60 Fun Facts About Portland Trail Blazers

What name did the Trail Blazers' arena, the Rose Garden until 2013, take that year?

The name change, part of a $4 million deal with Moda Health, was widely criticised by fans.

In which year did the Trail Blazers enter the NBA as an expansion team?

They came in alongside the Cleveland Cavaliers and Buffalo Braves.

How many consecutive home games did the Blazers sell out between 1977 and 1995?

The streak was the longest in American major pro sports at the time and ended only when the team moved to a bigger building.

In which year did the Trail Blazers win their only NBA championship?

They beat the heavily favoured Philadelphia 76ers in the Finals in their first-ever playoff appearance.

Which sports promoter founded the Trail Blazers after first proposing an NBA team for Portland in 1955?

He raised the $3.7 million entry fee with the help of three real-estate magnates.

Which name topped Portland's 1970 name-the-team contest but was excluded because a local college used it?

'Trail Blazers' received only 172 of the more than 10,000 entries but was chosen by the judging panel.

Which UCLA big man did the Blazers take first overall in 1974 and who won Finals MVP three years later?

He won regular-season MVP in 1978, then held out the whole 1978–79 season over his medical treatment and left as a free agent.

Which power forward, picked up in the 1976 ABA dispersal draft, was a key part of the 1977 title team?

Portland took him after the ABA's leftover teams were dissolved; he left in 1980.

Who coached the Trail Blazers to the 1977 championship?

'Dr. Jack' had a number retired in his honour even though he never played for the team; the number 77 marks the title.

What was the Blazers' record when Bill Walton's foot injury struck in 1977–78, ending talk of a dynasty?

They stumbled to 8–14 the rest of the way and lost to Seattle in the conference semifinals.

Which guard-forward, drafted 14th in 1983, became 'the face of the franchise for over a decade'?

'Clyde the Glide' was traded to Houston in 1995 at his own request and won a title there that spring.

Which Kentucky big man did the Blazers pick second overall in 1984, one spot ahead of Michael Jordan?

He broke his leg five games into 1986–87 and missed the next two and a half seasons.

Which guard, the last first-round pick in 1985, left the Blazers as their assists leader?

He left in 1995 as the franchise's assists leader and later served as a sideline reporter for the team's TV broadcasts.

Which two players from behind the Iron Curtain did the Blazers draft in 1986?

Petrović arrived in 1989; Sabonis did not debut in Portland until 1995, at age 31.

For how much did Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen buy the Blazers in 1988?

At 35 he became the youngest owner in the four major sports; his estate sold the team for about $4.2 billion in 2025.

Which two teams beat the Blazers in the 1990 and 1992 NBA Finals?

Between the two trips, the 63–19 Blazers of 1991 lost the West finals to the Lakers.

Which two songs did the Blazers record before their 1990 Finals run?

'Rip City' is the nickname broadcaster Bill Schonely coined in the team's first season.

What was the Blazers' league-best record in 1990–91, the season between their two Finals trips?

It ended with Cliff Robinson dropping a pass under the basket and Terry Porter missing a wide-open 20-footer in Game 6 against the Lakers.

Which executive, nicknamed 'Trader Bob', became Blazers president in 1994 and built the 'Jail Blazers' rosters?

Doug Collins called him a 'rotisserie-league manager'; he left in 2003 to focus on the Seahawks.

Which team beat the Blazers in Game 7 of the 2000 West finals after Portland blew a 15-point lead?

The Lakers went on a 25–4 run and won 89–84 on the way to the title.

Which six-time champion did the Blazers acquire from Houston in 1999?

He helped them to consecutive West finals in 1999 and 2000.

How many technical fouls did Rasheed Wallace record in 2000–01, still the NBA single-season record?

Since 2006 players face suspensions from their 16th technical, so nobody can approach the mark.

Which nickname did the media attach to Portland's troubled teams of the early 2000s?

Marijuana citations, a locker-room fight and Bonzi Wells's remarks about fans all fed the label.

Which teammate did Ruben Patterson slam to the floor in 2003's 'The Slam Heard Around The World'?

Randolph later fractured Patterson's eye socket with a sucker punch in practice.

The Blazers' streak of consecutive playoff appearances that ended in 2004 lasted how many seasons?

It is tied for the second-longest streak in NBA history.

Which Ohio State big man did the Blazers take first overall in 2007, one pick ahead of Kevin Durant?

Microfracture surgery wiped out his rookie season, inviting comparisons to the Bowie-over-Jordan pick.

Which Blazers guard, acquired on 2006 draft night, won Rookie of the Year before knees forced his 2011 retirement?

Portland got him and LaMarcus Aldridge in a draft day that involved six trades.

Which executive became the NBA's first Asian-American general manager, with the Blazers in 2010?

He was fired less than a year later over 'chemistry issues' with Paul Allen.

Which Weber State guard did the Blazers select sixth overall in 2012?

He was a unanimous Rookie of the Year, joining Ralph Sampson, David Robinson and Blake Griffin.

Portland's series-ending buzzer-beater in Game 6 of the 2014 first round beat which team?

With 0.9 seconds left he hit a three to send Portland to the second round for the first time since 2000.

Which Lehigh guard did the Blazers draft 10th overall in 2013 to form a new backcourt?

He won Most Improved Player in 2016 and was traded to New Orleans in 2022.

How far out was the Blazers' star's series-winning buzzer-beater against OKC in 2019?

He waved goodbye to the Thunder bench; Portland went on to its first conference finals since 2000.

In 2019 the Blazers beat Denver 140–137 in the first NBA playoff game since 1953 to go how many overtimes?

Portland won the series in seven, then was swept by Golden State in the West finals.

Which Hall of Fame point guard was hired as Blazers head coach in 2021 to replace Terry Stotts?

He was placed on leave in October 2025 after an FBI gambling-related arrest.

To which team was the Blazers' franchise guard traded in September 2023?

Jrue Holiday came to Portland in the deal and was flipped to Boston four days later.

Which G League Ignite guard did the Blazers draft third overall in 2023?

Two months later Lillard was traded, clearing the point guard spot for him.

Which Hurricanes owner bought the Blazers from Paul Allen's estate in 2025 for about $4.2bn?

The 'Rip City Rising' group's purchase was approved by the Board of Governors in March 2026.

Which broadcaster coined the Blazers' rallying cry 'Rip City' during the team's first season?

He called 2,522 Blazers games and stayed on as a community ambassador after retiring in 1998.

The Blazers' 'pinwheel' logo is a graphic interpretation of what?

It was designed by the cousin of founder Harry Glickman and slanted in 1991.

What is the name of the Blazers' mountain lion mascot, introduced in 2002?

A new Bigfoot named Douglas Fur joined him as a secondary mascot in 2023.

Which coach's complaint about a Golden Gate Bridge skit got the Blazers to drop their Bigfoot mascot?

The skit played 'I Left My Heart in San Francisco' during a 1989 rout by the Warriors.

The grayscale plaid on several Blazers 'City' uniforms is a homage to which former coach?

'Dr. Jack' was famous for his loud plaid trousers on the sideline.

The Blazers' 2022–23 'PDX' City uniform replaced the diagonal sash with a pattern inspired by what?

The teal-and-silver carpet has a cult following in Portland; the uniform returned in 2025–26.

Which team eliminated the Blazers in the 2010 and 2016 playoffs and swept them in the 2019 West finals?

Portland lost to Golden State in five in 2016 and four straight in 2019.

Which two coaches won NBA Coach of the Year with the Blazers?

Neither is in the Hall of Fame, unlike Wilkens, Ramsay and Adelman, who all coached the team.

Which four Blazers rookies have won NBA Rookie of the Year?

Petrie and Wicks won in the franchise's first two seasons.

The Blazers have held the No. 1 overall pick four times, each time taking which position?

LaRue Martin, Bill Walton, Mychal Thompson and Greg Oden were the four.

Whom did the Blazers take first overall in 1972, ahead of Bob McAdoo, in one of the worst picks ever?

McAdoo went on to win an MVP; Martin averaged 5.3 points over four seasons.

Which Portland arena, built in 1960 and seating under 13,000, was the Blazers' home until 1995?

It still stands next to the Moda Center and was renamed Veterans Memorial Coliseum in 2011.

Which star did the Blazers trade to Indiana in 2000 for Dale Davis?

O'Neal became a six-time All-Star with the Pacers.

What record did the Blazers' 21-win improvement in 2013–14 produce?

They also set franchise records with 770 three-pointers and 81.5 percent free-throw shooting.

Which other pro teams did Blazers owner Paul Allen control through Vulcan Sports and Entertainment?

Vulcan also owned the Moda Center itself.

Who coached the Trail Blazers in their first NBA season, 1970-71?

Portland missed the playoffs in each of its first six seasons and cycled through three head coaches, including Wilkens.

Which two other franchises joined the NBA alongside Portland as 1970 expansion teams?

The Braves later became the Los Angeles Clippers.

At 35, Paul Allen held what distinction when he bought the Blazers in 1988?

His first season was marked by turmoil over starters; coach Mike Schuler was fired at 25-22 and replaced by Rick Adelman.

From which team did the Blazers acquire Isaiah Rider, who was arrested two days before his expected debut?

Rasheed Wallace arrived from the Washington Bullets in the same rebuild of talented but troubled players.

How long was the franchise-record losing streak the Blazers suffered in Damian Lillard's rookie year?

Portland finished 33-49, 11th in the West, yet Lillard was unanimously named Rookie of the Year.

To which team did the Blazers trade CJ McCollum in February 2022?

The deal opened the floor for Anfernee Simons, whose play earned him a multi-year extension.

Which forward did the Blazers acquire from the Washington Wizards on 2024 draft night?

Portland sent Malcolm Brogdon, No. 14 pick Bub Carrington and future picks, and took UConn centre Donovan Clingan seventh the same day.

Which assistant became interim head coach when Chauncey Billups was arrested in October 2025?

The FBI arrest related to illegal gambling cases; the NBA placed Billups on immediate leave.