Portland Trail Blazers history is replete with beloved figures. Bill Walton, Geoff Petrie, and Lionel Hollins graced the early days of the franchise. Clyde Drexler and Jerome Kersey ruled the 1990’s. The
basketball gods even gifted Portland franchise superstar Damian Lillard in the present day. All, in their way, are associated with the Trail Blazers DNA, as deeply embedded as fandom itself.
Recently I got an interesting Blazer’s Edge Mailbag question asking about the “other” players, guys who may have stayed only a season or two, who wouldn’t have defined the heart of the franchise, but who still made a significant impact. They probably weren’t drafted by the team. They may be associated with other franchises more strongly. But they still boosted the Blazers enough to be remembered with fondness and respect.
Before I tackle the subject, I want to ask you, our readers, for your thoughts. If you were asked to name the best “non-Blazers” Blazers, who would you nominate?
The archetype I thought of immediately—and fairly recently—was Carmelo Anthony. When ‘Melo goes into the Hall of Fame, he’s not going to be wearing a Portland jersey. Heck, his video reel at the induction might not even contain a Trail Blazers highlight. (If it does, it’ll probably be as a courtesy, for completionist sake.) But Anthony still spent two late-career seasons in Portland reviving his reputation, shooting 40% from the arc, and sharing superstar daps with Lillard. He’s the classic example of a short-term, mercenary player who endeared himself to the fan base and organization beyond just stats and contract value.
What other players like this come to mind for you? Share your candidates in the comments section below and we’ll probably use some of them for the Mailbag answer shortly!
