Baller of the Day: Clyde Drexler

» September 10, 2008 5:45 AM | By Brandon Hoffman

Clyde Drexler

Career Statistics

20.4 PPG, 5.6 APG, 6.1 RPG, 47 FG%, 32 3FG%, 79 FT%.

“One of the game’s all-time great guards, Clyde “The Glide” Drexler was known for his high-flying yet seemingly effortless swoops to the basket.

After almost a dozen seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, Drexler left Portland with his name all over the franchise’s record books. A perennial All-Star and a member of the 1992 U.S. Olympic Dream Team, Drexler twice led the Blazers to the NBA Finals. It wasn’t until he joined the Houston Rockets midway through his 12th campaign, however, that he finally earned a championship ring.

It was fitting that Drexler achieved the ultimate NBA success while in Houston. A native of the city, he attended the University of Houston and starred on the “Phi Slamma Jamma” teams of the early 1980s. A forward in college, Drexler teamed with Hakeem Olajuwon and Larry Micheaux to form a front line that took the team on two straight trips to the NCAA Final Four. In his junior season Drexler averaged 15.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists while shooting .536 from the floor.

The Blazers selected Drexler with the 14th overall pick in the 1983 NBA Draft. Looking back, it seems a mystery how such a great player slipped so low in the draft, especially in light of the careers of many of the players chosen ahead of him.” [Read]

[Warning: the following video contains foul language]

[Sources: NBA.com, YouTube, Basketball-Reference.com]


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