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Sports InsiderClyde 'The Glide' Drexler was an All-Time Great.
October 5th 2007 07:01
It’s easy to be overshadowed by a one-time phenomenon that will
never walk this earth ever again – just ask golfers, boxers and soccer players, what it’s like to be seen in a lesser light when compared to Tiger, Ali and Pele. For all you perceptive readers out there (which means all of our fine visitors to this space), would realise that one name is missing, Michael Jordan. Yes, His Airness is often grouped in with the aforementioned names, with basketball players in both the 80s, and 90s playing second fiddle to MJ.
While, Jordan was working his magic and dominating the game, a myriad of players also toiled away in the NBA landscape, with some quietly becoming legends themselves. Not everyone was like, Mike, but why would they want to be?
Recently the name ‘Sam Bowie’ and the Portland Trail Blazers have become hot button topics once again due to what happened to Greg Oden. When discussing the 1984 Draft where, Bowie was selected before the-greatest-friggin’-baller- of-all-time, many writers (this one included) have been a tad bit revisionist in their retelling of history. What is often overlooked, is that Portland selecting, Sam wasn’t a totally dud pick because they needed a big man and who was anyone to know that, Michael Jordan would become, well, Michael Jordan?
Furthermore, the Trail Blazers had a star shooting guard of their own, Clyde ‘The Glide’ Drexler, who was athletic and a kickass basketball player to boot. In fact so good was Clyde, there was a point in time when a few basketball observers thought he was a better player than, Mike!
Date of Birth: 22nd June, 1962.
Height: 6’7”
College: Houston
Draft: 14th overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers.
Points per Game: 20.4
Assists per Game: 5.6
Rebounds per Game: 6.1
Honours: Elected to Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (2004); NBA champion (1995); All-NBA First Team (1992); All-NBA Second Team (1988, '91); All-NBA Third Team (1990, '95); NBA All-Star (1986, '88, '89, 90, '91, '92, '93, '94, '96, '97); One of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996); Olympic gold medallist (1992).
Quiet by nature and playing in the small market Portland area, were two factors in why The Glide didn’t receive the attention that a player of his abilities deserved. Those who are familiar with, Drexler would come away impressed. You don’t become one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, part of the storied ’92 Dream Team and an NBA champion by being a scrub. What is disappointing is that we took so long before he got some love on this space! Sorry, Clyde.
Breaking into the NBA in 1983 after starring in college with Hakeem Olajuwon, Drexler was a great player that somehow dropped to Portland as the 14th overall pick. We can assure you that none of his fellow first round picks have achieved anything close to what Clyde has.
The Glide started slowly off the blocks, but after his less-than-stellar, rookie season, Drexler
really came to his own becoming one of the most prolific scorers in the league, whilst displaying a complete game that should have been appreciated more.
So, great was Clyde, that in the ’86-’87 season, he joined Magic Johnson and Larry Bird as one of only three players to average at least 20 points, 6 assists and 6 rebounds per game. Portland would continually be frustrated in the 80s during the playoffs, but in the early 90s they assembled a talented team that would challenge for the title with comforting regularity.
A three year run of Finals challenges would begin in ’89-’90 when Portland faced the Detroit Pistons. Drexler was irrepressible in this series, averaging a rock solid 26.4 points per game and 7.8 rebounds, including some Game 2 heroics where he nailed the winning baskets. Unfortunately, the Bad Boys of Detroit would be the first team to continually deny, Clyde’s championship ambitions.
What faced Portland the next two seasons were the Lakers making one last run with Magic, and the Jordan led Bulls – we don’t need to tell you what happened there.
Expressing increasing dissatisfaction with Portland’s inability to get over the championship hump, Drexler asked for a trade, and the Blazers obliged, shipping him off to Houston. Clyde would get that much desired championship ring which was the cherry on top for a man who had such a high flying career.
Watch today’s video to see Clyde Drexler in all his high jumping and death defying glory.
Look up in the sky... (Image from nba.com)
While, Jordan was working his magic and dominating the game, a myriad of players also toiled away in the NBA landscape, with some quietly becoming legends themselves. Not everyone was like, Mike, but why would they want to be?
Recently the name ‘Sam Bowie’ and the Portland Trail Blazers have become hot button topics once again due to what happened to Greg Oden. When discussing the 1984 Draft where, Bowie was selected before the-greatest-friggin’-baller- of-all-time, many writers (this one included) have been a tad bit revisionist in their retelling of history. What is often overlooked, is that Portland selecting, Sam wasn’t a totally dud pick because they needed a big man and who was anyone to know that, Michael Jordan would become, well, Michael Jordan?
Furthermore, the Trail Blazers had a star shooting guard of their own, Clyde ‘The Glide’ Drexler, who was athletic and a kickass basketball player to boot. In fact so good was Clyde, there was a point in time when a few basketball observers thought he was a better player than, Mike!
Date of Birth: 22nd June, 1962.
Height: 6’7”
College: Houston
Draft: 14th overall pick by the Portland Trail Blazers.
Points per Game: 20.4
Assists per Game: 5.6
Rebounds per Game: 6.1
Honours: Elected to Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame (2004); NBA champion (1995); All-NBA First Team (1992); All-NBA Second Team (1988, '91); All-NBA Third Team (1990, '95); NBA All-Star (1986, '88, '89, 90, '91, '92, '93, '94, '96, '97); One of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996); Olympic gold medallist (1992).
Quiet by nature and playing in the small market Portland area, were two factors in why The Glide didn’t receive the attention that a player of his abilities deserved. Those who are familiar with, Drexler would come away impressed. You don’t become one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, part of the storied ’92 Dream Team and an NBA champion by being a scrub. What is disappointing is that we took so long before he got some love on this space! Sorry, Clyde.
Breaking into the NBA in 1983 after starring in college with Hakeem Olajuwon, Drexler was a great player that somehow dropped to Portland as the 14th overall pick. We can assure you that none of his fellow first round picks have achieved anything close to what Clyde has.
The Glide started slowly off the blocks, but after his less-than-stellar, rookie season, Drexler
...it's Clyde the Glide! (Image from espn.com)
So, great was Clyde, that in the ’86-’87 season, he joined Magic Johnson and Larry Bird as one of only three players to average at least 20 points, 6 assists and 6 rebounds per game. Portland would continually be frustrated in the 80s during the playoffs, but in the early 90s they assembled a talented team that would challenge for the title with comforting regularity.
A three year run of Finals challenges would begin in ’89-’90 when Portland faced the Detroit Pistons. Drexler was irrepressible in this series, averaging a rock solid 26.4 points per game and 7.8 rebounds, including some Game 2 heroics where he nailed the winning baskets. Unfortunately, the Bad Boys of Detroit would be the first team to continually deny, Clyde’s championship ambitions.
What faced Portland the next two seasons were the Lakers making one last run with Magic, and the Jordan led Bulls – we don’t need to tell you what happened there.
Expressing increasing dissatisfaction with Portland’s inability to get over the championship hump, Drexler asked for a trade, and the Blazers obliged, shipping him off to Houston. Clyde would get that much desired championship ring which was the cherry on top for a man who had such a high flying career.
Watch today’s video to see Clyde Drexler in all his high jumping and death defying glory.
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Comment by charles
FanFootball
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Ponderous
First time I've actually ever heard of him tbh!
Comment by Stanley