Franchise Founding Era

Lore & Background

The franchise entered the NBA in 1970 as an expansion team, along with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Buffalo Braves (now Los Angeles Clippers), under coach Rolland Todd. The team failed to qualify for the playoffs in its first six seasons of existence. During that span, the team had three head coaches (including future hall-of-famer Lenny Wilkens); team executive Stu Inman also served as coach. The team won the first pick in the NBA draft twice during that span. In 1972, the team drafted LaRue Martin with the number one pick. The team's first playoff appearance was in 1977, when they won the NBA championship.

Reader's Guide

The Trail Blazers have advanced to the NBA Finals three times, winning the NBA championship once in 1977. Their other NBA Finals appearances were in 1990 and 1992. The team has qualified for the playoffs in 37 seasons of their 55-season existence (through the 2024–25 season), including a streak of 21 straight appearances from 1983 through 2003, tied for the second longest streak in NBA history. Six Hall of Fame players have played for the Trail Blazers: Lenny Wilkens, Bill Walton, Clyde Drexler, Dražen Petrović, Arvydas Sabonis, and Scottie Pippen. Bill Walton is the franchise's most decorated player; he was the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player in 1977, and the regular season MVP the following year. Four Blazers' rookies (Geoff Petrie, Sidney Wicks, Brandon Roy and Damian Lillard) have won the NBA Rookie of the Year award. Three players have earned the Most Improved Player award: Kevin Duckworth (1988), Zach Randolph (2004), and CJ McCollum (2016). Three Hall of Fame coaches – Lenny Wilkens, Jack Ramsay, and Rick Adelman – have patrolled the sidelines for the Blazers, and two others, Mike Schuler and Mike Dunleavy, have won the NBA Coach of the Year Award with the team.

Did You Know?

• The team sold out 814 consecutive home games from 1977 through 1995, the longest such streak in American major professional sports at the time.
• Since the Seattle SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008, the Trail Blazers remain as the only NBA team based in the Pacific Northwest.
• The name 'Trail Blazers' received 172 entries in a contest to select the team's name, and was revealed on March 13, 1970.