Position : Guard
Clyde Drexler soared into the NBA in 1983 to set out a calling that would bring him fame , fortune , and – after a twelve yr of trying – an NBA championship closed chain . In his 15 - class life history , Drexler scored 22,195 pointedness , was bring up to nine All - Star Games , and had been hail as the best guard in the game not namedMichael Jordan .
early on in his calling , Drexler was known mostly for his 43 - inch vertical jump and his ability to perform dunks – helicopters , hatchet , alley - oops – just like his childhood hero , Julius Erving . As his vocation thread down as a member of his hometown Houston Rockets , Drexler has become a better overall player , better his passing and defense and sharpening his leap flash . He still played the plot with flair , however , as GQ powder store tabbed him " the coolest guy in the league . "
Born June 22 , 1962 , in New Orleans , Drexler grew up in Houston and played for the University of Houston Cougars , who featured the " Phi Slama Jama " front line of Drexler , Hakeem Olajuwon , and Larry Micheaux . Their games were veritable dunkathons . The only thing missing was a interior backup , as visits to the Final Four in 1982 and 1983 terminate with virulent frustration .
The 14th option in the 1983 NBA bill of exchange , Drexler joined thePortlandTrail Blazers with little fanfare and was used sparingly his rookie season , average out 7.7 points . From there he began a steady rise , increase his scoring each time of year to a peak of 27.2 points per game in the 1988 - 89 season . Portland advanced to the NBA Finals twice during Drexler ’s incumbency , losing to Detroit in 1990 and Chicago in 1992 . The 1991 - 92 season was Drexler ’s best ; he average out 25.0 points , led the Blazers in assist , and was runner - up to Jordan for the NBA MVP Award .
Drexler became progressively unhappy as the Blazers slid from bulge following the 1992 playoffs . halfway through the 1994 - 95 time of year , the Blazers reconcile his requirement for a trade , send him to the Rockets to be reunite with Olajuwon . A few calendar month later , after sweeping the Orlando Magic in the Finals , the Rockets succeed the NBA championship .
