2 overall draft pick. And those guys were accepting of me. Clye Drexler and Michael Jordan during Game 1 of the 1992 NBA Finals. CELTICS COACH BRAD STEVENS IS A MYSTERY After 12 years in the team, he felt the urge to go to a different team that could offer him the guarantees he needed. This interview was lightly edited and condensed for clarity. Postseason invitational champion Compared at every turn to the better-known Michael Jordan, Drexler has progressed year by year as his team has become a playoff contender. [8], Drexler and Young, along with Larry Micheaux and new recruit Hakeem Olajuwon (known then as Akeem), comprised the "Phi Slama Jama" basketball fraternity that gained national attention for its acrobatic, above-the-rim play. Drexler: Well, Michelob ULTRA is the original NBA JAM sponsor. We were not afraid of our brand, you know. I mean, youre jumping up in the air, your feet are going everywhere. These all improved with more playing time in his second season, to 17.2 points, 6 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.2 steals per game. [9], Drexler declared for the NBA draft as a junior, leaving Houston with career averages of 14.4 points, 3.3 assists and 9.9 rebounds in three seasons. His home town is New Orleans, Louisiana. He began receiving attention from college coaches following a 34-point, 27-rebound performance against Sharpstown High School during a 1979 Christmas tournament. Q: Why did you want to get involved with this partnership, and what benefits do you see this doing for the league? Blocks: 4 vs Utah Jazz May 9, 1991 Clyde Drexler | Portland Trail Blazers, Most steals in a 3-game series: 13, Portland Trail Blazers vs. Dallas Mavericks, 1990 Western Conference First round, Most steals in a half: 6, Portland Trail Blazers vs. Phoenix Suns, May 23, 1990, Highest free throw percentage for a career: 1.000 (1212). NBA 75: At No. 43, Clyde Drexler was a high-flying, Do I want to stay here and be beloved and maybe I dont win a championship but they love you here in Portland? So it's not like tennis or golf, you are not the only one responsible, the whole team is responsible. Later, when he went to college, he gathered the attention of others towards his basketball skills. [29], Most steals in a half: 8, second half, Houston Rockets vs. Sacramento Kings, November 1, 1996, Most offensive rebounds by a guard in a career: 2,615 But hes got to get bigger, stronger and faster. The Hall of Famer won a championship playing with the Houston Rockets and was a member of the 1992 Dream Team. Clyde Drexler NBA career started in Portland playing for the Trail Blazers. Drexler: It used to be the best players played, and they participated. Free shipping for many products! Its going to be a highlight of All-Star Weekend. It was way too premature. Hes an NBA Champion and a 10-time NBA All-Star. Clyde Drexler himself was a very accomplished player. They were separated quite early. After some time, in 2014, Clyde Drexler married Tonya. Portland Trail Blazers news fromFanSided Daily, Aaron Donald gives Rams an ultimatum to return, Freddie Freemans choice: To be his generations Chipper Jones, or Tom Glavine. Drexler wonders if Lillard may change his mind. Im sure Lillard has gotta be thinking I gotta go somewhere to compete for a title unless he just wants to stay there and finish out his career, but if he is competitive Im sure he is looking to go someplace to win, Drexler said. I hope and think he is, and well see what the results will be. Drexler won an Olympic gold medal in 1992 and an NBA championship in 1995 with the Houston Rockets. According to his birthplace, He is American by birth. Rudy is getting his just due, and its about time. We were good. In his days, he was one of the finest players, and thats why people often used to call his Clyde the glide. On May 5, during the first round while down two games to one against the Utah Jazz, Drexler led the Rockets in scoring with 41 points while Olajuwon added 40 in a 123106 win. As Lillard fights through the 2021 NBA Playoffs, were going to compare him to Drexler in playoffs production. #ULTRAJAM pic.twitter.com/1inFCAixLe, Michelob ULTRA (@MichelobULTRA) February 16, 2022. I think hell make it easily. Hes got size, hes got skill. Clyde wasnt taking the longer shots that drag Dames percentage down. If you want to cut back Clydes performance to his first 8 years when comparing him to Lillard, Clyde went 30-36 in 66 games over that span, winning 45.4% of his games. Am I the best? If Lillard wins his next 7 straight games, he would finish his first 66 post-season appearances with a 29-37 record, just slightly below Clyde. In Player Efficiency Rating, theyre close, with the difference easily attributable to Drexlers rebounding, which that stat favors. Clyde Drexler did not approve of Portland trading CJ McCollum and has a reminder for Damian Lillard. One of those legends who will be in Cleveland for NBA JAM meet and greets is Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler, who won the 1995 NBA Finals with the Houston Rockets Drexler played for the Portland Trail Blazers for 11-plus (19831995) seasonswhere he was an eight-time all-starand brought the Blazers to three NBAFinals appearances. For Clyde, this happened on the first year after leaving the Trail Blazers with the Houston Rockets in 1995. They are generational players. (Bird holds an 89.0% career free throw percentage in the playoffs.). Clyde Drexler (left) and Cliff Robinson of the Portland Trail Blazers. In the 199192 season he made the All-NBA First Team and finished second to Michael Jordan in MVP voting, having averaged 25 points per game to go with 6.6 rebounds and 6.7 assists while playing slightly over 35 minutes a game; the Blazers finished 57-25, best in the Western Conference. Clyde Drexler and Matt Bullard will return as analysts for Rockets games on Root Sports Southwest, with Drexler working primarily home games. Conference regular season champion Clyde Drexler is a very successful personality, and everyone pretty highly admires him. One of those legends who will be in Cleveland for NBA JAM meet and greets is Hall of Famer Clyde Drexler, who won the 1995 NBA Finals with the Houston Rockets and went on to become a beloved television announcer for the team in the years following his storied career. He has four children: Erica, Austin, Elise, and Adam (the last three with Gaynell). alias => "northwest\/\/portland-trail-blazers\/clyde-drexler-felt-trail-blazers-rebuild-his-trade-was-premature", title => "Clyde Drexler felt Trail Blazers rebuild before his trade was premature ", article_body => "
Clyde Drexler gave the City of Portland some fantastic years of basketball.<\/p>\n
Drexler played for the Portland Trail Blazers for 11-plus (1983\u20131995) seasons where he was an eight-time all-star and brought the Blazers to three NBA Finals appearances. <\/p>\n
Out of those three appearances, Clyde was never able to hoist the championship trophy.<\/p>\n
Marred by injuries to his knee, calf and hamstring, <\/p>\n
In 1995, as the Blazers were no longer heading into contention for a title, Drexler knew his time was up and was traded to Houston. <\/p>\n
In a recent sit-down interview on \u201cThe Platform Basketball Podcast,\u201d Drexler spoke about his tenure with the Blazers and the moment he knew it was time to ask for a trade to his hometown.<\/p>\n