Terry Porter

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Porter was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on April 8, 1963. He played prep basketball as a guard at Milwaukee's South Division High School. He attended college at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point, an NAIA school, under head coach Dick Bennett. In four seasons, he averaged 13.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, shooting 58.9% from the floor. He was twice named NAIA First-Team All-American, and as a junior was named NAIA Player of the Year and tournament MVP after leading the Pointers to the NAIA national championship in 1984. After the 1984 tournament, he was the only NAIA player invited to the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team trials; he made the final 20 but was cut on May 13, 1984. He finished his degree in communications in 1993 and received a Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1999. Porter was selected 24th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1985 NBA draft. He recorded his first career triple-double on February 5, 1987. During the 1987–88 season, he averaged 10.1 assists per game, the only player in Trail Blazers franchise history to average double-digit assists in a season. He scored a career-high 40 points on March 18, 1988. He went to the NBA Finals twice with Portland (1990 and 1992), played in the NBA All-Star Game in 1991 and 1993, and received the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 1993. As of the source article, Porter was the Trail Blazers' all-time assists leader with 5,319. He later played for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Miami Heat, and San Antonio Spurs, retiring after the 2001–02 season. On December 16, 2008, the Trail Blazers retired his #30 jersey. After coaching stints with the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns, he became head coach at the University of Portland on April 2, 2016, and was fired on February 5, 2021, after a 43–103 record. On September 28, 2025, he was hired as a scout for the Portland Trail Blazers.

In Their Own Story

On February 5, 1987, Porter etched his name in Blazers history with his first career triple-double: 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 13 assists in a 105–104 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Just a month later, he recorded a second triple-double against the Seattle SuperSonics. The following season proved historic; during 1987–88, Porter averaged 10.1 assists per game, the only player in franchise history to reach double digits in that category. He scored a career-high 40 points on March 18, 1988, against the Golden State Warriors and dished out a franchise-record 19 assists on April 14 against the Utah Jazz. Leading Portland to two NBA Finals appearances (1990 and 1992), Porter was selected for the All-Star Game in 1991 and 1993, cementing his legacy before eventually totaling 5,319 assists as a Blazer.

Reader's Guide

Terry Porter is a former NBA point guard best known for his ten seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, where he remains the franchise's all-time assists leader. He was a two-time All-Star and led the Blazers to two NBA Finals appearances. After retiring, he coached the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns, and later became head coach at the University of Portland. He returned to the Trail Blazers organization as a scout in 2025.

Did You Know?

• Porter was the only NAIA player invited to the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team trials, which included Michael Jordan and Patrick Ewing.
• He averaged 10.1 assists per game in the 1987–88 season, the only Trail Blazer to average double-digit assists in a season.
• Porter's #30 jersey was retired by the Portland Trail Blazers on December 16, 2008.
• He was named co-MVP and top defensive player at the Aloha Basketball All-Star Classic after his senior season.

From NAIA Underdog to Olympic Trials

Porter played prep basketball at Milwaukee's South Division High School before attending the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point. Over four seasons there, he averaged 13.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists while shooting 58.9 percent from the floor. He earned NAIA First-Team All-American honors as both a junior and senior, winning Player of the Year as a junior and tournament MVP in 1984 despite a championship loss to Fort Hays State. Uniquely, he was the only NAIA player invited to the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team trials, which featured legends like Michael Jordan and Steve Alford. He made the final 20 while sick with chicken pox but was cut on May 13, 1984, alongside Charles Barkley and John Stockton due to a surplus of guards.

The Architect of Portland's Golden Era

Drafted 24th overall by the Trail Blazers on June 18, 1985, Porter quickly became a cornerstone. On February 5, 1987, he recorded his first triple-double (18 points, 10 rebounds, 13 assists) in a win over the Lakers. In the 1987–88 season, he averaged 10.1 assists per game, becoming the only Blazer to average double digits in that category. His career highs included 40 points against Golden State on March 18, 1988, and 19 assists against Utah on April 14 of the same year. During his decade in Portland, he led the team to two NBA Finals appearances (1990, 1992) and earned All-Star nods in 1991 and 1993. On May 2, 1995, he recorded his final Blazers assists (5,318 and 5,319). He received the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 1993 and remained the franchise's all-time assists leader with 5,319 as of 2010.

A Veteran's Final Chapters

After leaving Portland, Porter signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves for the 1995–96 season, aiding their first playoff run in 1996–97 and their first winning season the next year. He joined the Miami Heat on January 22, 1999, scoring a season-high 21 points against Boston on February 9. Prior to the 1999–2000 season, he signed with the San Antonio Spurs. At age 38 during the 2001 playoffs, he started all 13 games as the Spurs reached the Western Conference Finals, averaging 8.3 points and 3.4 assists. He retired after the 2001–02 season. His career totals include 15,586 points in 1,274 games with averages of 12.2 points, 5.6 assists, and 1.2 steals. As of August 2021, he stood 17th on the NBA's all-time assists list with 7,160.

Coaching Legacy and Academic Roots

Porter transitioned to coaching in 2002–03 as an assistant for the Sacramento Kings. On August 6, 2003, he became head coach of his hometown Milwaukee Bucks but was released during the 2005 offseason after missing the playoffs. He coached his son's fifth-grade team to an undefeated season before joining the Detroit Pistons staff in 2006–07. Porter was named head coach of the Phoenix Suns on June 9, 2008, but was fired on February 16, 2009, after a 28–23 start. He later served as an assistant and acting head coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2013. In college basketball, he was hired by the University of Portland on April 2, 2016, but was fired on February 5, 2021, with a record of 43–103. On September 28, 2025, he was hired as a scout for the Trail Blazers.