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Some other Great Players



                 
 Clyde "the Glide" Drexler

The Glide was a draft choice steal by the Portland Trailblazers, by far the most enduring and valuable player in this year's class. He identifies two of his role models as Dr. J  and Walt "Clyde" Frazier. Clyde, has adopted Walt's nickname and done it justice, exemplifying the open court and above the rim style of play of both of his childhood idols. Fortunately, he was also able to compete against Erving. This versatile 6-7 shooting guard (who can run, shoot, pass, rebound, defend, steal and block) brings electricity to the court. After being frustrated in his NBA title hopes in Portland, Clyde finally won an NBA Championship in Houston with his college alum, Hakeem Olajuwon in 1995. He was dealt to the Rockets in a much debated trade that sent Otis Thorpe to Portland. Thorpe no longer is in Rip City, and Clyde made a drive for a second consecutive NBA championship, although his Rockets team fell short. Clyde has had problems staying healthy over the last half of his career, not playing a full 82 game season since 1990-91. In 1996-97, Drexler once again tried to win a second NBA title with fellow dream teamers Charles Barkley and Hakeem Olajuwon. Unfortunately, the Jazz bumped off the Rockets in the Western Conference Finals.
Drexler leads almost all of Portland's all time statistics lists including: games (867), minutes (29,526), points (18,040), rebounds (5,339) and steals (1,795). He also led the Blazers to two NBA Finals, losing both times (1990 and 1992).

Clyde is certain to be a hall of famer. He has impressive career statistics, and has been named to 5 All-NBA teams over his career: The First Team in 1992, the Second Team in 1988 and 1991 and the Third team in 1990 and 1995. On opening night of the 1996 Basketball season, Drexler fell one assist short of a quadruple double with 10 steals, 10 rebounds, 25 points and 9 assists. Clyde started his first all-star game in 1992, as the West's second leading vote getter, he had played in the game five times previously as a reserve. Overall, he has been to the All-Star Game ten times (1986, 1988-1994, 1996-1997). Glide also brought his high flying show to the slam dunk competition for 4 years (1984, 1985, 1987 and 1989). He took a step away from the basket later in his career, developing a deadly three point shot leading to his selection to compete in the Long Distance Shootout in 1991. He was a member of the first Dream Team winnning the Gold in Barcelona. He has led shooting guards in assists and all guards in rebounds on several occasions. Clyde became the fifth player in NBA history to record 2,000 career steals. He currently ranks fourth on the all-time list. He is also one of the top 25 scorers of all time with around 20,000 career points. In addition to scoring over a long career, he can also light up the court and score ala Jordan, dumping in 40 or more points all at once, including scoring 50 against Sacramento on January 6, 1989.
What he brings to the court can't be simply measured in his remarkable numbers, nor in his uncanny ability to win difficult games and motivate his teamates to achieve above their potential. No, Clyde's professional demeanor, class, work ethic and good natured sportsmanship makes him one of the most loved, and respected NBA players in the category of Bird, Magic and Michael. His stellar career is already being recognized, as his #22 jersey was retired by the University of Houston on February 12, 1997. The Houston Rockets retired his #22 Jersey on Febrary 3rd, 2000. After leaving the NBA, Clyde had a two year stint as the head coach of the University of Houston's Basketball team, but he resigned, wanting to spend more time with his family.

Clyde's Stats
Pts
Reb
Ast
Stl
College
14.4
9.9
3.2
2.8
1984-85
7.7
2.9
1.9
1.3
1985-86
17.2
5.6
5.5
2.2
1986-87
21.7
6.3
6.9
2.5
1987-88
27.0
6.8
5.8
2.5
1988-89
27.2
7.9
5.8
2.7
1989-90
23.3
6.9
5.9
2.0
1990-91
21.5
6.7
6.0
1.8
1991-92
25.0
6.6
6.7
1.8
1992-93
19.9
6.3
5.7
1.9
1993-94
19.2
6.5
4.9
1.4
1994-95
21.8
6.3
4.8
1.8
1995-96
19.3
7.2
5.8
2.0
1996-97
18.0
6.0
5.7
1.9
1997-98
18.4
4.9
5.5
1.5
Career
20.4
6.1
5.6
2.4






           
 Bill Walton

Bill Walton was picked by the Portland Trailblazers with the number one selection in the 1974 NBA Draft after a stellar college basketball career at UCLA under John Wooden. He won NCAA Championships in 1972 and 1973. He rarely missed a shot in the NCAA tournament, holding the career FG record with 68.6% and the one year record (1973) of 76.3% shooting 45 for 59. His accurate FG shooting led to his being named the tournament MVP in 1972 and 1973. The Sporting News named him the NCAA player of the year from 1972-1974 (3 awards). His success tranferred to the NBA where he led the Blazers to their one and only NBA title in 1977, very early in their young history. In 1977 he led the NBA in blocks and rebounding. He was also named the NBA's MVP in 1978.
His career was hampered by injuries, who knows what he could have done if he had been able to play as many games as contemporaries Kareem and Moses Malone. After Walton missed all of the 1978-79 season, Portland grew tired of his fragility and he was picked up by the Clippers for Kevin Kunnert, Kermit Washington, a First Round Draft Choice in 1980 and some cash. Bill disapeared for several years in San Diego (1979-1985) where he also missed 2 full seasons and many more games to injury. He was traded to Boston in 1985 for Cedric Maxwell. With the Celtics he won his second NBA championship, this time alongside fellow All-Time NBA Greats Larry Bird, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale. He also won the NBA Sixth Man Award that same season. Figuring he done it all, twice, Walton retired shortly after the 1986-87 season. Bill was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1993. Walton remains active in basketball, currently as an opinionated broadcaster for NBC sports. Walton was recently named to the list of the NBA's 50 All-Time Greatest Players.

Walton was an excellent passer, maybe one of the best of all time from the center position. He could also rebound with the best of the big men and was a ferocious defender, being named to the All-NBA Defensive Team in 1977 and 1978. He was not a shabby offensive player, either. His favorite weapon was a sweet jump hook that he could hit from anywhere around the basket and with either hand. Walton played 10 years, but only in 468 career games.

Walton's Stats:    PPG     RPG     APG    BlkPG
Career            13.3    10.5     3.4     2.2




 Julius Erving "Dr J"







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