Ranking the Portland Trail Blazers' All-Time All-Stars
The NBA All-Star Game has long been a treat for fans, as the league’s best players get together and go at it. Every team has had a player selected to participate at some point, though some certainly more than others.
The Portland Trail Blazers have had a total of 40 nominees, most recently the high-scoring duo of LaMarcus Aldridge and Damian Lillard over the past two seasons. Even more notable names have been picked throughout the team’s history, spanning all the way back to the 1970-71 season.
The following players are ranked according to their time with the Blazers as All-Stars, rather than their overall body of work throughout their careers, and their play during that span.
Let’s take a look, Rip City.
All statistics courtesy of Basketball Reference.com unless otherwise noted.
Honorable Mentions
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Lionel Hollins, PG
Best All-Star Season: 15.9 points, 4.7 assists, 44.2 percent shooting, 1977-78
A year after helping the Trail Blazers to their first (and only) NBA championship, now-Brooklyn Nets head coach Lionel Hollins played in his first All-Star Game. It would go on to be the sole selection throughout his 10-season career, joining teammates Bill Walton and Maurice Lucas as a Big Three to represent Portland at the All-Star Game in Atlanta under the Blazers’ decorated head coach, Dr. Jack Ramsay.
Rasheed Wallace, PF
Best All-Star Season: 19.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 50.1 percent shooting, 2000-01
More renowned for his on-court antics than his actual play, Rasheed Wallace had his best season in terms of individual production as a Blazer. He earned his first selection the year prior before being named twice more as a member of the Detroit Pistons in 2006 and 2008. He had just two points on 1-of-7 shooting in the game hosted by the Washington Wizards.
Kevin Duckworth, C
Best All-Star Season: 18.1 points, 8.0 rebounds, 47.7 percent shooting, 1988-89
Though he was a figure during Portland’s time as a contender in the early ‘90s, the late Kevin Duckworth peaked before the Blazers’ rise. He was still named an All-Star two seasons later, joining Clyde Drexler and Terry Porter as the second trio of players selected in Portland’s history, but had his best campaign through 1988-89.
10. Jim Paxson, SG
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Best All-Star Season: 21.3 points, 3.1 assists, 51.4 percent shooting, 1983-84
Jim Paxson helped bridge the gap in Blazers history, carrying the torch shortly after the championship in 1977 until Drexler came about to lead the franchise. In the process, he was named an All-Star twice over 8.5 seasons with Portland. He scored in double-digits during both games, held in Los Angeles (1983) and Denver (1984).
Paxson was one of the Trail Blazers’ longest-tenured players, currently appearing in several major categories in the team’s history, including points, rebounds, assists, games and minutes played.
9. Brandon Roy, SG
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Best All-Star Season: 22.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 48 percent shooting, 37.7 percent three-point shooting, 2008-09
Brandon Roy’s career could be best described as a downright shame. The 6’6” guard was an instant sensation, earning the Rookie of the Year award in 2007 before making the All-Star team the three following seasons.
Unfortunately, knee injuries hindered his ability to stay on the court and ultimately ended Roy’s career with Portland after five seasons. He attempted to mount a comeback for the 2012-13 campaign but played just five games for the Minnesota Timberwolves before retiring for good.
Roy is best remembered for his nifty mid-range shooting, slick handle and clutch play for the Blazers. He would be a much higher selection had his career continued further, though the competition he faces on this list also plays a factor.
8. Geoff Petrie, SG
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Best All-Star Season: 24.3 points, 4.3 assists, 48.1 percent shooting, 1973-74
Portland struggled with success early on, despite winning the title seven years after the team’s inception. It didn't make the playoffs until 1977. But it did sport a number of talented players in the process, and Geoff Petrie was the first.
The 6’4” guard was the franchise’s initial All-Star, averaging 24.8 points and 4.8 assists while also netting the Rookie of the Year award for the 1970-71 season. He was the Blazers’ first-ever draft pick, translating to an instant success on the court. Petrie went on to net All-Star honors once more in 1973-74, playing in the starting lineup while joining forward Sidney Wicks as the first Portland duo to be selected.
Petrie lasted just six seasons in the league, as a serious knee injury shut the doors on his NBA career prematurely. He ranks No. 7 and No. 5 in all-time scoring and passing respectively for the Blazers. Petrie’s No. 45 was retired by the team in 1985. Petrie worked in basketball operations for the Sacramento Kings from 1994 to 2013, winning the Executive of the Year award in 1999 and 2001.
7. Terry Porter, PG
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Best All-Star Season: 17.0 points, 8.0 assists, 51.5 percent shooting, 41.5 percent three-point shooting, 1990-91
Terry Porter famously helped the Blazers reach the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992, earning his two All-Star selections in 1991 and 1993. He joined Duckworth and Drexler as a trio in the former game and was selected as an injury replacement for the Golden State Warriors’ Mitch Richmond in the latter.
He was an efficient scorer and distributor for Portland over 10 seasons, currently ranking No. 3 in points, No. 1 in assists and No. 3 in games played. Current Trail Blazer guard Wesley Matthews passed Porter for the No. 1 spot in three-point field goals made earlier this season, topping his total of 773 shots.
Porter spent time as an assistant coach for the Timberwolves over the past three years but has rejoined the Portland organization as a team ambassador. The team retired his No. 30 jersey in 2008.
6. Damian Lillard, PG
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Best All-Star Season: 21.5 points, 6.3 assists, 43.3 percent shooting, 33.9 percent three-point shooting, 2014-15
Damian Lillard has burst out of the gates onto the NBA scene, combining an old-school mentality with an accurate stroke from distance, a crafty inside game and a clutch demeanor every player covets. He didn’t earn an All-Star selection in his first season (though he did win the Rookie of the Year award) but has been named twice in a row so far.
Lillard’s induction this season came as an injury replacement for the Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin. The Western Conference is rife with backcourt talent, so it’s far from a knock against the guard but rather a testament to how strong the NBA is at this time.
Lillard has the chance to shoot up a list like this over the course of his career, but his placement is limited over just three seasons. If he maintains his health, he has the chance to rank as one of Portland’s all-time great guards.
Porter holds some distinction over the all-time point guard spot for now, but Lillard has had the superior resume as far as an All-Star goes.
5. Sidney Wicks, PF
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Best All-Star Season: 23.8 points, 10.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 45.2 percent shooting, 1972-73
After a highly decorated collegiate career, Sidney Wicks kicked off his NBA journey with a Rookie of the Year award and four straight All-Star appearances. He had a flair for handling and passing the ball despite playing in the frontcourt at 6’8” and 225 pounds, currently ranking No. 10 in both points and assists for the Blazers.
Wicks’ scoring average dipped every season after his rookie year, though he remained mostly consistent on the boards. He was sold to the Boston Celtics at the beginning of the 1976-77 season, as Portland went on to win the title. He and Petrie were the first talents to lead the Trail Blazers, though the team failed to make the playoffs during their tenure.
He had a relatively brief term with the Blazers, lasting just five seasons despite being selected second overall in the 1971 draft. Wicks left a mark as one of the team’s most talented players early on, despite his unorthodox exit from the organization.
4. Maurice Lucas, PF
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Best All-Star Selection: 20.2 points, 11.4 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 46.6 percent shooting, 1976-77
“The Enforcer.”
There is no better way to describe the late Maurice Lucas, whose rugged style of play was critical to Portland’s 1977 title win. The Blazers selected Lucas in the 1976 ABA dispersal draft with the second pick, where he was named an All-Star in three straight seasons.
He is renowned or perhaps infamous for his physical confrontation with the Philadelphia 76ers Darryl Dawkins in Game 2 of the Finals. Dawkins ruthlessly pulled Blazers forward Bob Gross to the ground while battling for a rebound, following it up with a punch as Gross was held back (though the strike actually hit his 76ers teammate Doug Collins).
Dawkins backpedaled to half court, where Lucas delivered an elbow to the back of his head. The two then squared off, fists raised like two boxers in a ring, before both benches emptied to try to contain the ruckus. The altercation is memorable within itself, though Portland's 52-year-old head coach, Jack Ramsay, separating a 6'11" Dawkins from 6'9" Lucas is particularly notable.
Lucas and Dawkins were ejected from the game as Portland dropped to 0-2 but won four straight games to win the series. It was clear Lucas’ role on the court inspired his teammates, though not quite for reasons many would condone in today’s game.
The entire incident can be seen here.
But regardless, he is a well-known figure in the history of the Blazers as a physical player in the paint. He and Bill Walton formed a strong frontcourt tandem that was short-lived due to injury.
Lucas’ No. 20 was retired by the team in 1988.
3. Bill Walton, C
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Best All-Star Season: 18.6 points, 14.4 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 3.2 blocks, 52.8 percent shooting, 1976-77
What if?
That’s the biggest question surrounding the tumultuous career of Bill Walton. He had the size (6'11", 210 lbs) and talent to be one of the greatest big men in the history of the game, but injuries consistently derailed his play. He still deserves a place among the top names, but he doesn’t quite have the same resume to make a convincing statement.
Even so, Walton was a force with the Trail Blazers. He played just a combined 86 games over his first two seasons before earning two All-Star selections in the two following years. He led Portland to the NBA title in 1977, winning the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award for the series. Walton also earned the NBA’s regular-season MVP award a season later.
He demanded a trade for the Blazers prior to the 1978-79 season, sitting out the entire year in protest against the team failing to meet his request. It was a bitter ending to a magical pairing, but it wasn’t quite unjustified. Per an archived report courtesy of Sports Illustrated's John Papanek, the reasoning was clear:
"He believed that his latest injury—a fractured bone in his left foot, which was diagnosed after he had appeared in a playoff game on April 21—might have been avoided if the Trail Blazers had provided with him proper medical advice and care. Walton also charged the team with the misuse of the pain-modifying drugs Xylocaine and Marcaine, and the anti-inflammatory drugs Butazolidin (phenylbutazone) and Decadron (dexamethasone).
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Walton went on to win the Sixth Man of the Year award and another NBA title with the Boston Celtics in the late ‘80s, but he clearly had his best production in Portland. We can only wonder what type of career Walton could have had if he remained injury-free, but one distinction can be made: It would have been remarkable.
The Blazers retired his No. 32 in 1989.
2. LaMarcus Aldridge, PF
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Best All-Star Season: 23.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, 1.1 blocks, 46.3 percent shooting, 42.4 percent three-point shooting, 2014-15
LaMarcus Aldridge has earned All-Star honors in four straight seasons, pushing the envelope as arguably the top power forward in the NBA. His dead-eye shooting and strong play in the paint has made him a handful for teams defensively, routinely dominating games as seen during last season’s playoff run.
Aldridge has been a cornerstone of the Blazers for almost a decade, battling through three separate eras of rebuilding. He has been the starting forward during the time Portland attempted to retool with Roy and Greg Oden, ultimately losing both to career-ending injuries, but is presently teamed with Lillard to contend for a title.
The 6’11” forward was tabbed as an injury-replacement starter in the 2015 All-Star Game by Warriors head coach Steve Kerr after participating as a reserve the three years prior. Aldridge should have a few more under his belt before he retires and may very well do so as a member of the Blazers.
He is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the close of this season but left some compelling evidence to confirm his return to Portland with Joe Freeman of The Oregonian:
"I'm happy to stay, happy to be here, happy with the direction the team has gone the last year or two. I want to be the best Blazer — ever. If I stay the rest of my career, I should be able to catch Clyde by then. I should be able to leave a mark on a big-time franchise that is going to be seen forever. And I will be able to say I played here my whole career. This city has embraced me and grown with me. I have so much history, it just makes sense to stay.
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There are still a few steps to climb for LMA to reach that plateau, but the way is shut for now, as the guard ahead of Aldridge on this list may have a few words about it.
1. Clyde Drexler, SG
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Best All-Star Season: 27.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 2.7 steals, 49.6 percent shooting, 1988-89
As an eight-time All-Star for the Blazers, it isn’t hard to figure out why Clyde Drexler is No. 1 on our list. “The Glide” led Portland to the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992, falling against the Detroit Pistons and the Chicago Bulls respectively.
Drexler was a mainstay for more than a decade with Portland, currently ranking No. 1 points, total rebounds, field goals made and attempted, steals, minutes and games played. He also checks in at No. 2 in total assists.
He was renowned for his high-flying style of play, consistently driving to the rim and finishing both physically and gracefully. Drexler was also famed for his ability as a rebounder and defender.
He has meant more to this franchise than any other player to this point, despite the abundance of talent that has graced the Blazers. Drexler was unfailing at his craft, despite being unable to bring another championship to Portland. It’s much easier said than done though, especially considering the wealth of all-time great figures who played during the same era as Drexler.
He went on to reunite with college teammate Hakeem Olajuwon during a four-year stint with his hometown Houston Rockets, winning a title in 1995.
The Blazers retired Drexler’s No. 22 in 2001.
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