I always had a weird affinity for Rod Strickland. How he looked stoned, but would drive down the lane with wreck-less abandon. I remember one time he got clotheslined by Wayman Tisdale and I thought he died. My top 5 is unique: Brian Grant Sabonis Lillard Strickland Uncle Cliffy
Strickland was an idiot. In middle school he was a guest for our entire school assembly about staying in school. He said school didn't work for him but it's probably a good idea for others. Even as kids who were Blazer maniacs we all thought he was an idiot for saying that. Now as an adult it boogles my mind he could talk like that to hundreds of kids.
School is not for everybody. I mean after high school. And Strickland spent more time in school than I ever did. I just loved the way he played.
Great list, but ,to me, Clyde is the greatest IN Game dunker. Sharpe would be second on my list, but may end up at one. Clyde was a way better ,IN GAME, dunker than MJ. Clyde would do windmills, under and overs, and glides that nobody else could do. His dunk from the elbow at the forum vs. the Lakers was Amazing. Arm completely vertical ,extended, legs folded in, gliding in for the flush. Clyde was "meh" in the dunk contest though, and that's what most people remember.
Brian Grant - the heart, the attitude, not taking any shit from Karl Malone. Danny Ainge - got my starting position in college because of him. Jerome Kersey - tough, hustler. I bought his Chrysler 300 he owned and traded in. Terry Porter - humble, clutch, competitive as anyone. Clyde Drexler - loved to watch him play. I won a contest and got to have lunch with him (and my Dad) when I was 15. My Dad was very impressed by how down to earth and chatty he was with us. He became my Dad's second favorite...#1 was Nate Archibald for whom I was gonna be named after, except for my Mom saying no. Apparently 'Archie' made her think of the comic strip character. 52
Dame BRoy Clyde Sheed Arvydas Honorable mentions: Pippen, JR Rider, Kersey, Duckworth, Rod Strickland, Lamarcus
We've had some great teams with some great players. But no individual player has brought more emotion out of me than Dame. Over and over again, he's been simply amazing.
For me it's more about teams... I loved the Clyde/Porter/Kersey team but I was pretty young and I don't remember much of it. I loved the plucky Rider/Damon/Sheed/Sabas team that got to the WCF. I loved the stacked team with Sheed/Pip/Smitty, etc. That was the most talented team I have ever seen in Portland. I loved the Roy/Oden/Aldridge team that had one good year together. I loved the 2019 team that got to the WCF. There's a mix of players on all those teams that I enjoyed watching. Dame is my favorite Blazer of all time.
I wonder who has the most appearances on both the favorite and disliked lists. Maybe call that who is the most divisive player to Blazer fans. I'd think it has to clearly be Sheed, many of us loved watching and rooting for him, but many fans did and still do despise him. Not sure who else is on that list.
He was probably the most polarizing player in Blazers history. He could be so good, and yet be such a douche on the court. He could be "in Control", and "out of Control" in the same game. He was uber talented , but i never got the feeling he enjoyed being a Blazer.
