NBA professional basketball team season
NBA professional basketball team season
The
1995β96 NBA season was the 26th season for the
Portland Trail Blazers in the
National Basketball Association .
[1] After spending their first 25 years at the
Memorial Coliseum , the Blazers began playing at the new
Rose Garden Arena this season.
[2]
[3] The team acquired the eighth overall pick in the
1995 NBA draft from the
Detroit Pistons , and selected
Shawn Respert out of
Michigan State University ,
[4] but soon traded him to the
Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for top draft pick
Gary Trent out of
Ohio University .
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8] Rookie center
Arvydas Sabonis from
Lithuania , who was drafted 24th overall by the Blazers in the
1986 NBA draft , would finally make his debut in the NBA.
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12] The Blazers held a 24β24 record at the All-Star break,
[13] and struggled playing below .500 afterwards, posting a 26β34 record as of March 5. However, they would win 18 of their final 22 games to finish the season with a 44β38 record, which was the same record as the previous season.
[14] The team finished fourth in the Pacific Division and sixth in the Western Conference, making their 14th straight trip to the postseason, and 19th in 20 years.
[15]
Clifford Robinson averaged 21.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, while
Rod Strickland averaged 18.7 points, 9.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game, and Sabonis provided the team with 14.5 points and 8.1 rebounds per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. In addition, second-year guard
Aaron McKie contributed 10.7 points per game, while
Harvey Grant provided with 9.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Off the bench,
James Robinson contributed 8.5 points per game, and Trent provided with 7.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. On the defensive side,
Buck Williams averaged 7.3 points and 5.8 rebounds per game off the bench, and
Chris Dudley contributed 5.1 points, and led the team with 9.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.
[16] Sabonis also finished in second place in both
Rookie of the Year ,
[17]
[18]
[19] and
Sixth Man of the Year voting.
[20]
[21]
[22]
In the
playoffs , the Blazers were knocked out in the Western Conference First Round again, losing to the
Utah Jazz in five games, suffering a 38-point margin in a 102β64 road loss in Game 5.
[23]
[24]
[25]
[26]
Following the season, Strickland, who feuded with head coach
P.J. Carlesimo during the season,
[27]
[28]
[29]
[30] was traded along with Grant to the
Washington Bullets , whom Grant used to play for,
[31]
[32]
[33]
[34] while Williams signed as a free agent with the
New York Knicks ,
[35]
[36]
[37] and Robinson was traded to the
Minnesota Timberwolves .
[38]
[39]
1995β96 Portland Trail Blazers roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
G
12
Childress, Randolph
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
188 lb (85 kg)
1972β09β21
Wake Forest
F
38
Cook, Anthony
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1967β03β19
Arizona
F
β
Curley, Bill (IN)
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1972β05β29
Boston College
C
24
Dudley, Chris
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1965β02β22
Yale
F
44
Grant, Harvey
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1965β07β04
Oklahoma
G
23
McKie, Aaron
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
209 lb (95 kg)
1972β10β02
Temple
F
3
Robinson, Clifford
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1966β12β16
Connecticut
G
26
Robinson, James
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1970β08β31
Alabama
G
21
Robinson, Rumeal
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
1966β11β13
Michigan
C
11
Sabonis, Arvydas
7 ft 3 in (2.21 m)
279 lb (127 kg)
1964β12β19
Lithuania
C
27
Spencer, Elmore
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
270 lb (122 kg)
1969β12β06
UNLV
G
1
Strickland, Rod
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
1966β07β11
DePaul
F
33
Trent, Gary
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
250 lb (113 kg)
1974β09β22
Ohio
F
52
Williams, Buck
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
1960β03β08
Maryland
F
10
Wingfield, Dontonio
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
256 lb (116 kg)
1974β06β23
Cincinnati
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended(IN) Inactive Injured
Roster
Power forward
Bill Curley missed the entire season due to an ankle injury, and never played for the Trail Blazers.
[39]
[40]
z β clinched division title
y β clinched division title
x β clinched playoff spot
1995-96 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
TOR
UTA
VAN
WAS
Atlanta
β
4β0
3β1
0β4
3β1
1β1
1β1
2β2
1β1
1β1
1β3
2β0
0β2
2β2
2β2
1β1
4β0
2β1
2β2
2β1
0β2
2β0
2β0
0β2
0β2
4β0
1β1
2β0
1β3
Boston
0β4
β
2β2
0β3
1β3
0β2
1β1
2β1
0β2
1β1
0β4
2β0
0β2
3β1
3β1
2β0
2β2
0β4
1β3
4β0
1β1
0β2
2β0
0β2
0β2
3β1
0β2
1β1
2β2
Charlotte
1β3
2β2
β
1β3
3β1
2β0
2β0
1β3
0β2
0β2
1β3
1β1
2β0
2β2
3β1
1β1
0β3
3β0
0β4
3β1
2β0
1β1
1β1
0β2
0β2
3β1
1β1
2β0
3β1
Chicago
4β0
3β0
3β1
β
4β0
2β0
1β1
4β0
2β0
2β0
2β2
2β0
2β0
3β1
4β0
2β0
3β0
3β1
3β1
4β0
1β1
2β0
2β0
2β0
1β1
3β1
2β0
2β0
4β0
Cleveland
1β3
3β1
1β3
0β4
β
2β0
1β1
2β2
2β0
1β1
2β2
2β0
2β0
1β3
4β0
2β0
1β2
3β1
1β2
4β0
2β0
1β1
1β1
0β2
0β2
3β1
0β2
2β0
3β1
Dallas
1β1
2β0
0β2
0β2
0β2
β
2β2
0β2
2β2
1β3
0β2
2β2
0β4
0β2
1β1
0β4
1β1
0β2
1β1
0β2
1β3
0β4
2β2
2β2
2β2
1β1
1β3
4β0
0β2
Denver
1β1
1β1
0β2
1β1
1β1
2β2
β
1β1
2β2
1β3
0β2
1β3
2β2
0β2
1β1
4β0
0β2
1β1
1β1
2β0
3β1
0β4
0β4
0β4
1β3
2β0
3β1
3β1
1β1
Detroit
2β2
1β2
3β1
0β4
2β2
2β0
1β1
β
2β0
1β1
2β2
2β0
0β2
1β3
2β2
1β1
4β0
0β4
1β3
4β0
2β0
2β0
1β1
2β0
1β1
4β0
0β2
2β0
1β2
Golden State
1β1
2β0
2β0
0β2
0β2
2β2
2β2
0β2
β
2β2
1β1
3β1
1β3
1β1
1β1
3β1
2β0
0β2
0β2
2β0
1β3
1β3
1β3
1β3
0β4
1β1
1β3
4β0
1β1
Houston
1β1
1β1
2β0
0β2
1β1
3β1
3β1
1β1
2β2
β
2β0
4β0
3β1
0β2
2β0
2β2
2β0
0β2
0β2
2β0
3β1
2β2
2β2
1β3
0β4
2β0
2β2
4β0
1β1
Indiana
3β1
4β0
3β1
2β2
2β2
2β0
2β0
2β2
1β1
0β2
β
2β0
1β1
3β0
3β1
1β1
1β3
1β3
2β2
3β1
1β1
1β1
0β2
1β1
2β0
4β0
0β2
2β0
3β0
L.A. Clippers
0β2
0β2
1β1
0β2
0β2
2β2
3β1
0β2
1β3
0β4
0β2
β
0β4
1β1
1β1
3β1
1β1
1β1
0β2
2β0
3β1
2β2
2β2
1β3
0β4
0β2
1β3
3β1
1β1
L.A. Lakers
2β0
2β0
0β2
0β2
0β2
4β0
2β2
2β0
3β1
1β3
1β1
4β0
β
2β0
2β0
3β1
2β0
1β1
1β1
1β1
3β1
2β2
3β1
1β3
2β2
2β0
2β2
4β0
1β1
Miami
2β2
1β3
2β2
1β3
3β1
2β0
2β0
3β1
1β1
2β0
0β3
1β1
0β2
β
3β0
1β1
5β0
1β3
1β3
3β1
1β1
0β2
1β1
1β1
0β2
2β1
0β2
1β1
2β2
Milwaukee
2β2
1β3
1β3
0β4
0β4
1β1
1β1
2β2
1β1
0β2
1β3
1β1
0β2
0β3
β
1β1
1β3
2β2
1β3
2β1
0β2
2β0
0β2
1β1
0β2
2β2
0β2
1β1
1β3
Minnesota
1β1
0β2
1β1
0β2
0β2
4β0
0β4
1β1
1β3
2β2
1β1
1β3
1β3
1β1
1β1
β
1β1
0β2
0β2
1β1
1β3
0β4
3β1
1β3
0β4
1β1
1β3
2β2
0β2
New Jersey
0β4
2β2
3β0
0β3
2β1
1β1
2β0
0β4
0β2
0β2
3β1
1β1
0β2
0β5
3β1
1β1
β
2β2
0β4
2β2
0β2
1β1
1β1
0β2
0β2
2β2
0β2
2β0
2β2
New York
1β2
4β0
0β3
1β3
1β3
2β0
1β1
4β0
2β0
2β0
3β1
1β1
1β1
3β1
2β2
2β0
2β2
β
1β3
3β1
0β2
0β2
0β2
1β1
1β1
4β0
1β1
1β1
3β1
Orlando
2β2
3β1
4β0
1β3
2β1
1β1
1β1
3β1
2β0
2β0
2β2
2β0
1β1
3β1
3β1
2β0
4β0
3β1
β
4β0
2β0
1β1
1β1
1β1
1β1
2β1
1β1
2β0
4β0
Philadelphia
1β2
0β4
1β3
0β4
0β4
2β0
0β2
0β4
0β2
0β2
1β3
0β2
1β1
1β3
1β2
1β1
2β2
1β3
0β4
β
0β2
0β2
0β2
0β2
0β2
3β1
1β1
1β1
1β3
Phoenix
2β0
1β1
0β2
1β1
0β2
3β1
1β3
0β2
3β1
1β3
1β1
1β3
1β3
1β1
2β0
3β1
2β0
2β0
0β2
2β0
β
2β2
2β2
1β3
0β4
2β0
1β3
4β0
2β0
Portland
0β2
2β0
1β1
0β2
1β1
4β0
4β0
0β2
3β1
2β2
1β1
2β2
2β2
2β0
0β2
4β0
1β1
2β0
1β1
2β0
2β2
β
1β3
1β3
1β3
2β0
1β3
2β2
0β2
Sacramento
0β2
0β2
1β1
0β2
1β1
2β2
4β0
1β1
3β1
2β2
2β0
2β2
1β3
1β1
2β0
1β3
1β1
2β0
1β1
2β0
2β2
3β1
β
1β3
0β4
2β0
0β4
2β2
0β2
San Antonio
2β0
2β0
2β0
0β2
2β0
2β2
4β0
0β2
3β1
3β1
1β1
3β1
3β1
1β1
1β1
3β1
2β0
1β1
1β1
2β0
3β1
3β1
3β1
β
2β2
2β0
3β1
4β0
1β1
Seattle
2β0
2β0
2β0
1β1
2β0
2β2
3β1
1β1
4β0
4β0
0β2
4β0
2β2
2β0
2β0
4β0
2β0
1β1
1β1
2β0
4β0
3β1
4β0
2β2
β
1β1
3β1
3β1
1β1
Toronto
0β4
1β3
1β3
1β3
1β3
1β1
0β2
0β4
1β1
0β2
0β4
2β0
0β2
1β2
2β2
1β1
2β2
0β4
1β2
1β3
0β2
0β2
0β2
0β2
1β1
β
0β2
1β1
3β1
Utah
1β1
2β0
1β1
0β2
2β0
3β1
1β3
2β0
3β1
2β2
2β0
3β1
2β2
2β0
2β0
3β1
2β0
1β1
1β1
1β1
3β1
3β1
4β0
1β3
1β3
2β0
β
4β0
1β1
Vancouver
0β2
1β1
0β2
0β2
0β2
0β4
1β3
0β2
0β4
0β4
0β2
1β3
0β4
1β1
1β1
2β2
0β2
1β1
0β2
1β1
0β4
2β2
2β2
0β4
1β3
1β1
0β4
β
0β2
Washington
3β1
2β2
1β3
0β4
1β3
2β0
1β1
2β1
1β1
1β1
0β3
1β1
1β1
2β2
3β1
2β0
2β2
1β3
0β4
3β1
0β2
2β0
2β0
1β1
1β1
1β3
1β1
2β0
β
1996 playoff game log
First round: 2β3 (home: 2β0; road: 0β3)
1996 schedule
β Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Trail Blazers only.
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(February 2013 )
^
1995-96 Portland Trail Blazers
^
"Grizzlies Win Behind Benjamin" . The New York Times . Associated Press. November 4, 1995. Retrieved May 25, 2022 .
^
"NBA ROUNDUP: Grizzlies, Raptors Welcome Reality with Big Victories" . Los Angeles Times . Staff and Wire Reports. November 4, 1995. Retrieved November 18, 2022 .
^
"1995 NBA Draft" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved December 1, 2022 .
^ Wise, Mike (June 29, 1995).
"PRO BASKETBALL; Underclassmen Rule Atop N.B.A. Draft Board" . The New York Times . Retrieved July 25, 2021 .
^ Heisler, Mark (June 29, 1995).
"NBA Is a Young Man's Game: Draft: Smith, McDyess, Stackhouse, Wallace and Garnett Lead the Way" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved December 3, 2022 .
^
"NBA DRAFT: Clippers Deal No. 2 McDyess to Nuggets: Pro Basketball: L.A. Gets Rodney Rogers and Rights to Oregon State's Brent Barry. O'Bannon Goes Ninth to New Jersey, and Zidek Is Selected No. 22 by Charlotte" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. June 29, 1995. Retrieved July 24, 2022 .
^ Nakamura, David (June 29, 1995).
"Joe Goes West as Warriors Make Smith No. 1 Pick" . The Washington Post . Retrieved June 3, 2023 .
^
"NBA Locks Out Refs After Pledge Rejected" . Los Angeles Times . Staff and Wire Reports. September 30, 1995. Retrieved January 30, 2023 .
^ Schabner, Dean (February 10, 1996).
"Sabonis at Home in NBA" . United Press International . Retrieved June 19, 2021 .
^ Heisler, Mark (April 21, 1996).
"Curtain Call: As an NBA Rookie at 31, Sabonis Shows Some of That Old Soviet Brilliance, But, Oh, What Might Have Been" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved October 7, 2022 .
^ Taylor, Phil (April 22, 1996).
"Catch This! With a Big Assist from Aged Rookie Arvydas Sabonis, the Blazers Are Suddenly Red-Hot" . Sports Illustrated Vault . Retrieved July 5, 2023 .
^
"NBA Games Played on February 8, 1996" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved July 18, 2022 .
^
"1995β96 Portland Trail Blazers Schedule and Results" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021 .
^
"Portland Trail Blazers" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved January 19, 2022 .
^
"1995β96 Portland Trail Blazers Roster and Stats" . Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021 .
^
"Rookie Award to Stoudamire" . The New York Times . Associated Press. May 16, 1996. Retrieved May 25, 2022 .
^
"Stoudamire Named Top Rookie After Lukewarm NBA Reception" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. May 16, 1996. Retrieved February 1, 2023 .
^
"Raptors' Stoudamire Easily Captures Rookie Honors" . Chicago Tribune . Tribune News Services. May 16, 1996. Retrieved October 7, 2022 .
^
"Kukoc Named Best of the Bench" . The Washington Post . May 15, 1996. Retrieved January 30, 2023 .
^ Isaacson, Melissa (May 15, 1996).
"KukoΔ: Sixth Man Award 2nd Best to Starting Role" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved October 7, 2022 .
^
"1995β96 NBA Awards Voting" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved January 2, 2022 .
^ Mims, Bob (May 5, 1996).
"Jazz 102, Trail Blazers 64" . Associated Press . Retrieved November 25, 2022 .
^
"Portland Makes History in Worst Possible Way" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. May 6, 1996. Retrieved June 24, 2021 .
^
"Caption Only: Jazz Ahead - and Loving It to the Max" . Deseret News . May 6, 1996. Retrieved June 4, 2022 .
^
"1996 NBA Western Conference First Round: Trail Blazers vs. Jazz" . Basketball-Reference . Retrieved February 5, 2023 .
^
"Portland Suspends Strickland" . Los Angeles Times . Associated Press. February 23, 1996. Retrieved March 1, 2017 .
^
"SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Strickland Is No-Show at Practice" . The New York Times . February 25, 1996. Retrieved January 30, 2023 .
^
"Suspended Strickland Still AWOL" . Deseret News . Associated Press. February 25, 1996. Retrieved January 30, 2023 .
^ Smith, Sam (April 1, 1996).
"Rising Heat Good for Bulls" . Chicago Tribune . Retrieved October 4, 2022 .
^ Bembry, Jerry (July 16, 1996).
"Bullets Get Strickland, Grant from Trail Blazers; Washington Deals Wallace and Butler, Signs Murray; Rockets Get Brent Price" . The Baltimore Sun . Retrieved December 3, 2022 .
^ Hall, Landon (July 16, 1996).
"Blazers Send Strickland, Grant to Bullets for Wallace, Butler" . Associated Press . Retrieved July 26, 2021 .
^
"Blazers Trade Strickland to Bullets" . Tampa Bay Times . July 16, 1996. Archived from
the original on June 20, 2023. Retrieved June 20, 2023 .
^ Asher, Mark (July 22, 1996).
"Strickland Decision Has Bullets on Hold" . The Washington Post . Retrieved July 24, 2022 .
^ Roberts, Selena (July 27, 1996).
"PRO BASKETBALL; Knicks Seal Up Buck Williams" . The New York Times . Retrieved December 30, 2021 .
^
"Knicks Sign Buck; Bucks Sign Allen" . Tampa Bay Times . July 27, 1996. Retrieved July 24, 2022 .
^ Markowitz, Dan (October 20, 1996).
"Revamped Knicks Assessing Strengths" . The New York Times . Retrieved January 4, 2023 .
^
"Portland Gets Rider, Signs Anderson" . Los Angeles Times . Staff and Wire Reports. July 24, 1996. Retrieved November 10, 2022 .
^
a
b
"Rider Traded to Blazers for 2 Players" . United Press International . July 24, 1996. Retrieved June 30, 2022 .
^
"Injuries Threat to Ford's Job" . The Spokesman-Review . Wire Reports. March 17, 1998. Retrieved May 1, 2023 .
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