Clyde Drexler

Did You Know?

• Drexler coached the University of Houston men's basketball team for two seasons, compiling a 19–39 record before resigning to spend more time with his family.
• He co-authored his biography, Clyde the Glide, with Portland Tribune sports writer Kerry Eggers; University of Houston classmate Jim Nantz wrote the foreword.
• Drexler made guest appearances on Married... with Children, Arliss, and The Sentinel, and appeared in the film Like Mike 2: Streetball.

Early years

Drexler was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and grew up in the South Park area of Houston, Texas. He attended Ross Sterling High School in Houston, where he was a classmate of tennis player Zina Garrison. As a sophomore, he made the varsity baseball team but failed to make the basketball team. He played center as a senior. After a 34-point, 27-rebound game against Sharpstown High School in a 1979 Christmas tournament, college coaches began recruiting him. He was recruited by New Mexico State University, Texas Tech University, and the University of Houston, the latter after a childhood friend told an assistant coach that Drexler was the best player he had faced. Drexler chose Houston to stay home and majored in finance, working at a bank during summers. Houston supporters initially sent hate mail to coach Guy Lewis for recruiting Drexler, believing he was not good enough.

College career

At Houston, Drexler joined Michael Young, Larry Micheaux, and Hakeem Olajuwon to form the "Phi Slama Jama" fraternity, known for acrobatic, above-the-rim play. New members were initiated by standing under the basket as Drexler drove from halfcourt and dunked over them. Houston reached the Final Four in 1982, losing to eventual champion North Carolina. Drexler averaged 15.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per game as a small forward.

In 1983, Houston returned to the Final Four ranked No. 1 and defeated No. 2 Louisville in the semifinals, with Drexler scoring 21 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. In the championship game against North Carolina State, he picked up four fouls before halftime and scored only four points in the upset loss. Drexler declared for the NBA draft as a junior, leaving with career averages of 14.4 points, 3.3 assists, and 9.9 rebounds. He remains the only Houston player with combined totals of at least 1,000 points, 900 rebounds, and 300 assists, and is the school's all-time steals leader with 268.

NBA career

The Portland Trail Blazers selected Drexler with the 14th overall pick in the 1983 NBA draft. He averaged 7.7 points in 17.2 minutes per game as a rookie. In his second season, his averages rose to 17.2 points, 6 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 2.2 steals. He made his first All-Star team in his third season, averaging 18.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 8 assists, and 2.6 steals.

On January 6, 1989, he scored a career-high 50 points in a double-overtime win over the Sacramento Kings. In the 1989–1990 season, Drexler led Portland to the NBA Finals, averaging 23.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 5.9 assists. The Blazers defeated the Phoenix Suns in six games in the Western Conference Finals, with Drexler and Terry Porter each scoring 23 in the clinching game. In the Finals against the Detroit Pistons, Drexler scored 33 points in Game 2 and hit two free throws with 2.1 seconds left in overtime for the Blazers' only win of the series.

During the 1990–1991 season, Drexler led Portland to a franchise-best 63–19 record, but the Los Angeles Lakers upset the Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals.

Player profile

Clyde Drexler earned the nickname "Clyde the Glide" in college, a nod to his smooth speed and athleticism on the hardwood. Off the court, he was known for being quiet and easygoing. While at the University of Houston, he was praised for his ability to finish plays but was not seen as a strong shooter. Once in the NBA, he expanded his game, becoming a reliable post player and a more consistent outside shooter.

His incredible leaping ability made him a spectacular dunker, and he competed in several All-Star dunk contests in the late eighties. A versatile guard, Drexler regularly ranked among the top players at his position in points, rebounds, assists, and steals, and he also blocked a notable number of shots for his size. In 1989, he set a Trail Blazers record by dunking on an 11-foot-1-inch rim. As of 2008, he holds the all-time guard record for offensive rebounds, averaging 2.4 per game. In 2021, The Athletic placed him 43rd on its list of the NBA's 75 greatest players.