Clyde Drexler#Personal life

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Clyde Drexler

| image = Clyde Drexler 01.jpg

| caption = Drexler at the University of Houston

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=yes|1962|6|22}}

| birth_place = New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 7

| weight_lb = 222

| high_school = Sterling (Houston, Texas)

| college = Houston (1980–1983)

| draft_year = 1983

| draft_round = 1

| draft_pick = 14

| draft_team = Portland Trail Blazers

| career_start = 1983

| career_end = 1998

| career_position = Shooting guard / small forward

| career_number = 22

| coach_start = 1998

| coach_end = 2002

| years1 = {{nbay|1983|start}}–{{nbay|1994|end}}

| team1 = Portland Trail Blazers

| years2 = {{nbay|1994|end}}–{{nbay|1997|end}}

| team2 = Houston Rockets

| cyears1 = 1998–2000

| cteam1 = Houston Cougars

| cyears2 = {{nbay|2001|full=y}}

| cteam2 = Denver Nuggets (assistant)

| highlights = * NBA champion ({{nbafy|1995}})

10× NBA All-Star ({{nasg|1986}}, {{nasg|1988}}–{{nasg|1994}}, {{nasg|1996}}, {{nasg|1997}})
All-NBA First Team ({{nbay|1991|end}})
2× All-NBA Second Team ({{nbay|1987|end}}, {{nbay|1990|end}})
2× All-NBA Third Team ({{nbay|1989|end}}, {{nbay|1994|end}})
NBA anniversary team (50th, 75th)
No. 22 retired by Portland Trail Blazers
No. 22 retired by Houston Rockets
Consensus second-team All-American (1983)
SWC co-Player of the Year (1983)
First-team All-SWC (1983)
2× Second-team All-SWC (1981, 1982)
No. 22 retired by Houston Cougars

| stats_league = NBA

| stat1label = Points

| stat1value = 22,195 (20.4 ppg)

| stat2label = Rebounds

| stat2value = 6,677 (6.1 rpg)

| stat3label = Assists

| stat3value = 6,125 (5.6 apg)

| HOF_player = clyde-drexler

| CBBASKHOF_year = 2006

| medal_templates = {{MedalSport|Men's basketball}}

{{MedalCountry|the {{USA}}}}

{{Medal|Gold|1992 Portland[https://web.archive.org/web/20150429204708/http://www.usab.com/history/national-team-mens/mens-tournament-of-the-americas-1992.aspx Men's Tournament of the Americas – 1992], USA Basketball. Retrieved December 6, 2018.|Men's basketball}}

}}

Clyde Austin Drexler (born June 22, 1962) is an American former professional basketball player who currently works as the commissioner of the Big3 3-on-3 basketball league. Nicknamed "Clyde the Glide", he played 15 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), spending a majority of his career with the Portland Trail Blazers before finishing with the Houston Rockets. He was a ten-time NBA All-Star, five time All-NBA Selection, and was named to the NBA's 50th and 75th anniversary teams. Drexler won an NBA championship with Houston in 1995, and earned a gold medal on the 1992 United States Olympic team known as "The Dream Team". He was inducted twice into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, in 2004 for his individual career and in 2010 as a member of the "Dream Team".{{cite web|url=http://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/tag/1992-united-states-olympic-team |title=The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame - Hall of Famers |access-date=March 11, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100818075707/http://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/tag/1992-united-states-olympic-team |archive-date=August 18, 2010}} Drexler is widely considered one of the greatest{{under discussion inline|talkpage=WT:NBA#Discussion on allowing "greatest" in the lead of all NBA players}} basketball players and greatest{{under discussion inline|talkpage=WT:NBA#Discussion on allowing "greatest" in the lead of all NBA players}} shooting guards of all time.{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Andy |date=September 21, 2019 |title=NBA All-Time Player Rankings: Top 10 Shooting Guards |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2852997-nba-all-time-player-rankings-top-10-shooting-guards |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190915191629/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2852997-nba-all-time-player-rankings-top-10-shooting-guards |archive-date=September 15, 2019 |access-date=October 6, 2021 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}{{cite web|publisher=ESPN|title=All-Time #NBArank: Michael Jordan tops list of best shooting guards|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarankSGs/ranking-top-10-shooting-guards-ever|date=January 13, 2016|access-date=November 21, 2022|archive-date=February 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215153412/http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/nbarankSGs/ranking-top-10-shooting-guards-ever|url-status=live}}

Early years

Drexler was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and lived in the South Park area in Houston, Texas.Shilcutt, Katharine. "Still Standing." Houston Press. Wednesday January 12, 2011. [http://www.houstonpress.com/2011-01-13/news/still-standing/ 1] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110116033842/http://www.houstonpress.com/2011-01-13/news/still-standing/ |date=January 16, 2011 }}. Retrieved on January 13, 2011. He attended Ross Sterling High School[http://www.houstonisd.org/HISDConnectDS/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=6fe7ae4b10762110VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD&vgnextchannel=65db2f796138c010VgnVCM10000052147fa6RCRD "NBA Legends Unveil Tundra Turnaround Court at Delmar Complex"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205174049/http://www.houstonisd.org/HISDConnectDS/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=6fe7ae4b10762110VgnVCM10000028147fa6RCRD&vgnextchannel=65db2f796138c010VgnVCM10000052147fa6RCRD |date=December 5, 2008 }} – Houston Independent School District – May 7, 2007 in Houston, where he was a classmate of tennis player Zina Garrison.Higdon, David. "Clyde Drexler: Portland's Pride". Sports Illustrated for Kids February 1993. As a sophomore, he made the varsity baseball team, and tried out for the basketball team but failed to make the cut. Drexler played as a {{height|ft=6|in=7}} center as a senior. He began receiving attention from college coaches following a 34-point, 27-rebound performance against Sharpstown High School during a 1979 Christmas tournament.

After graduating in 1980, he was recruited by New Mexico State University, Texas Tech University, and the University of Houston, the latter after childhood friend Michael Young told an assistant to head coach Guy Lewis that Drexler was the best player he had faced in high school. Houston was able to recruit them both due to Drexler's friendship with Young and his desire to stay home. Drexler majored in finance and worked at a bank during the summer. Lewis recalled in 2003 that he initially received hate mail from Houston supporters and alumni for recruiting Drexler, as they felt that he was not good enough to play for the school.

College career

File:Clyde Drexler as a Houston Cougars player.jpgs as a member of the Houston Cougars men's basketball team]]

Drexler and Young, along with Larry Micheaux and new recruit Hakeem Olajuwon (known then as Akeem), comprised the "Phi Slama Jama" basketball fraternity that gained national attention for its acrobatic, above-the-rim play. New players were "initiated" into the fraternity by having to stand underneath the basket as Drexler drove in from halfcourt and threw down a tomahawk slam over them. Houston made the first of Drexler's two straight Final Four appearances in 1982, where they lost to eventual champions North Carolina. He averaged 15.2 points and 10.5 rebounds (second in the Southwest Conference) per game as a small forward as Houston finished 25–8.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-02-07-sp-5346-story.html |title=Drexler's Days as a Forward Behind Him |last=Haley |first=Ish |newspaper=Dallas Times-Herald |via=Los Angeles Times |date=February 7, 1986 |access-date=May 29, 2020 |archive-date=June 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622130432/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-02-07-sp-5346-story.html |url-status=live }}

The 1982–83 campaign saw Houston return to the Final Four ranked No. 1. They were matched up against No. 2 Louisville and the "Doctors of Dunk" in the semifinals, which Houston won 94–81 following a brilliant dunking display by both sides, including a double-pump slam by Drexler that Sports Illustrated writer Curry Kirkpatrick called "your basic play of the century".Clyde Drexler Career Highlights No. 14, "Quotes in Mid-Flight." Fleer Corporation, 1993–94 He finished with 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists. In the championship game against North Carolina State, Drexler failed to make an impact after picking up four fouls before halftime, and scored only four points on one-of-five shooting and two free throws in NC State's upset victory.Bengtson, Russ. Quiet as Kept, Slam Magazine, December 1996

Drexler declared for the NBA draft as a junior, leaving Houston with career averages of 14.4 points, 3.3 assists and 9.9 rebounds in three seasons. In addition to being named the Southwestern Conference Player of the Year and a first-team All American his final season,Clyde Drexler Career Highlights No. 3, "Southern Rock n' Roll." Fleer Corporation, 1993–94 he remains the only player in school history with combined totals of at least 1,000 career points, 900 rebounds and 300 assists; he is also Houston's all-time steals leader with 268.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20101214042921/http://databasebasketball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=DREXLCL01 Database Basketball]}}

NBA career

= Portland Trail Blazers (1983–1995) =

In the 1983 NBA draft, Drexler was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 14th overall pick. He averaged 7.7 points in 17.2 minutes per game in his rookie season. These all improved with more playing time in his second season, to 17.2 points, 6 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.2 steals per game. In his third season Drexler made his first All-Star team, averaging 18.5 points, 5.6 rebounds, 8 assists and 2.6 steals. On January 6, 1989, Drexler scored a career-high 50 points during a double-overtime win over the Sacramento Kings.{{Cite web|url=http://oregonsportshall.org/timeline/clyde-drexler-basketball/|title=Clyde Drexler – Basketball | Oregon Sports Hall of Fame & Museum|date=November 9, 2018|accessdate=April 4, 2023|archive-date=January 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103152226/http://oregonsportshall.org/timeline/clyde-drexler-basketball/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/blazers/tbtdrexler30oct14|title=Portland Trail Blazers | NBA.com|website=www.nba.com|accessdate=April 4, 2023|archive-date=January 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103153725/https://www.nba.com/blazers/tbtdrexler30oct14|url-status=live}}

In the 1989–1990 season, Drexler led the Portland Trail Blazers to the 1990 NBA Finals, averaging 23.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists during the season. The Blazers (ranked 3rd in the Western Conference) made it to the Conference Finals against the Phoenix Suns. While Drexler only led in scoring in the final two games, the Blazers were bolstered by players such as Terry Porter and Jerome Kersey to a six-game series victory, with Drexler and Porter each scoring 23 in the 112–109 victory that gave Portland its first conference championship since 1977. In the Finals, they played the Detroit Pistons. Drexler led the Blazers with 21 points in Game 1, but they lost 105–99. In Game 2, Drexler scored 33 points and contributed the go-ahead points in overtime by hitting two free throws with 2.1 seconds to beat Detroit 106–105. It was the only win in the series for the Blazers, who lost narrowly in Game 4 by three and lost the final game after Detroit went on a 9–0 run. During the 1990–1991 season, Drexler led Portland to a franchise-best 63–19 record. He played in every game for the first time in four seasons and averaged 21.5 points per game while having 6.7 rebounds and six assists on average. Heavily favored to win the West, the Los Angeles Lakers upset the Trail Blazers by winning the Western Conference Finals.

In the 1991–92 season he made the All-NBA First Team and finished second to Michael Jordan in MVP voting, having averaged 25 points per game to go with 6.6 rebounds and 6.7 assists while playing slightly over 35 minutes a game; the Blazers finished 57–25, best in the Western Conference.{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1992.html#mvp|title=1991–92 NBA MVP Voting|publisher=basketballreference.com|access-date=December 2, 2017|archive-date=October 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023115643/https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1992.html#mvp|url-status=live}} The Blazers lost just twice in the first two rounds of the postseason, In the Conference Finals, they faced the Utah Jazz. Teammate Terry Porter cited Drexler decades later as the key guy to get the ball to when it came down to late in a game to make plays. Portland won the first two games at home before Utah responded with two victories in Utah. In Game 5, Portland won in overtime to set up a Game 6 in Utah. Porter and Drexler each scored 18 points in the pivotal Game 6 that the Blazers won 105–97 to clinch their second conference championship in three years.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest/portland-trail-blazers/clyde-drexler-was-more-scorer-portland-trail-blazers|title=Clyde Drexler was more than a scorer for the Portland Trail Blazers|website=RSN|accessdate=April 4, 2023|archive-date=March 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322220455/https://www.nbcsports.com/northwest/portland-trail-blazers/clyde-drexler-was-more-scorer-portland-trail-blazers|url-status=live}} Drexler and the Blazers met Jordan and the Chicago Bulls in the 1992 NBA Finals. In the Finals, Drexler was the leader or tied for the lead in scoring for the Blazers in each of the six games, leading all scorers once in Game 3 with 32 points in a 94–84 loss. Despite forcing a tie series twice, the Bulls pulled a comeback in the fourth quarter to turn a 15-point deficit into a win that clinched the series.{{Cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199206070POR.html|title=1992 NBA Finals Game 3: Bulls vs Trail Blazers, June 7, 1992|website=Basketball-Reference.com|accessdate=April 4, 2023|archive-date=January 3, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103152710/https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199206070POR.html|url-status=live}} In the six-game series against Chicago, Drexler averaged 24.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.3 assists per game.{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1992_finals.html|title=1992 NBA Finals Composite Box Score|publisher=basketballreference.com|access-date=December 2, 2017|archive-date=June 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170603021446/http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1992_finals.html|url-status=live}} Later that year, he was selected to the U.S. Olympic basketball team, nicknamed "The Dream Team", which won the gold medal in Barcelona.

Drexler left as the all-time scoring leader for the Blazers with 18,040 points, which stood as a franchise record until Damian Lillard passed him in 2022.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/news/damian-lillard-passes-clyde-drexler-as-portland-trail-blazers-all-time-scoring-leader|title=Damian Lillard passes Clyde Drexler as Blazers' all-time scoring leader|website=NBA.com|accessdate=April 4, 2023|archive-date=December 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221220075733/https://www.nba.com/news/damian-lillard-passes-clyde-drexler-as-portland-trail-blazers-all-time-scoring-leader|url-status=live}}

= Houston Rockets (1995–1998) =

On February 14, 1995, with the Blazers out of serious contention for a championship, Portland honored Drexler's request to be traded to a contender. They sent the Blazer great back home to the Houston Rockets, along with Tracy Murray in exchange for Otis Thorpe, the draft rights of Marcelo Nicola, and a 1995 first-round draft pick, right before the trade deadline. Despite finishing the regular season with a record of 47–35, which placed the Rockets 6th out of 8 playoff teams in the Western Conference, Drexler and long-time friend Hakeem Olajuwon helped propel them to an improbable second consecutive championship in 1995. On May 5, during the first round while down two games to one against the Utah Jazz, Drexler led the Rockets in scoring with 41 points while Olajuwon added 40 in a 123–106 win.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-05-06-sp-63076-story.html|title=Drexler Gets 41, Olajuwon 40, Other Rockets 42 : NBA playoffs: It adds up to a 123-106 victory over Jazz, tying series, 2-2.|first=L. A. Times|last=Archives|date=May 6, 1995|website=Los Angeles Times|accessdate=April 4, 2023|archive-date=January 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106172703/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-05-06-sp-63076-story.html|url-status=live}} Houston would go on to win the deciding Game 5, and then also win every remaining elimination game on their postseason run.{{Cite web|url=https://rocketswire.usatoday.com/2020/05/05/today-in-1995-playoffs-rockets-win-first-of-five-elimination-games/|title=Today in 1995 playoffs: Rockets win first of five elimination games|date=May 5, 2020|accessdate=April 4, 2023|archive-date=February 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208193621/https://rocketswire.usatoday.com/2020/05/05/today-in-1995-playoffs-rockets-win-first-of-five-elimination-games/|url-status=live}}

In the finals, the Rockets swept the Orlando Magic. In his third and final NBA Finals appearance, Drexler averaged 21.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game.{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1995_finals.html|title=1995 NBA Finals Composite Box Score|publisher=basketballreference.com|access-date=December 2, 2017|archive-date=March 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180314174611/https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1995_finals.html|url-status=live}}

Drexler played his last three full seasons with the Rockets. The 1995–96 season saw him average 19.3 points per game in 52 games played, owing to knee and ankle injuries.{{cite news | last = | first = | title = Rockets' Drexler to Have Knee Surgery | work = Chicago Tribune | date = February 25, 1996 | url = https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1996-02-25-9602250065-story.html | access-date = January 1, 2023 | archive-date = January 1, 2023 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230101230356/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1996-02-25-9602250065-story.html | url-status = live }}{{cite news | last = | first = | title = SPORTS PEOPLE: PRO BASKETBALL; Drexler Will Miss Five to Six Weeks | work = The New York Times | date = February 27, 1996 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1996/02/27/sports/sports-people-pro-basketball-drexler-will-miss-five-to-six-weeks.html | access-date = October 3, 2022 | archive-date = October 3, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221003234757/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/02/27/sports/sports-people-pro-basketball-drexler-will-miss-five-to-six-weeks.html | url-status = live }}{{cite news | last = Howard-Cooper | first = Scott | title = Drexler Ankle Better Than His Attitude | work = Los Angeles Times | date = April 30, 1996 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-04-30-sp-64251-story.html | access-date = October 3, 2022 | archive-date = October 3, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221003234757/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-04-30-sp-64251-story.html | url-status = live }} The Rockets dispatched their first-round opponent in the Lakers to face the Seattle SuperSonics. Drexler led the team in a variety of categories in the series such as rebounds (twice), points (twice), and assists (once), but the Sonics eliminated the Rockets in four games. The following year, the Rockets, having traded for Charles Barkley before the year started, went 21–2 to begin the year, but injuries would pile on the team, with Drexler having a hamstring injury; he was named to the All-Star Game, but he did not play in what ended up as his final selection.{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Barkley and Drexler Are Injured | work = The New York Times | date = January 29, 1997 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/29/sports/barkley-and-drexler-are-injured.html | access-date = November 9, 2022 | archive-date = November 9, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221109230525/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/01/29/sports/barkley-and-drexler-are-injured.html | url-status = live }} Drexler played a total of 62 games while averaging eighteen points a game with six rebounds and 5.7 assists. The Rockets finished 57-25 and made it all the way to the Conference Finals against the Jazz. The Rockets forced six games after winning Game 3 and 4, but the Jazz won in six to end the season. The 1997–98 season was his final season in the NBA. He played in 70 games and averaged 18.4 points a game with 4.9 rebounds (his lowest since his rookie year) and 5.5 assists. These totals led the team (which had less of Olajuwon due to injury), which staggered to a 41–41 record and a playoff spot. The Rockets played the Jazz in the opening round and held a series lead going into Game 4, but an injury to Barkley spelled the end of their chances, as Utah rallied to send Houston home in five games, the first opening round loss for Houston since 1991. Drexler retired at the age of 35, stating his reason as doing so because of his desire to leave on his own terms while still playing at a "high level".{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/309184-kleemans-jump-hook-my-interview-with-clyde-drexler|title=Kleeman's Jump Hook: My Interview With Clyde Drexler|first=Robert|last=Kleeman|website=Bleacher Report|accessdate=April 4, 2023|archive-date=March 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322220456/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/309184-kleemans-jump-hook-my-interview-with-clyde-drexler|url-status=live}} At the time of his retirement, Drexler was one of only three players in history with 20,000 points, 6,000 assists and 6,000 rebounds. In fifteen seasons, he never missed the playoffs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3007297/2021/12/15/nba-75-at-no-43-clyde-drexler-was-a-high-flying-athletic-guard-who-glided-to-greatness/|title=NBA 75: At No. 43, Clyde Drexler was a high-flying, athletic guard who glided to greatness|first=John|last=Hollinger|website=The Athletic|access-date=April 4, 2023|archive-date=March 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307225658/https://theathletic.com/3007297/2021/12/15/nba-75-at-no-43-clyde-drexler-was-a-high-flying-athletic-guard-who-glided-to-greatness/|url-status=live}}