Source: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Career Journey
Portland Trail Blazers
1985-1995
Minnesota Timberwolves
1995-1998
Miami Heat
1998-1999
San Antonio Spurs
1999-2000
Milwaukee Bucks
2000-2001
Portland Trail Blazers
2001-2002
Porter spent ten seasons in Portland and reached the Finals twice, in 1990 and 1992, running a team that never quite got past the era's best. He was an All-Star in 1991 and again in 1993, averaging 17.0 points, 8.0 assists and 2.0 steals in the first of those seasons and 18.2 points in the second. Across his career he scored 15,586 points and handed out 7,160 assists at 5.6 a game. Portland retired his number in 2009. He is the useful counterexample to the idea that a lead guard has to dominate the ball: Porter's value was in decisions, spacing and a jump shot that stayed reliable into his late thirties.
Offensive Game
Elite shooter with range well beyond the arc for his era. Career 15+ PPG on efficient shooting percentages. His pull-up jumper and spot-up three were among the most reliable in the Western Conference throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Defensive Game
Solid, active defender who used his strength and anticipation effectively. Not a lockdown stopper but competed hard and was never a liability against elite point guards.
Intangibles
One of the defining qualities of his career. Porter's ability to read defenses, manage game pace, and perform in the highest-pressure moments of the Finals placed him among the most intelligent point guards of his generation.
Personal Life & Family
Partner
Susan Porter
Children (2)
Parents & Siblings
Off the Court
Youth basketball programs in Milwaukee and Portland connecting his hometown and his adopted city
Community outreach through the Portland Trail Blazers alumni network
Did You Know?
Porter was drafted out of Division III Wisconsin-Stevens Point — one of the lowest-profile college programs to ever produce a first-round NBA pick. His selection reflects how thoroughly the Blazers scouted him and how clearly his skills translated beyond the level of competition
He is one of very few players in NBA history to go from Division III college basketball to multiple NBA All-Star appearances and two Finals appearances — a career arc that remains one of the most improbable in league history
Porter's clutch shooting in late-game situations became so reliable that Portland fans called the late stages of close games 'Terry Time' — an informal recognition that he elevated his game when the stakes were highest
After coaching in the NBA, Porter has remained deeply connected to Portland — frequently attending Blazers games, mentoring young players, and serving as an ambassador for the franchise that gave him his career start
Career Honors
2x NBA All-Star (1991, 1993)
2x NBA Finals appearance with Portland Trail Blazers (1990, 1992)
Portland Trail Blazers #30 retired
NBA head coach: Milwaukee Bucks (2005-08), Phoenix Suns (2008-09)
Official Jerseys
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Terry Porter was Portland's floor general for eleven seasons — two All-Star appearances, two Finals runs, and 15+ points per game from a Division III guard who was never supposed to make it this far. Here's why #30 belongs in the rafters.
Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
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