Jeff Goodman: Portland has parted ways with head coach and former NBA player/coach Terry Porter, source told @Stadium. Ben Johnson is interim for rest of season.
Terry Porter Rumors
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Terry Porter
Position: -
Born: 04/08/63
Height: 6-3 / 1.91
Weight:205 lbs. / 93 kg.
Earnings: $23,987,000 ($40,558,018*)
Born: 04/08/63
Height: 6-3 / 1.91
Weight:205 lbs. / 93 kg.
Earnings: $23,987,000 ($40,558,018*)
The documentary, set to air on Sunday, May 31 at 5:00 p.m. PT on. NBA TV, will tell “the untold stories behind the 1989-92 Portland Trail Blazers.” The documentary secured interviews from Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter, Isaiah Thomas, and more to detail arguably the best three-season stretch in franchise history.
Terry Porter, opponent: My rookie year in Boston. He had the ball in the deep corner. I was sprinting to close out and he was in his famous form, and he shot it and as I was running out he said, “Too late, rookie.” I didn’t even know he was a trash talker. I got to the bench and told Clyde (Drexler) and he was like, “Yeah, he does that all the time.” Mike Gminski, opponent: He’d drive down the lane and I’d try to go up and block his shot, and he’d say, “What are you jumping for? You’re not going to get this.”
The reasons, other insiders around the team at the time insist, were obvious and immediate. When Porter arrived, he had his own offensive ideas, surprising many. That included a slower, deliberate pace and a very un-Suns-like emphasis to get Shaquille O’Neal the ball more in the post. When those guiding principles reached the players in camp, there was pushback. This had been a revolutionary NBA offense. The D’Antoni era included three of the top-30 offensive efficiency seasons in history. Steve Nash, the head of the snake, was still in his prime, needing the ball, quick pace and shooters. Amar’e Stoudemire, an original small-ball pick-and-roll center, needed that style to thrive.
The Chicago Tribune reported in March 2000 that Spurs guard Avery Johnson was angering teammates with selfish complaining after being benched in several fourth quarters for Terry Porter, who was a better 3-point shooter. During a 92-81 Spurs loss at Cleveland on Feb. 15, 2000, Johnson and teammate Malik Rose argued over a defensive play when Cavaliers guard Andre Miller got a 3-point play. After the game, a nude Johnson tried to slap Rose in front of his locker while on his way to the shower, a source told The Undefeated. Rose lunged forward to hit Johnson and slipped and fell after stepping into teammate Mario Elie’s bucket of ice. Rose was held back by teammates Felton Spencer and Jerome Kersey. Still nude, Johnson started pacing around the locker room, throwing stuff around and breaking a television while having words for Popovich, Robinson, Rose and Porter about the team no longer being his. The Spurs didn’t re-sign Johnson, although the franchise did retire his No. 6 jersey after he retired, and he instead signed with the Denver Nuggets.
Jon Rothstein: Portland has officially hired Terry Porter as its next head coach, sources told @CBSSports. Development first reported by @Dwight Jaynes.
