Terry Porter

Lore & Background

Porter was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on April 8, 1963. He played prep basketball as a forward 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. As a junior, he averaged 18.8 points while shooting over 65% from the floor. Twice (junior and senior) he was named an NAIA First-Team All-American. As a junior, he was named NAIA Player of the Year, and in the 1984 NAIA tournament he was named tournament MVP even though the Pointers lost the national championship to Fort Hays State. After the 1984 tournament, Porter was the only NAIA player invited to the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team trials. He made it to the final 20 despite having chicken pox, but was cut on May 13, 1984, along with John Stockton. He was also the only NAIA player named to the Aloha Basketball All-Star Classic, where he was named to the all-tournament team (along with Detlef Schrempf, Harold Keeling, Xavier McDaniel, and Joe Dumars). Porter returned to Wisconsin–Stevens Point to finish his degree in communications, obtained in 1993, with an emphasis in television and radio. He was awarded a Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1999.

Reader's Guide

Porter was selected 24th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1985 NBA draft. On February 5, 1987, he recorded his first career triple-double (18 points, 10 rebounds, 13 assists) in a 105–104 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. A month later, he recorded his second career triple-double (14 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) in a loss to the Seattle SuperSonics. 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, against the Golden State Warriors. On April 14, 1988, he recorded 25 points and a career-high 19 assists against the Utah Jazz. On May 2, 1995, he recorded his 5,318th and 5,319th assist as a Trail Blazer. During his decade in Portland, he went to the NBA Finals twice (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 2010, he was the Trail Blazers' all-time assists leader with 5,319. He signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves prior to the 1995–96 season, helping them clinch their first playoff berth in 1996–97 and first winning season the following year. He signed with the Miami Heat on January 22, 1999. He signed with the San Antonio Spurs prior to the 1999–2000 season, and in the 2001 playoffs started all 13 games, averaging 8.3 points and 3.4 assists. He retired after the 2001–02 season. His teams compiled a record of 815–547 (.598) during his playing career. In 1,274 career games, he averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 assists, and 1.2 steals, scoring 15,586 points. As of August 2021, he stood 17th on the NBA's all-time assists list (7,160). On December 16, 2008, the Trail Blazers retired his #30 jersey. After retiring as a player, he spent the 2002–03 season as an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings. On August 6, 2003, he was hired as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, coaching for two years before being released during the 2005 offseason. After a year away, he joined the Detroit Pistons as an assistant coach for the 2006–07 season. On June 9, 2008, he was named head coach of the Phoenix Suns, but was fired on February 16, 2009, after 51 games with a 28–23 record. On December 6, 2011, he was hired as an assistant coach by the Minnesota Timberwolves under Rick Adelman.

Did You Know?

• Porter was the only NAIA player invited to the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team trials, which included Patrick Ewing, Michael Jordan, Sam Perkins, Wayman Tisdale, Chris Mullin, and Steve Alford.
• He played for five of the top 36 winningest NBA coaches: Pat Riley, Rick Adelman, Jack Ramsay, Gregg Popovich, and Flip Saunders.

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.