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Who's the greatest Blazer of all time?

When you really think about it, it's an impossible question to answer. You run into the same problems as the "greatest NBA player of all time" argument. Comparing different eras, with different rules, competition, and statistical records, is difficult to say the least.

But at the same time, I can think of the names which would make my top 5 or 10. Guys like Chamberlin, Russell, Robertson, Erving, Kareem, Bird, Magic, Hakeem, and Jordan. And what about the players who haven't finished their careers yet? Can we really judge them before they've completed their list of accomplishments? Kobe, LeBron, Shaq, Duncan, and Wade may edge out a few legends before all is said and done.

So is it any easier to compare the greatness of Blazer players, past and present? Can we conclude that Walton's ring (with the Blazers) outweighs Drexler's years of service, or that Roy cannot stand among the legends because he's only a third year player? (although he does have as many All Star apperances as Terry Porter). What is the crieteria for Blazer greatness?

Well I guess rather than deciding between accomplishments with the team vs. overall accomplishments, and trying to allow for predictions of future greatness, I will just alter the title of the poll. Instead of who you think is the greatest Blazer of all time, just vote for your favorite Blazer of all time. Who brings you the most joy to watch? Who embodies what it means to be a Trail Blazer? Which player makes you proud to bleed Black and Red?

I've included a list which is honestly longer than it should be. But I've tried to allow for the odd ball choice. Still I'm sure some people will cry out for their missing all-star, "Where's Kevin Duckworth?!?!?" Feel free to leave your angry feedback in the comments. Also, I included Drazen Petrovic, and if you have a problem with that you can sit on it.

Poll
Who is your favorite Portland Trailblazer of all time?
Arvydas Sabonis
22 votes
Bill Walton
9 votes
Brandon Roy
34 votes
Brian Grant
2 votes
Buck Williams
2 votes
Cliff Robinson
1 votes
Clyde Drexler
86 votes
Dale Davis
1 votes
Damon Stoudamire
0 votes
Drazen Petrovic
2 votes
Geoff Petrie
0 votes
Greg Oden
1 votes
Isiah Rider
3 votes
Jerome Kersey
1 votes
Jim Paxon
0 votes
Joel Pryzbilla
3 votes
Kiki Vandeweghe
0 votes
Lamarcus Aldridge
0 votes
Lloyd Neal
5 votes
Maurice Lucas
1 votes
Mychal Thompson
2 votes
Nicholas Batum
2 votes
Rasheed Wallace
6 votes
Rod Strickland
0 votes
Rudy Fernandez
2 votes
Scottie Pippen
2 votes
Sidney Wicks
0 votes
Steve Blake
0 votes
Steve Smith
1 votes
Terry Porter
4 votes
Travis Outlaw
0 votes
Zach Randolph
1 votes

193 votes | Poll has closed

3 recs  |  Comment 35 comments

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Comments

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Very impressive list. B-Roy it is

by inroywetrust on Mar 22, 2009 7:15 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Not on the list

Billy Ray Bates probly gets my nod. I loved B.R.

Walton easily was the best player ever in Portland. When he was healthy, which was sadly such a brief window in time, he was one of the greatest the NBA has seen. You can’t front on that.

I AM A PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS SUPPORTER.

by bow4meow on Mar 22, 2009 8:32 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Also not on the list

The Great Audie Norris, but I like Billy Ray Bates, too.

"Are you going to bark all day little doggy? Or are you going to bite?" Mr Blonde

by StumptownRon on Mar 22, 2009 8:34 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

What about Allah Abdunoli?

No way that spelling is right.

by keepfryealive on Mar 22, 2009 9:24 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I will help

Alaa Abdelnaby

"You're welcome friend
I love you."
- Tom "Dragline" inHawaii

by 92wastheyear on Mar 22, 2009 10:54 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I am always surprised...

…at how criminally underrated Scottie Pippen is. I know his best years weren’t with us, but still.

by senormateo on Mar 22, 2009 9:32 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Because his best years

were killing us…..that’s like voting for Kobe as the best player ever. Just can’t do it.

by keepfryealive on Mar 22, 2009 12:11 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Clyde Drexler

is the greatest Blazer of all time, but, it could have been Bill Walton. Injuries got in the way. It also could have been Moses Malone if management would have decided that keeping him would have been wise because of Walton’s injury history going into the 76-77 season.

by PABroncofan on Mar 22, 2009 9:40 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I voted Clyde because

He is the best Blazer of all time. I hear the name Bill Walton and I cringe. Because he was on a championship team that makes him the best. If that is the case why isn’t Will Perdue the greatest Bull. He was on all the Championships Jordan was on. The facts are that Clyde took his team to the finals twice and to the semi finals. How many times did walton get there? Just because you have one great season does not mean you are the greatest of all time. The people that believe Walton is the greatest of all time are the same guys that have no problem with the countless retired jerseys of that 1977 team. Bobby Gross is NO Terry Porter.

Bring back Franz Bread Cards!

by newbergfan on Mar 22, 2009 9:59 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

FYI

Walton actually won 2 rings. One with Portland and one with Boston (he was also 6th man of the year that season)

"You're welcome friend
I love you."
- Tom "Dragline" inHawaii

by 92wastheyear on Mar 22, 2009 10:56 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Will Perdue??

Clyde was the best, I agree, but to compare Perdue to Walton? Not in the same ballpark as players. Walton led that team and was arguably the best center playing at the time. Terry Porter absolutely should be on the list, and if not the “best” he was maybe my “favorite” Blazer.

by hellsfrozenover on Mar 22, 2009 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I can't believe Terry got left off

Total accident, I had to add so many players that he must have gotten erased by accident. He’s in my personal top five.

Blazers Prophecy.
3-5 championships in next decade.
You heard it here first.

by mjm6783 on Mar 22, 2009 10:15 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

gimme ime!!

oh i thought you said the greatest portland state viking.. mybad..

anyway, I believe Walton was the best basketball player to play for the Blazers. Clyde played the best as a Blazer. Roy will tie it up with Clyde in the next 3-5 years as he continues to go to the AllStar game and takes Portland to the Finals.

best greatest player question is always framed as ‘if you could have one of these guys at their prime to start a franchise, who would it be?’ it’d be tough to pick Walton if we had reason to suspect the injury issues were still there. I think Roy would be right there with Clyde except that I don’t think we’ve seen his prime yet..

"Slum dunk? You just go to the rim, and crush.. crush the ball in the rim."
- Nic Batum

by idoltime on Mar 22, 2009 10:23 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

I loved Ime

wish we still had him instead of Shav/Muffin

UDOKA!

by CLRNCE. on Mar 22, 2009 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

absolutely!

I always hoped that the Blazers would offer him a minimum contract after he earned some experience and dough playing with a contender for a few years.

"Slum dunk? You just go to the rim, and crush.. crush the ball in the rim."
- Nic Batum

by idoltime on Mar 22, 2009 11:39 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Favorite: BRoy Greatest: Clyde

The thread and poll ask two different questions.

I love everything about Roy’s style but Clyde was a monster. Check YouTube if you’ve forgotten what Clyde could do.

by levelhed on Mar 22, 2009 10:32 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Exactly my thinking...

Favorite: Broy Greatest: Clyde

Honorable mention for either:

Buck Williams, Sabonis, Bill Walton, Joel Przybilla, Chris Dudley

It's spelled "PRZYBILLA."
vanillathrillagorillaprzybilla

by RenoBlazerFan on Mar 22, 2009 11:10 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Chris Dudley?!?!?!?

Pontiff of the Pryz for Prez Posse...

by timbo on Mar 22, 2009 11:29 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Haha! I like white guys with no offensive skills!

I should have clarified that Duds was one of my favorites—definitely not a “greatest.”

I liked his blue-collar work ethic, much like pryz, and I should disclose that I used to work at a charity he supported while he was a blazer, and he and his wife are simply great in too many ways to mention here….

It's spelled "PRZYBILLA."
vanillathrillagorillaprzybilla

by RenoBlazerFan on Mar 22, 2009 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Isiah Rider of Qyntel Woods

It’s a tough choice.

Confusion breeds success. If they don't know each other, opponents can't have strategy. GENIUS.

by Ozzie Montana on Mar 22, 2009 10:55 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Both guards smoked hard.

Pontiff of the Pryz for Prez Posse...

by timbo on Mar 22, 2009 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I voted Clyde

as the combination of my favorite and greatest player (so far), I’m positive that Roy will pass him as my favorite but it takes more than a couple of seasons to do that. I really wish I could put Sabas as my fav, but he just didn’t play for us long enough…if only he had come over soon after he was drafted…man that would have been amazing.

by Gelvalst on Mar 22, 2009 10:57 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Where's Mark Bryant?

Patience is underrated. Fan opinons are overrated. So, yes, that means that I too am overrated.

by T Darkstar on Mar 22, 2009 11:01 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

You listed Steve Blake?

Pontiff of the Pryz for Prez Posse...

by timbo on Mar 22, 2009 11:08 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

He's a good guy.

And I listed all of our current starters, plus Trout and Rudy.

Blazers Prophecy.
3-5 championships in next decade.
You heard it here first.

by mjm6783 on Mar 22, 2009 10:17 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

No Terry Porter?

I think he should have atleast been on the list but I guess Isiah Rider took his spot. I picked Brandon Roy because he already has more game winning baskets then Clyde (pass it in the clutch) Drexler

ALLLL Rudy Then!!!!!

by Miker Blazer on Mar 22, 2009 11:33 AM PDT reply actions   1 recs

Greatest Blazer = Drexler

Greatest Player to ever play for the Blazers= Pippen
(He was just past his prime by the time he got here)

by 8volumesthick on Mar 22, 2009 11:35 AM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Sabonis

It's spelled "PRZYBILLA."
vanillathrillagorillaprzybilla

by RenoBlazerFan on Mar 22, 2009 11:52 AM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Drazen Petrovic because he's my profile pic

"Look at you,'' the coach said. "You're lookin' like a player, like a warrior. Ice bags, bandages ... that's how a player is supposed to look.''

by two buck chuck on Mar 22, 2009 2:26 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

watching Roy this year

has me thinking he could someday be the greatest ever Blazer. someday. not now, and not for certain. Also, i think Oden has a chance to be second. i really do. but thats even less certain.

by 5212872 on Mar 22, 2009 4:03 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Not the greatest Blazer, but my favorite: Sabonis.

He was just so insanely skilled that he could contribute a lot in spite of having an 80-year-old man’s knees. His wife was also very entertaining.

Hit it. Yes he did. Ohhhh yeah.

by Badalona Baddie on Mar 22, 2009 4:47 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

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