1995–96 Portland Trail Blazers season

The 1995–96 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 24–24 record at the All-Star break,[13] and struggled playing below .500 afterwards, posting a 26–34 record as of March 5. However, they would win 18 of their final 22 games to finish the season with a 44–38 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]

1995–96 Portland Trail Blazers season
Head coachP. J. Carlesimo
ArenaRose Garden Arena
Results
Record44–38 (.537)
PlaceDivision: 4th (Pacific)
Conference: 6th (Western)
Playoff finishWest First Round
(lost to Jazz 2–3)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionKGW
Prime Sports Northwest
RadioKEX

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 102–64 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]

Draft picks
Main article: 1995 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality School/Club Team
1 8 Shawn Respert SG/PG  United States Michigan State

Roster
1995–96 Portland Trail Blazers roster
Players Coaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOBFrom
G 12 Childress, Randolph Injured 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 188 lb (85 kg) 1972–09–21 Wake Forest
F 38 Cook, Anthony 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1967–03–19 Arizona
F – Curley, Bill Injured (IN) 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1972–05–29 Boston College
C 24 Dudley, Chris 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg) 1965–02–22 Yale
F 44 Grant, Harvey 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1965–07–04 Oklahoma
G 23 McKie, Aaron 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 209 lb (95 kg) 1972–10–02 Temple
F 3 Robinson, Clifford 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1966–12–16 Connecticut
G 26 Robinson, James 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1970–08–31 Alabama
G 21 Robinson, Rumeal 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1966–11–13 Michigan
C 11 Sabonis, Arvydas 7 ft 3 in (2.21 m) 279 lb (127 kg) 1964–12–19 Lithuania
C 27 Spencer, Elmore 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 270 lb (122 kg) 1969–12–06 UNLV
G 1 Strickland, Rod 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1966–07–11 DePaul
F 33 Trent, Gary 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 250 lb (113 kg) 1974–09–22 Ohio
F 52 Williams, Buck 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1960–03–08 Maryland
F 10 Wingfield, Dontonio 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 256 lb (116 kg) 1974–06–23 Cincinnati
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (IN) Inactive
  • Injured Injured

Roster
Last transaction: {{{access-date}}}

Roster Notes
  • Power forward Bill Curley missed the entire season due to an ankle injury, and never played for the Trail Blazers.[39][40]

Regular season

Season standings
Pacific Division
 W L PCT GB Home Road Div
y-Seattle SuperSonics6418.780–38–326–1521–3
x-Los Angeles Lakers5329.6461130–1123–1817–7
x-Portland Trail Blazers4438.5372026–1518–2311–13
x-Phoenix Suns4141.5002325–1616–259–15
x-Sacramento Kings3943.4762526–1513–2811–13
Golden State Warriors3646.4392823–1813–287–17
Los Angeles Clippers2953.3543519–2210–317–17
Western Conference
# Team W L PCT GB GP
1 c-Seattle SuperSonics *6418.780–82
2 y-San Antonio Spurs *5923.720582
3 x-Utah Jazz5527.671982
4 x-Los Angeles Lakers5329.6461182
5 x-Houston Rockets4834.5851682
6 x-Portland Trail Blazers4438.5372082
7 x-Phoenix Suns4141.5002382
8 x-Sacramento Kings3943.4762582
9 Golden State Warriors3646.4392882
10 Denver Nuggets3547.4272982
11 Los Angeles Clippers2953.3543582
12 Minnesota Timberwolves2656.3173882
13 Dallas Mavericks2656.3173882
14 Vancouver Grizzlies1567.1834982
z – clinched division title
y – clinched division title
x – clinched playoff spot

Record vs. opponents
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 –4–03–10–43–11–11–12–21–11–11–32–00–22–22–21–14–02–12–22–10–22–02–00–20–24–01–12–01–3
Boston 0–4–2–20–31–30–21–12–10–21–10–42–00–23–13–12–02–20–41–34–01–10–22–00–20–23–10–21–12–2
Charlotte 1–32–2–1–33–12–02–01–30–20–21–31–12–02–23–11–10–33–00–43–12–01–11–10–20–23–11–12–03–1
Chicago 4–03–03–1–4–02–01–14–02–02–02–22–02–03–14–02–03–03–13–14–01–12–02–02–01–13–12–02–04–0
Cleveland 1–33–11–30–4–2–01–12–22–01–12–22–02–01–34–02–01–23–11–24–02–01–11–10–20–23–10–22–03–1
Dallas 1–12–00–20–20–2–2–20–22–21–30–22–20–40–21–10–41–10–21–10–21–30–42–22–22–21–11–34–00–2
Denver 1–11–10–21–11–12–2–1–12–21–30–21–32–20–21–14–00–21–11–12–03–10–40–40–41–32–03–13–11–1
Detroit 2–21–23–10–42–22–01–1–2–01–12–22–00–21–32–21–14–00–41–34–02–02–01–12–01–14–00–22–01–2
Golden State 1–12–02–00–20–22–22–20–2–2–21–13–11–31–11–13–12–00–20–22–01–31–31–31–30–41–11–34–01–1
Houston 1–11–12–00–21–13–13–11–12–2–2–04–03–10–22–02–22–00–20–22–03–12–22–21–30–42–02–24–01–1
Indiana 3–14–03–12–22–22–02–02–21–10–2–2–01–13–03–11–11–31–32–23–11–11–10–21–12–04–00–22–03–0
L.A. Clippers 0–20–21–10–20–22–23–10–21–30–40–2–0–41–11–13–11–11–10–22–03–12–22–21–30–40–21–33–11–1
L.A. Lakers 2–02–00–20–20–24–02–22–03–11–31–14–0–2–02–03–12–01–11–11–13–12–23–11–32–22–02–24–01–1
Miami 2–21–32–21–33–12–02–03–11–12–00–31–10–2–3–01–15–01–31–33–11–10–21–11–10–22–10–21–12–2
Milwaukee 2–21–31–30–40–41–11–12–21–10–21–31–10–20–3–1–11–32–21–32–10–22–00–21–10–22–20–21–11–3
Minnesota 1–10–21–10–20–24–00–41–11–32–21–11–31–31–11–1–1–10–20–21–11–30–43–11–30–41–11–32–20–2
New Jersey 0–42–23–00–32–11–12–00–40–20–23–11–10–20–53–11–1–2–20–42–20–21–11–10–20–22–20–22–02–2
New York 1–24–00–31–31–32–01–14–02–02–03–11–11–13–12–22–02–2–1–33–10–20–20–21–11–14–01–11–13–1
Orlando 2–23–14–01–32–11–11–13–12–02–02–22–01–13–13–12–04–03–1–4–02–01–11–11–11–12–11–12–04–0
Philadelphia 1–20–41–30–40–42–00–20–40–20–21–30–21–11–31–21–12–21–30–4–0–20–20–20–20–23–11–11–11–3
Phoenix 2–01–10–21–10–23–11–30–23–11–31–11–31–31–12–03–12–02–00–22–0–2–22–21–30–42–01–34–02–0
Portland 0–22–01–10–21–14–04–00–23–12–21–12–22–22–00–24–01–12–01–12–02–2–1–31–31–32–01–32–20–2
Sacramento 0–20–21–10–21–12–24–01–13–12–22–02–21–31–12–01–31–12–01–12–02–23–1–1–30–42–00–42–20–2
San Antonio 2–02–02–00–22–02–24–00–23–13–11–13–13–11–11–13–12–01–11–12–03–13–13–1–2–22–03–14–01–1
Seattle 2–02–02–01–12–02–23–11–14–04–00–24–02–22–02–04–02–01–11–12–04–03–14–02–2–1–13–13–11–1
Toronto 0–41–31–31–31–31–10–20–41–10–20–42–00–21–22–21–12–20–41–21–30–20–20–20–21–1–0–21–13–1
Utah 1–12–01–10–22–03–11–32–03–12–22–03–12–22–02–03–12–01–11–11–13–13–14–01–31–32–0–4–01–1
Vancouver 0–21–10–20–20–20–41–30–20–40–40–21–30–41–11–12–20–21–10–21–10–42–22–20–41–31–10–4–0–2
Washington 3–12–21–30–41–32–01–12–11–11–10–31–11–12–23–12–02–21–30–43–10–22–02–01–11–11–31–12–0—

Playoffs
1996 playoff game log
First round
GameDateTeamScoreHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsLocation
Attendance		Series home_wins = 2 home_losses = 0 road_wins = 0 road_losses = 3

}}

1 April 25 @ Utah L 102–110 Rod Strickland (27) Chris Dudley (10) Rod Strickland (12) Delta Center
19,614		 0–1
2 April 27 @ Utah L 90–105 Arvydas Sabonis (26) Arvydas Sabonis (12) Rod Strickland (7) Delta Center
19,911		 0–2
3 April 29 Utah W 94–91 (OT) Arvydas Sabonis (27) Arvydas Sabonis (12) Rod Strickland (8) Rose Garden
21,401		 1–2
4 May 1 Utah W 98–90 Rod Strickland (27) Arvydas Sabonis (13) Rod Strickland (7) Rose Garden
21,401		 2–2
5 May 5 @ Utah L 64–102 Arvydas Sabonis (14) Arvydas Sabonis (8) Rod Strickland (8) Delta Center
19,682		 2–3
1996 schedule

Player statistics
Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage  3P%  3-point field-goal percentage  FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game

NOTE: Please write the players statistics in alphabetical order by last name.

Season
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Playoffs
Player GP GS MPG FG% 3FG% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG

Awards and honors

Transactions

References
  1. 1995-96 Portland Trail Blazers
  2. "Grizzlies Win Behind Benjamin". The New York Times. Associated Press. November 4, 1995. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  3. "NBA ROUNDUP: Grizzlies, Raptors Welcome Reality with Big Victories". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. November 4, 1995. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
  4. "1995 NBA Draft". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  5. Wise, Mike (June 29, 1995). "PRO BASKETBALL; Underclassmen Rule Atop N.B.A. Draft Board". The New York Times. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  6. 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.
  7. "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.
  8. Nakamura, David (June 29, 1995). "Joe Goes West as Warriors Make Smith No. 1 Pick". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  9. "NBA Locks Out Refs After Pledge Rejected". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. September 30, 1995. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  10. Schabner, Dean (February 10, 1996). "Sabonis at Home in NBA". United Press International. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. "NBA Games Played on February 8, 1996". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  14. "1995–96 Portland Trail Blazers Schedule and Results". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  15. "Portland Trail Blazers". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  16. "1995–96 Portland Trail Blazers Roster and Stats". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  17. "Rookie Award to Stoudamire". The New York Times. Associated Press. May 16, 1996. Retrieved May 25, 2022.
  18. "Stoudamire Named Top Rookie After Lukewarm NBA Reception". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 16, 1996. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  19. "Raptors' Stoudamire Easily Captures Rookie Honors". Chicago Tribune. Tribune News Services. May 16, 1996. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  20. "Kukoc Named Best of the Bench". The Washington Post. May 15, 1996. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  21. Isaacson, Melissa (May 15, 1996). "Kukoč: Sixth Man Award 2nd Best to Starting Role". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
  22. "1995–96 NBA Awards Voting". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  23. Mims, Bob (May 5, 1996). "Jazz 102, Trail Blazers 64". Associated Press. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
  24. "Portland Makes History in Worst Possible Way". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. May 6, 1996. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  25. "Caption Only: Jazz Ahead - and Loving It to the Max". Deseret News. May 6, 1996. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  26. "1996 NBA Western Conference First Round: Trail Blazers vs. Jazz". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  27. "Portland Suspends Strickland". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. February 23, 1996. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
  28. "SPORTS PEOPLE: BASKETBALL; Strickland Is No-Show at Practice". The New York Times. February 25, 1996. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  29. "Suspended Strickland Still AWOL". Deseret News. Associated Press. February 25, 1996. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
  30. Smith, Sam (April 1, 1996). "Rising Heat Good for Bulls". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  31. 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.
  32. Hall, Landon (July 16, 1996). "Blazers Send Strickland, Grant to Bullets for Wallace, Butler". Associated Press. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  33. "Blazers Trade Strickland to Bullets". Tampa Bay Times. July 16, 1996. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  34. Asher, Mark (July 22, 1996). "Strickland Decision Has Bullets on Hold". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  35. Roberts, Selena (July 27, 1996). "PRO BASKETBALL; Knicks Seal Up Buck Williams". The New York Times. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
  36. "Knicks Sign Buck; Bucks Sign Allen". Tampa Bay Times. July 27, 1996. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  37. Markowitz, Dan (October 20, 1996). "Revamped Knicks Assessing Strengths". The New York Times. Retrieved January 4, 2023.
  38. "Portland Gets Rider, Signs Anderson". Los Angeles Times. Staff and Wire Reports. July 24, 1996. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  39. "Rider Traded to Blazers for 2 Players". United Press International. July 24, 1996. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  40. "Injuries Threat to Ford's Job". The Spokesman-Review. Wire Reports. March 17, 1998. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
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