# 1994–95 Portland Trail Blazers season

The 1994–95 Portland Trail Blazers season was the 25th season for the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association. The Trail Blazers 25th season was marked by change as they played their final season at the Memorial Coliseum with new head coach P.J. Carlesimo. The team also had the seventeenth overall pick in the 1994 NBA draft, and selected Aaron McKie out of Temple University. 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. The team got off to a 6–6 start, and played around .500 for the first half of the season, holding a 25–20 record at the All-Star break, as Terry Porter only played just 35 games due to an ankle injury.
Clyde Drexler averaged 22.0 points per game for the first half of the season, but was not selected for the All-Star Game in Phoenix, Arizona. 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. The Rockets went on to win their second straight title defeating the Orlando Magic in four straight games, and Drexler's first ever championship.
The Trail Blazers finished the season with a 44–38 record, fourth place in the Pacific Division, and in seventh place in the Western Conference. It was their thirteenth straight trip to the postseason. Clifford Robinson averaged 21.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, 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.
However, in the playoffs, the Trail Blazers were swept in the Western Conference First Round by a 0–3 margin against the Phoenix Suns. Following the season, Thorpe was traded to the Detroit Pistons, while Porter signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Kersey was left unprotected in the 1995 NBA Expansion Draft, where he was selected by the newly expansion Toronto Raptors, and Mark Bryant signed with the Houston Rockets.

## Draft picks

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | Nationality | School/Club Team |
| 1 | 17 | Aaron McKie | SG | United States | Temple |
| 2 | 43 | Shawnelle Scott | C | United States | St. John's |

## Regular season
### Season standings

| Pacific Divisionvte | W | L | PCT | GB | Home | Road | Div |
| y-Phoenix Suns | 59 | 23 | .720 | — | 32–9 | 27–14 | 23–7 |
| x-Seattle SuperSonics | 57 | 25 | .695 | 2 | 32–9 | 25–16 | 16–14 |
| x-Los Angeles Lakers | 48 | 34 | .585 | 11 | 29–12 | 19–22 | 15–15 |
| x-Portland Trail Blazers | 44 | 38 | .537 | 15 | 26–15 | 18–23 | 17–13 |
| Sacramento Kings | 39 | 43 | .476 | 20 | 27–14 | 12–29 | 17–13 |
| Golden State Warriors | 26 | 56 | .317 | 33 | 15–26 | 11–30 | 11–19 |
| Los Angeles Clippers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 42 | 13–28 | 4–37 | 6–24 |
| # | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte | Western Conferencevte |
| # | Team | W | L | PCT | GB |
| 1 | z-San Antonio Spurs | 62 | 20 | .756 | – |
| 2 | y-Phoenix Suns | 59 | 23 | .720 | 3 |
| 3 | x-Utah Jazz | 60 | 22 | .732 | 2 |
| 4 | x-Seattle SuperSonics | 57 | 25 | .695 | 5 |
| 5 | x-Los Angeles Lakers | 48 | 34 | .585 | 14 |
| 6 | x-Houston Rockets | 47 | 35 | .573 | 15 |
| 7 | x-Portland Trail Blazers | 44 | 38 | .537 | 18 |
| 8 | x-Denver Nuggets | 41 | 41 | .500 | 21 |
| 9 | Sacramento Kings | 39 | 43 | .476 | 23 |
| 10 | Dallas Mavericks | 36 | 46 | .439 | 26 |
| 11 | Golden State Warriors | 26 | 56 | .317 | 36 |
| 12 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 21 | 61 | .256 | 41 |
| 13 | Los Angeles Clippers | 17 | 65 | .207 | 45 |
    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)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
8
November 22, 1994 5:30 p.m. PST
@ Houston
W 102–94
Drexler (30)
Robinson (13)
Robinson (9)
The Summit 16,611
5–3 :
December: 7–7 (home: 7–3; road: 0–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
January: 9–6 (home: 3–2; road: 6–4)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
February: 8–4 (home: 6–1; road: 2–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
44
February 6, 1995 7:00 p.m. PST
Houston
W 120–82
Robinson (20)
Kersey (14)
Drexler (7)
Memorial Coliseum 12,888
24–20
All-Star Break :
March: 7–10 (home: 3–4; road: 4–6)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord :
April: 7–5 (home: 4–2; road: 3–3)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceRecord
73
April 7, 1995 7:00 p.m. PDT
Houston
W 127–109
Strickland (27)
Robinson (8)
Strickland (10)
Memorial Coliseum 12,888
39–34
76
April 13, 1995 5:30 p.m. PDT
@ Houston
L 99–112
Strickland (22)
Thorpe (14)
Strickland (5)
The Summit 16,611
40–36 :
1994–95 schedule :

## Playoffs

1995 playoff game log :
First round: 0–3 (home: 0–1; road: 0–2)
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation AttendanceSeries
1
April 28
@ Phoenix
L 102–129
Rod Strickland (23)
Grant, Dudley (7)
Rod Strickland (13)
America West Arena 19,023
0–1
2
April 30
@ Phoenix
L 94–103
Rod Strickland (26)
Buck Williams (7)
Rod Strickland (12)
America West Arena 19,023
0–2
3
May 2
Phoenix
L 109–117
Rod Strickland (21)
Clifford Robinson (10)
Rod Strickland (12)
Memorial Coliseum 12,888
0–3 :
1995 schedule :

## Player statistics
### Season

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Mark Bryant | 49 | 0 | 13.4 | .526 | .500 | .651 | 3.3 | .6 | .4 | .3 | 5.0 |
| Clyde Drexler | 41 | 41 | 34.8 | .428 | .363 | .835 | 5.7 | 5.1 | 1.8 | .5 | 22.0 |
| Chris Dudley | 82 | 82 | 27.4 | .406 | .000 | .464 | 9.3 | .4 | .5 | 1.5 | 5.5 |
| James Edwards | 28 | 0 | 9.5 | .386 | .000 | .647 | 1.5 | .3 | .2 | .3 | 2.7 |
| Harvey Grant | 75 | 14 | 23.6 | .461 | .308 | .705 | 3.8 | 1.1 | .7 | .7 | 9.1 |
| Steve Henson | 37 | 0 | 10.3 | .430 | .442 | .880 | .7 | 2.3 | .2 | .0 | 3.2 |
| Jerome Kersey | 63 | 0 | 18.1 | .415 | .259 | .766 | 4.1 | 1.3 | .8 | .6 | 8.1 |
| Aaron McKie | 45 | 20 | 18.4 | .444 | .393 | .685 | 2.9 | 2.0 | .8 | .4 | 6.5 |
| Tracy Murray | 29 | 3 | 10.8 | .412 | .390 | .824 | 1.3 | .5 | .2 | .0 | 5.9 |
| Terry Porter | 35 | 9 | 22.0 | .393 | .386 | .707 | 2.3 | 3.8 | .9 | .1 | 8.9 |
| Clifford Robinson | 75 | 73 | 36.3 | .452 | .371 | .694 | 5.6 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 21.3 |
| James Robinson | 71 | 25 | 21.7 | .409 | .341 | .591 | 1.9 | 2.5 | .7 | .2 | 9.2 |
| Rod Strickland | 64 | 61 | 35.4 | .466 | .374 | .745 | 5.0 | 8.8 | 1.9 | .1 | 18.9 |
| Otis Thorpe | 34 | 0 | 26.7 | .568 | .000 | .649 | 6.9 | 1.6 | .6 | .4 | 13.5 |
| Buck Williams | 82 | 82 | 29.5 | .512 | .500 | .673 | 8.2 | 1.0 | .8 | .8 | 9.2 |

### Playoffs

| Player | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
| Mark Bryant | 2 | 0 | 3.0 | .500 | .000 | .000 | 1.0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | 1.0 |
| Chris Dudley | 3 | 3 | 19.7 | .667 | .000 | .375 | 5.0 | .3 | .0 | .3 | 2.3 |
| James Edwards | 1 | 0 | 4.0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 | .0 |
| Harvey Grant | 3 | 3 | 38.3 | .500 | .556 | .625 | 5.3 | 2.0 | 1.0 | .7 | 14.3 |
| Jerome Kersey | 3 | 0 | 21.0 | .571 | .000 | .667 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 1.0 | .3 | 12.7 |
| Aaron McKie | 3 | 0 | 11.3 | .571 | .500 | .000 | .7 | .3 | 1.0 | .0 | 5.7 |
| Terry Porter | 3 | 0 | 7.0 | .538 | .400 | .600 | .7 | 1.3 | .0 | .0 | 6.3 |
| Clifford Robinson | 3 | 3 | 39.7 | .362 | .235 | 563 | 6.3 | 2.7 | .7 | .3 | 15.7 |
| James Robinson | 2 | 0 | 2.0 | .667 | .667 | .000 | .0 | .5 | .0 | .0 | 3.0 |
| Rod Strickland | 3 | 3 | 42.0 | .415 | .400 | .778 | 4.0 | 12.3 | 1.0 | .7 | 23.3 |
| Otis Thorpe | 3 | 0 | 22.0 | .571 | .000 | .700 | 4.3 | .7 | .0 | .0 | 10.3 |
| Buck Williams | 3 | 3 | 34.3 | .600 | .000 | .636 | 6.3 | .3 | 1.3 | .7 | 8.3 |
Player Statistics Citation:

## Awards and records

The Trail Blazers did not win any awards for the 1994–95 season.

## Transactions
### Trades

| February 14, 1995 | To Portland Trail BlazersOtis Thorpe Cash considerations 1995 first-round pick | To Houston RocketsClyde Drexler Tracy Murray |

### Free agents

Additions :
| Player | Date signed | Former team |
| James Edwards | September 19 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| Elmer Bennett | October 4 | Fargo-Moorhead Fever (CBA) |
| Negele Knight | October 27 | San Antonio Spurs |
| Jerome Kersey | October 18 | Portland Trail Blazers |
| Steve Henson | November 20 | Mexico Aztecas (CBA) |
Subtractions :
| Player | Date signed | New Team |
| Elmer Bennett | October 28 | Oklahoma City Cavalry (CBA) |
| Shawnelle Scott | October 28 | Oklahoma City Cavalry (CBA) |
| Jaren Jackson | November 1 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| Negele Knight | December 18 | Detroit Pistons |
Player Transactions Citation: