Jim Paxson

Lore & Background

Paxson, a swingman born in Kettering, Ohio and the son of former NBA player Jim Paxson Sr., played college basketball at the University of Dayton. When the older Paxson tried out for the Dayton Flyers, he couldn't afford to buy athletic shoes, so athletic director Thomas Frericks loaned him a pair. Paxson was team MVP as a senior and earned honorable mention All-America honors by the AP after averaging more than 23 points per game. He also averaged 17 points as a junior and 18 points as a sophomore at Dayton.

In Their Own Story

The arena hums with a nervous energy, the crowd at Memorial Coliseum holding its breath as the clock ticks down under ten seconds. The Blazers are down by one point. Jim Paxson, wearing his number 15 jersey, signals for the ball. He catches it near the top of the key, his eyes locked on the rim while a defender presses close. With a quick crossover and a smooth step-back, he rises up, releasing the shot just as the buzzer sounds. The net snaps, the crowd erupts, and Paxson simply nods, knowing another classic moment has been etched into Blazers history.

Reader's Guide

The 6-foot-6 Paxson was an NBA All-Star in 1983 and 1984. He also earned All-NBA Second Team honors in 1984 after averaging 21 points per game. He spent nine seasons with Portland (1979–1988) and, after being traded to Boston in February 1988, spent two full seasons with Boston (1988–1990). When he was traded from Portland, he left as the team's all-time leading scorer. After retiring in 1990 at the age of 32, Paxson joined Portland's front office as assistant general manager. In September 1998, he was named vice president of basketball operations for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was promoted to general manager in 1999, serving in that position until he was fired in April 2005. The Cavaliers won 185 games and lost 307 games in the six years Paxson was general manager. In July 2006, Paxson was hired as a consultant for the Bulls. Paxson was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 1998. In 2004, he was named to the University of Dayton's All-Century Team.

Did You Know?

• Paxson was a first-round pick (12th overall) in the 1979 NBA draft.
• He was a two-time NBA All-Star (1983 and 1984).
• He did not leave Portland as the team's all-time leading scorer when traded in 1988.
• His brother John Paxson is an executive with the Chicago Bulls.