1994–95 Portland Trail Blazers season NBA professional basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team season
The 1994–95 NBA season was the 25th season for the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association .[ 1] The Trail Blazers 25th season was marked by change as they played their final season at the Memorial Coliseum under new head coach P.J. Carlesimo .[ 2] [ 3] The team also had the 17th overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft , and selected shooting guard Aaron McKie out of Temple University .[ 4] [ 5] [ 6]
The Trail Blazers started the regular season by defeating the Los Angeles Clippers in their first two games, which were played overseas in Yokohama, Japan .[ 7] [ 8] [ 9] The team got off to a 6–6 start, and played around .500 basketball for the first half of the season, holding a 25–20 record at the All-Star break,[ 10] as Terry Porter only played just 35 games due to an ankle injury.[ 11] [ 12] [ 13] Clyde Drexler averaged 22.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.8 steals per game for the first half of the season, but was not selected for the NBA All-Star Game this season.[ 14]
On February 14, 1995, with the Trail Blazers out of serious contention for the championship, the team honored Drexler's request to be traded to a contender, sending him along with three-point specialist Tracy Murray to the defending NBA champion Houston Rockets in exchange for forward Otis Thorpe .[ 15] [ 16] [ 17] The Rockets went on to win their second straight NBA title, defeating the Orlando Magic in four straight games in the 1995 NBA Finals ; it was Drexler's first ever championship.[ 18] [ 19] [ 20] With the addition of Thorpe, the Trail Blazers finished in fourth place in the Pacific Division with a 44–38 record, and earned the seventh seed in the Western Conference ;[ 21] it was their thirteenth consecutive trip to the NBA playoffs .[ 22]
Clifford Robinson averaged 21.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, and led the Trail Blazers with 142 three-point field goals, while Rod Strickland averaged 18.9 points, 8.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game, and Thorpe played a sixth man role, averaging 13.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game off the bench in 34 games with the Blazers. In addition, Buck Williams averaged 9.2 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, and Chris Dudley led the team with 9.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. Off the bench, Harvey Grant provided the team with 9.1 points per game, while Porter contributed 8.9 points and 3.8 assists per game, second-year guard James Robinson provided with 9.2 points per game, and Jerome Kersey contributed 8.1 points per game.[ 23]
However, in the 1995 NBA playoffs , the Trail Blazers were swept in the Western Conference First Round by a 0–3 margin against the Phoenix Suns .[ 24] [ 25] [ 26] Following the season, Thorpe was traded to the Detroit Pistons ,[ 27] [ 28] [ 29] while Porter signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves ,[ 30] [ 31] [ 32] Kersey was left unprotected in the 1995 NBA expansion draft , where he was selected by the Toronto Raptors expansion team,[ 33] [ 34] [ 35] and Mark Bryant signed with the Houston Rockets .[ 36]
Draft picks
Roster
1994–95 Portland Trail Blazers roster
Players
Coaches
Head coach
Assistant(s)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended Injured
Roster
Regular season
Season standings
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot
Record vs. opponents
1994–95 NBA records
Team
ATL
BOS
CHA
CHI
CLE
DAL
DEN
DET
GSW
HOU
IND
LAC
LAL
MIA
MIL
MIN
NJN
NYK
ORL
PHI
PHO
POR
SAC
SAS
SEA
UTA
WAS
Atlanta
–
3–1
2–2
1–4
1–4
2–0
2–0
3–2
2–0
0–2
1–4
2–0
0–2
2–2
1–3
2–0
4–0
2–2
1–3
3–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
4–0
Boston
1–3
–
1–3
0–4
2–2
1–1
1–1
3–1
2–0
1–1
2–2
0–2
1–1
4–1
1–3
2–0
2–3
0–5
2–3
3–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
3–1
Charlotte
2–2
3–1
–
2–2
3–2
0–2
1–1
5–0
2–0
0–2
1–4
2–0
0–2
3–1
4–1
1–1
3–1
3–1
1–3
3–1
0–2
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
3–1
Chicago
4–1
4–0
2–2
–
2–3
1–1
1–1
5–0
2–0
1–1
2–2
1–1
1–1
3–1
1–4
2–0
2–2
3–1
1–3
4–0
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–2
Cleveland
4–1
2–2
2–3
3–2
–
0–2
1–1
2–2
2–0
0–2
2–3
1–1
1–1
1–3
4–0
1–1
4–0
2–2
1–3
3–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
3–1
Dallas
0–2
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
–
1–4
1–1
3–1
2–3
1–1
3–1
1–3
0–2
1–1
4–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
2–0
0–4
3–1
2–2
2–3
0–4
2–4
1–1
Denver
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–1
1–1
4–1
–
1–1
1–3
1–4
1–1
4–0
2–2
2–0
2–0
6–0
1–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–3
3–1
2–2
1–4
1–3
1–4
2–0
Detroit
2–3
1–3
0–5
0–5
2–2
1–1
1–1
–
1–1
0–2
2–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
2–3
1–1
2–2
1–3
1–3
4–0
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
3–1
Golden State
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–3
3–1
1–1
–
0–4
0–2
3–2
3–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–2
1–4
0–5
1–3
1–4
2–2
2–0
Houston
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–0
3–2
4–1
2–0
4–0
–
1–1
3–1
0–4
2–0
1–1
3–2
2–0
0–2
0–2
2–0
3–1
1–3
3–1
1–5
0–4
2–3
2–0
Indiana
4–1
2–2
4–1
2–2
3–2
1–1
1–1
2–2
2–0
1–1
–
2–0
1–1
2–2
3–2
2–0
3–1
1–3
2–2
4–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
0–2
3–1
L.A. Clippers
0–2
2–0
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–3
0–4
1–1
2–3
1–3
0–2
–
2–3
0–2
1–1
1–3
0–2
0–2
0–2
1–1
1–4
0–5
1–4
0–4
0–5
1–3
0–2
L.A. Lakers
2–0
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
3–1
2–2
2–0
2–3
4–0
1–1
3–2
–
1–1
1–1
3–1
2–0
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–4
2–3
3–2
1–3
4–1
2–2
2–0
Miami
2–2
1–4
1–3
1–3
3–1
2–0
0–2
3–1
1–1
0–2
2–2
2–0
1–1
–
4–0
1–1
1–3
1–4
1–3
1–4
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
0–2
4–1
Milwaukee
3–1
3–1
1–4
4–1
0–4
1–1
0–2
3–2
2–0
1–1
2–3
1–1
1–1
0–4
–
1–1
2–2
2–2
0–4
3–1
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
3–1
Minnesota
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–4
0–6
1–1
3–1
2–3
0–2
3–1
1–3
1–1
1–1
–
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–4
0–4
1–3
0–5
0–4
1–4
1–1
New Jersey
0–4
3–2
1–3
2–2
0–4
1–1
1–1
2–2
1–1
0–2
1–3
2–0
0–2
3–1
2–2
1–1
–
1–4
2–2
2–3
0–2
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
0–2
2–3
New York
2–2
5–0
1–3
1–3
2–2
2–0
2–0
3–1
1–1
2–0
3–1
2–0
2–0
4–1
2–2
2–0
4–1
–
2–3
4–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
0–2
0–2
4–0
Orlando
3–1
3–2
3–1
3–1
3–1
2–0
2–0
3–1
2–0
2–0
2–2
2–0
1–1
3–1
4–0
1–1
2–2
3–2
–
4–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
3–2
Philadelphia
1–3
1–3
1–3
0–4
1–3
0–2
1–1
0–4
1–1
0–2
0–4
1–1
1–1
4–1
1–3
1–1
3–2
0–4
1–4
–
0–2
2–0
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
3–2
Phoenix
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
4–0
3–1
1–1
2–3
1–3
1–1
4–1
4–1
2–0
2–0
4–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
–
5–0
4–1
2–2
4–1
2–2
2–0
Portland
1–1
2–0
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–3
1–3
2–0
4–1
3–1
1–1
5–0
3–2
2–0
2–0
4–0
1–1
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–5
–
3–2
1–3
2–3
1–3
2–0
Sacramento
1–1
1–1
1–1
2–0
1–1
2–2
2–2
1–1
5–0
1–3
0–2
4–1
2–3
2–0
1–1
3–1
1–1
0–2
1–1
1–1
1–4
2–3
–
0–4
3–2
0–4
1–1
San Antonio
1–1
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
3–2
4–1
2–0
3–1
5–1
0–2
4–0
3–1
2–0
2–0
5–0
2–0
1–1
1–1
2–0
2–2
3–1
4–0
–
2–2
3–2
2–0
Seattle
2–0
1–1
0–2
2–0
2–0
4–0
3–1
2–0
4–1
4–0
1–1
5–0
1–4
2–0
2–0
4–0
1–1
2–0
2–0
2–0
1–4
3–2
2–3
2–2
–
1–3
2–0
Utah
2–0
2–0
0–2
2–0
1–1
4–2
4–1
2–0
2–2
3–2
2–0
3–1
2–2
2–0
2–0
4–1
2–0
2–0
1–1
2–0
2–2
3–1
4–0
2–3
3–1
–
2–0
Washington
0–4
1–3
1–3
2–2
1–3
1–1
0–2
1–3
0–2
0–2
1–3
2–0
0–2
1–4
1–3
1–1
3–2
0–4
2–3
2–3
0–2
0–2
1–1
0–2
0–2
0–2
—
Game log
1994–95 game log Total: 44–38 (home: 26–15; road: 18–23)
November: 6–6 (home: 3–3; road: 3–3)
December: 7–7 (home: 7–3; road: 0–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
January: 9–6 (home: 3–2; road: 6–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
February: 8–4 (home: 6–1; road: 2–3)
March: 7–10 (home: 3–4; road: 4–6)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
April: 7–5 (home: 4–2; road: 3–3)
1994–95 schedule
Playoffs
1995 playoff game log
First round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2)
1995 schedule
Player statistics
Season
Playoffs
Player Statistics Citation:[ 23]
Awards and records
The Trail Blazers did not win any awards for the 1994–95 season.
Transactions
Trades
Free agents
Player Transactions Citation:[ 37]
References
^ 1994-95 Portland Trail Blazers
^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Carlesimo Leaves Hall to Coach Trail Blazers" . The New York Times . June 24, 1994. Retrieved September 22, 2022 .
^ "Trail Blazers Pick Carlesimo" . Los Angeles Times . Staff and Wire Reports. June 24, 1994. Retrieved February 25, 2023 .
^ "Huge Contract, Big Expectations Await No. 1 Draft Pick Robinson" . Deseret News . Associated Press. June 30, 1994. Retrieved June 3, 2023 .
^ Baker, Chris (June 30, 1994). "NBA DRAFT: Clippers Select Murray: Pro Basketball: Cal Forward Drafted Amid Rumors of Impending Mark Jackson Trade" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved June 3, 2023 .
^ "1994 NBA Draft" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 3, 2023 .
^ "Clippers and Blazers to Open NBA Season in Japan" . United Press International. July 7, 1994. Retrieved January 30, 2023 .
^ "Change of Hemisphere Doesn't Help Clippers" . Los Angeles Times . Staff and Wire Reports. November 5, 1994. Retrieved September 22, 2022 .
^ "Clippers End Poor Foreign Experience: Pro Basketball: Twenty-Five Turnovers Are Key Factor in a 112-95 Loss to the Trail Blazers" . Los Angeles Times . Staff and Wire Reports. November 6, 1994. Retrieved July 24, 2017 .
^ "NBA Games Played on February 9, 1995" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 18, 2022 .
^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Blazers' Robinson Calls Off His Holdout" . The New York Times . October 26, 1994. Retrieved January 17, 2022 .
^ "Robinson In, Porter Out for Blazers" . Tampa Bay Times . October 26, 1994. Retrieved January 30, 2023 .
^ Evans, Richard (November 29, 1994). "Blazers Boast New Weapon: Defense" . Deseret News . Retrieved November 8, 2022 .
^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (February 1, 1995). "Ceballos Awoken by All-Star Alarm Call: Pro Basketball: Forward Is Chosen as a Reserve for Game in Phoenix by Western Conference Coaches" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved January 2, 2023 .
^ "PRO BASKETBALL; Drexler Traded for Otis Thorpe" . The New York Times . Associated Press. February 15, 1995. Retrieved March 10, 2017 .
^ Heisler, Mark (February 15, 1995). "Portland Trades Drexler to Rockets: Pro Basketball: Trail Blazers Escape $9.75-Million Balloon Payment Due Next Season, Get Thorpe and a No. 1 Pick" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved May 26, 2022 .
^ "Drexler to Rockets; Blazers Deal Disgruntled Star, Murray for Thorpe, Pick" . The Spokesman-Review . Wire Reports. February 15, 1995. Retrieved December 13, 2022 .
^ Brown, Clifton (June 15, 1995). "1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Rockets Sweep to 2d Straight Championship" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 30, 2021 .
^ Howard-Cooper, Scott (June 15, 1995). "NBA FINALS: Two-Ring Circus Hits Houston: Pro Basketball: Olajuwon (who else?) Is MVP Again After Leading Rockets to Sweep of Magic" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved June 6, 2022 .
^ "1995 NBA Finals: Rockets vs. Magic" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2023 .
^ "1994–95 Portland Trail Blazers Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 23, 2021 .
^ "Portland Trail Blazers" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 19, 2022 .
^ a b "1994–95 Portland Trail Blazers Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 23, 2021 .
^ "1995 N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Suns, Spurs and Pacers Make It a Sweeps Night" . The New York Times . Associated Press. May 3, 1995. Retrieved May 26, 2022 .
^ "Spurs, Suns, Pacers Complete Sweeps" . Deseret News . Associated Press. May 3, 1995. Retrieved June 6, 2022 .
^ "1995 NBA Western Conference First Round: Trail Blazers vs. Suns" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2023 .
^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Trail Blazers Trade Thorpe to Pistons" . The New York Times . September 21, 1995. Retrieved December 30, 2021 .
^ "Pistons Get Thorpe for Rookie Childress" . Los Angeles Times . Staff and Wire Reports. September 21, 1995. Retrieved July 24, 2022 .
^ "Blazers, Pistons Cut Deal" . The Spokesman-Review . September 21, 1995. Retrieved December 19, 2022 .
^ "Timberwolves Sign Free Agent Porter" . The Register-Guard . News Service Reports. October 15, 1995. p. 2F. Retrieved October 30, 2024 .
^ Smith, Sam (October 15, 1995). "Rookies Provide Proviso Influence" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved January 29, 2023 .
^ "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; McHale Moves to Improve Timberwolves" . The New York Times . October 17, 1995. Retrieved July 25, 2022 .
^ Wise, Mike (June 25, 1995). "PRO BASKETBALL; Anthony Is No. 2 of the Secaucus 27" . The New York Times . Retrieved October 5, 2022 .
^ Heisler, Mark (June 25, 1995). "Armstrong Becomes Top Expansion Pick: NBA: Raptors Take Guard from Bulls. Massenburg Also Headed to Toronto, While Lakers Lose Harvey to Vancouver" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved December 20, 2022 .
^ "1995 NBA Expansion Draft" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
^ Winderman, Ira (September 29, 1995). "Free Agent Herrera to Sign with Spurs" . Sun Sentinel . Retrieved June 30, 2022 .
^ "1994–95 Portland Trail Blazers Transactions" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 3, 2021 .
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