | 220 lbs | UCLA | 79 |
| Trendon Watford | 24 | Power Forward | 6’9″ | 240 lbs | LSU | 78 |
| Cody Zeller | 40 | Center | 7’0″ | 240 lbs | Indiana | 77 |
Portland Trail Basketball Team’s last 10 years of records
| Season | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|
| 2012-13 | 54 | 28 |
| 2013-14 | 51 | 31 |
| 2014-15 | 44 | 38 |
| 2015-16 | 41 | 41 |
| 2016-17 | 33 | 49 |
| 2017-18 | 39 | 43 |
| 2018-19 | 53 | 29 |
| 2019-20 | 35 | 39 |
| 2020-21 | 42 | 40 |
As you can see, the Trail Blazers have had a mixed bag of results over the past 10 years. They have made the playoffs four times, but they have not been able to advance past the first round since 2019.
Season Preview: Portland Trail Basketball Team
The Trail Blazers are hoping to turn things around this season, and they have made some big moves to improve their roster. They have added Jerami Grant, Josh Hart, and Cody Zeller, and they are hoping that these additions will help them to get back to the playoffs.
It will be interesting to see how the Trail Blazers perform this season. They have a lot of talent, but they will need to stay healthy and play together if they want to make a deep run in the playoffs.
The Portland Trail Blazers are looking to build on their recent success and make a deep run in the playoffs this season. The team has made some major changes to the roster, adding Jerami Grant, Josh Hart, and Cody Zeller. These additions should help to improve the team’s defense and rebounding, which were two areas of weakness last season.
Major Changes to the Roster:
The Trail Blazers still have a lot of talent on their roster, including Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, and Jusuf Nurkic. If these players can stay healthy and play together, the Trail Blazers should be a contender in the Western Conference.
Strengths:
- Damian Lillard is one of the best point guards in the NBA.
- CJ McCollum is a dynamic scorer and playmaker.
- Jusuf Nurkic is a dominant rebounder and rim protector.
- The Trail Blazers have a lot of young talent, including Anfernee Simons and Nassir Little.
Weaknesses:
- The Trail Blazers’ defense was inconsistent last season.
- The team lacks a true center.
- The Trail Blazers will need to stay healthy if they want to make a deep run in the playoffs.
Potential Challenges:
- The Western Conference is very competitive.
- The Trail Blazers will need to find a way to get over the hump and advance past the first round of the playoffs.
- The team will need to stay healthy, especially Damian Lillard.
Overall, the Trail Blazers are a team with a lot of potential. If they can stay healthy and play together, they should be a contender in the Western Conference.
Upcoming games:
| Date | Opponent | Time | TV |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 21 | vs. Houston Rockets | 7:00 PM | ESPN |
| October 23 | @ Golden State Warriors | 5:30 PM | TNT |
| October 25 | vs. New Orleans Pelicans | 7:00 PM | NBA TV |
| October 27 | @ Sacramento Kings | 10:00 PM | NBCSNW |
| October 29 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | 7:00 PM | ESPN |
| October 31 | @ Denver Nuggets | 9:00 PM | TNT |
| November 2 | vs. Utah Jazz | 7:00 PM | NBA TV |
| November 4 | @ Oklahoma City Thunder | 7:00 PM | ESPN |
| November 6 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | 7:00 PM | TNT |
FAQs about the Portland Trail Basketball team
1. What is the Trail Blazers’ home arena?
The Trail Blazers’ home arena is Moda Center, formerly known as the Rose Garden. The arena is located in downtown Portland, Oregon.
2. What are the Trail Blazers’ colors?
The Trail Blazers’ colors are red, black, and white.
3. What is the Trail Blazers’ mascot?
The Trail Blazers’ mascot is Blaze the Trail Cat. Blaze is a friendly cat who loves to cheer on the Trail Blazers.
4. What are the Trail Blazers’ most notable rivalries?
The Trail Blazers have a number of notable rivalries, including:
- The Los Angeles Lakers
- The Sacramento Kings
- The Seattle SuperSonics (now the Oklahoma City Thunder)
- The Denver Nuggets
5. What is the Trail Blazers’ best season in franchise history?
The Trail Blazers’ best season in franchise history was the 1976-77 season. The team won the NBA championship, defeating the Philadelphia 76ers in six games.
