Portland Trail Blazers Retired Numbers

[42N8Bounce]

With Lillard quickly climbing the ranks of all time Blazers, it got me thinking about who's numbers should really be hanging from the rafters.

Here's a list of the current retired Blazer numbers:
#13 Dave Twardzik
#14 Lionel Hollins
#15 Larry Steele
#20 Maurice Lucas
#22 Clyde Drexler
#30 Bob Gross
#30 Terry Porter
#32 Bill Walton
#36 Lloyd Neal
#45 Geoff Petrie

I think we all agree that Walton, Lucas, Drexler, and Porter deserve to be up there.


We need to clear some of the clutter currently in the rafters. Let's stick to 8 max. Who should be the next 4?

Here are some nominees:
#00 Kevin Duckworth, 7 seasons, 12.7 PER, 67 playoff games, 2 all-star appearances
#3 Cliff Robinson, 8 seasons, 15.6 PER, 78 playoff games, 1 all-star appearance
#3 Damon Stoudamire, 8 seasons, 15.2 PER, 46 playoff games
#4 Jim Paxson, 9 seasons, 16.9 PER, 33 playoff games, 2 all-star appearances, 1 2nd all-NBA team
#7 Brandon Roy, 5 seasons, 20.1 PER, 15 playoff games, 3 all-star appearances, 1 3rd all-NBA team, 1 2nd all-NBA team, rookie of the year
#11 Arvydas Sabonis, 7 seasons, 21.2 PER, 51 playoff games
#13 Dave Twardzik, 4 seasons, 14.9 PER, 25 playoff games, 1 championship
#14 Lionel Hollins, 5 seasons, 14.3 PER, 28 playoff games, 1 all-star appearance, 1 championship
#15 Larry Steele, 9 seasons, 12.7 PER, 27 playoff games, 1 championship
#25 Jerome Kersey, 11 seasons, 15.9 PER, 91 playoff games
#30 Bob Gross, 7 seasons, 14.8 PER, 25 playoff games, 1 championship
#30 Rasheed Wallace, 8 seasons, 18.2 PER, 50 playoff games, 2 all-star appearances
#33 Scottie Pippen, 3 seasons, 15,6 PER, 26 playoff games
#36 Lloyd Neal, 7 seasons, 15.4 PER, 46 playoff games, 1 championship
#45 Geoff Petrie, 6 seasons, 15.8 PER, 0 playoff games, 2 all-star appearances, rookie of the year
#52 Buck Williams, 7 seasons, 13.7 PER, 74 playoff games
#55 Kiki Vandeweghe, 5 seasons, 18.9 PER, 21 playoff games

There are a lot of good names to choose from.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Kersey and Roy.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Kersey and Roy.

What the serious fuck? Really?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

What the serious fuck? Really?

Yes.

 

[Scalma]

Too many retired numbers as is

 

[e_blazer]

With Lillard quickly climbing the ranks of all time Blazers, it got me thinking about who's numbers should really be hanging from the rafters.

Here's a list of the current retired Blazer numbers:
#13 Dave Twardzik
#14 Lionel Hollins
#15 Larry Steele
#20 Maurice Lucas
#22 Clyde Drexler
#30 Bob Gross
#30 Terry Porter
#32 Bill Walton
#36 Lloyd Neal
#45 Geoff Petrie

I think we all agree that Walton, Lucas, Drexler, and Porter deserve to be up there.
View attachment 21995 View attachment 22002 View attachment 21998 View attachment 22004

We need to clear some of the clutter currently in the rafters. Let's stick to 8 total. Who should be the next 4?

Here are some nominees:
#00 Kevin Duckworth, 7 seasons, 12.7 PER, 67 playoff games, 2 all-star appearances
#3 Cliff Robinson, 8 seasons, 15.6 PER, 78 playoff games, 1 all-star appearance
#3 Damon Stoudamire, 8 seasons, 15.2 PER, 46 playoff games
#4 Jim Paxson, 9 seasons, 16.9 PER, 33 playoff games, 2 all-star appearances, 1 2nd all-NBA team
#7 Brandon Roy, 5 seasons, 20.1 PER, 15 playoff games, 3 all-star appearances, 1 3rd all-NBA team, 1 2nd all-NBA team, rookie of the year
#11 Arvydas Sabonis, 7 seasons, 21.2 PER, 51 playoff games
#13 Dave Twardzik, 4 seasons, 14.9 PER, 25 playoff games, 1 championship
#14 Lionel Hollins, 5 seasons, 14.3 PER, 28 playoff games, 1 all-star appearance, 1 championship
#15 Larry Steele, 9 seasons, 12.7 PER, 27 playoff games, 1 championship
#25 Jerome Kersey, 11 seasons, 15.9 PER, 91 playoff games
#30 Bob Gross, 7 seasons, 14.8 PER, 25 playoff games, 1 championship
#30 Rasheed Wallace, 8 seasons, 18.2 PER, 50 playoff games, 2 all-star appearances
#33 Scottie Pippen, 3 seasons, 15,6 PER, 26 playoff games
#36 Lloyd Neal, 7 seasons, 15.4 PER, 46 playoff games, 1 championship
#45 Geoff Petrie, 6 seasons, 15.8 PER, 0 playoff games, 2 all-star appearances, rookie of the year
#52 Buck Williams, 7 seasons, 13.7 PER, 74 playoff games
#55 Kiki Vandeweghe, 5 seasons, 18.9 PER, 21 playoff games

There are a lot of good names to choose from.

None of the above were good enough long enough and/or upheld Blazers pride well enough to deserve it.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Kersey, Paxson, Petrie, Maybe Roy but I do understand he had a very short career.

 

[tykendo]

Totally agree with Clyde, Bill, Luke, and TP. 77 is cool for Dr. Jack & the Championship team. But that's it IMO for who should be up there. But I agree that the newest and most deserving of the next group should be "Mercy" & Roy.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

A strong argument could be made for Sabas; he's a hall of famer and only played in the NBA for Portland (even though he's not in the hall because of his time in Portland). The rest...no.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

Kersey.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Yes.

321 games does not get you in the rafters. Or at least should not

 

[dviss1]

Kersey, Sabas, Roy.

 

[dviss1]

Kersey and Roy.

What the serious fuck? Really?

Yes.

Notice he didn't offer his own selection? That would be nice...

 

[tester551]

Too many retired numbers as is

Agreed. I would personally say none of the above... but Sabonis is closest IMO.

 

[riverman]

I voted Kersey not just because of his 11 seasons here but that he made his home here and was such an ambassador to the team till the end of his life..
My other vote was Sabonis...even with his knees, he was a great, great Blazer ...Shaq said he was one of his toughest matchups...the guy was special
I loved Sheed ...came close to voting for him
Roy lost my vote when he retired because he wanted to be able to walk and play with his children, then signed with the Wolves....and his time here was short like Pippens.
Petrie gets honorable mention as well as Duckworth...Duck was also a very Portland loyal guy..just not HOF material
my votes....Kersey and Sabo

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Notice he didn't offer his own selection? That would be nice...

Who me? I totally agree that my number should be retired.

 

[42N8Bounce]

Too many retired numbers as is

Agreed. I think only Walton, Lucas, Drexler and Porter should be up there. Anyone else deserving? I think a case can be made for a couple of players on the list above.....

Kersey played 91 playoff games for the Blazers during 11 seasons. Only Drexler played more years and more playoff games. Kersey also stayed around Portland and represented the team after his playing days.

 

[42N8Bounce]

321 games does not get you in the rafters. Or at least should not

Bill Walton only played 209 games as a Blazer. Fortunately part of those 209 games included an MVP season and a championship.

 

[barfo]

Jason Jennings, obviously.

barfo

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Jason Jennings, obviously.

barfo

Ruben Patterson! The Kobe stopper!

 

[42N8Bounce]

None of the above were good enough long enough and/or upheld Blazers pride well enough to deserve it.

Agreed. Most of the 'nominees' listed above have holes in their resumes. Kersey played quite a few years, but never achieved that high of a peak to his career. No all-star selections. Rasheed Wallace had the skill, but also lead the league in technicals. Roy only played 5 season, and never really went very far in the playoffs.

I think a guy that often gets overlooked is Paxson. 9 seasons. 2 all-star games. One selection to the 2nd team all-NBA.

If Dame finishes off his current contract here in Portland, he'll have 9 seasons under his belt as a Blazers. Not very many guys in Blazer franchise history can say that. Drexler, Porter, Kersey, Aldridge, Paxson, and Steele are the only ones I can think of.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Bill Walton only played 209 games as a Blazer. Fortunately part of those 209 games included an MVP season and a championship.

Leading the team to it's only championship trumps all

 

[Mediocre Man]

Notice he didn't offer his own selection? That would be nice...

Too many already.

 

[42N8Bounce]

Too many already.

Agreed. In the opening post I noted that I believe only Walton, Lucas, Drexler and Porter are the ones we all agree should be there. Are you saying those 4 are ‘too many’?

 

[Mediocre Man]

Agreed. In the opening post I noted that I believe only Walton, Lucas, Drexler and Porter are the ones we all agree should be there. Are you saying those 4 are ‘too many’?

No. Some of the others

 

[riverman]

Glad to see a good thread ...shoutout to 42N8bounce....always one of my favorite forum posters

 

[42N8Bounce]

No. Some of the others

I think most of the fans agree with you.

Does anyone think any of these guys are truly worthy?
#13 Dave Twardzik
#14 Lionel Hollins
#15 Larry Steele
#30 Bob Gross
#36 Lloyd Neal
#45 Geoff Petrie

Out of that group, Petrie is the only one I'd have a slight regret about unretiring.

Is there a respectable way to 'unretire' a jersey?

 

[riverman]

Is there are respectable way to 'unretire' a jersey?

I think that would require a Kevin Spacey situation or a Pete Rose situation

 

[Mediocre Man]

I think that would require a Kevin Spacey situation or a Pete Rose situation

If they are retired for their play, what would that matter?

Pete not being in the HOF for his hitting is asinine

 

[42N8Bounce]

Glad to see a good thread ...shoutout to 42N8bounce....always one of my favorite forum posters

Thanks @riverman !

Although I don't see myself as an old timer (yes, I hit the half century mark this year), I've been watching this team since the '70s. A lot of good players have come and gone. The key is to enjoy the moment.

It's nice to have posters on this site like yourself that are basketball edjumukated, and are able to put it all in perspective with a positive spin.