Terry Porter

For the sound engineer, see Terry Porter (sound engineer).
Terry Porter
Personal information
Born April 8, 1963
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Nationality American
Listed height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight 195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school South Division
(Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
College Wisconsin–Stevens Point (1981–1985)
NBA draft 1985 / Round: 1 / Pick: 24th overall
Selected by the Portland Trail Blazers
Pro career 1985–2002
Position Point guard
Number 30
Career history
As player:
19851995 Portland Trail Blazers
19951998 Minnesota Timberwolves
1998–1999 Miami Heat
19992002 San Antonio Spurs
As coach:
2002–2003 Sacramento Kings (assistant)
20032005 Milwaukee Bucks
20062008 Detroit Pistons (assistant)
2008–2009 Phoenix Suns
20112014 Minnesota Timberwolves (assistant)
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points 15,586 (12.2 ppg)
Assists 7,160 (5.6 apg)
Steals 1,583 (1.2 spg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Terry Porter (born April 8, 1963) is an American professional basketball coach and former player in the National Basketball Association (NBA). A native of Wisconsin, he played college basketball at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point before being drafted 24th by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 1985 NBA Draft. In Portland, he played ten seasons with two All-Star Game appearances. Porter spent 17 years in the NBA as a player. Following his retirement as a player in 2002, he began coaching in the league and has twice been a head coach, first with his hometown Milwaukee Bucks, and then with the Phoenix Suns up until February 16, 2009. He is currently the alumni ambassador for Portland Trail Blazers.[1]

Early life

Porter was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on April 8, 1963. Porter played prep basketball, as a forward, at Milwaukee's South Division High School.

College career

Porter attended college at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point (The Pointers), a Division III school. He played under head coach Dick Bennett, and with Brad Soderberg (who later became the head coach at Saint Louis University).

In four seasons at Stevens Point, Porter averaged 13.5 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game, and shot 58.9 percent from the floor.[2] As a junior he averaged 18.8 points and shooting over 65 percent from the floor.[3] Twice with the Pointers, as both a junior and a senior, he was named an NAIA First-Team All-American. As a junior he was named the NAIA "Player of the Year", and in the 1984 NAIA tournament, he was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player even though the Pointers lost the national championship to Fort Hays State.[4]

After the 1984 tournament, Porter was the only NAIA player to be invited to the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team trials. (A team included Patrick Ewing, Michael Jordan, Sam Perkins, Wayman Tisdale, Chris Mullin, and Steve Alford.) 72 players were invited to the trials, led by head coach Bob Knight. At the trials he said: "I'm sure a lot of guys might have been surprised to see me here, I didn't even expect to get invited. This competition is a whole notch up from what I'm used to. I feel kind of in awe".[5] Porter made it to the final 20 (even though he had the chicken pox[6]), but on a team that was heavy on guards (Jordan, Alford, Vern Fleming, Alvin Robertson, and Leon Wood), Porter was cut on May 13, 1984 along with Charles Barkley and John Stockton.

After the Olympic trials NBA scouts began to notice Porter for his "tight defensive play, nonstop hustle and deft shooting touch". He commented: "I wasn't much good in high school, so the big schools didn't come after me. But I guess I've improved a lot at Point". After three seasons at shooting guard (or 2G) he moved to the point guard (PG) position.[3]

Following his senior season, where he averaged 19.7 points and 4.3 assists per-game, he was the only Division III player named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches-Valvoline All-America Game.[7] He was also the only NAIA player named to the Aloha Basketball All-Star Classic, where he was named to the all-tournament team (along with Detlef Schrempf, Harold Keeling, Xavier McDaniel, and Joe Dumars), and as "top defensive player" and co-MVP.[8][9]

Porter returned to Wisconsin–Stevens Point to finish his degree in communications, obtained in 1993, with an emphasis in television and radio.[10] He was awarded a Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1999.[11]

NBA playing career

Going into the 1985 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls,[12] Atlanta Hawks,[13] Golden State Warriors,[14] and San Antonio Spurs,[15] all looked to draft Porter. Most pundits, including Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe, projected him going to the Houston Rockets with the 19th pick in the draft,[16] while Jan Hubbard of the Dallas Morning News had him going to the Detroit Pistons with the number 18 pick.[17] And he was considered the second best choice at point guard, behind Sam Vincent, out of Michigan State.[18]

On June 18, 1985 the Portland Trail Blazers selected Porter with the 24th overall pick in the NBA Draft. Porter slipped from the projected 18th or 19th pick while other guards, Joe Dumars (18th by the Pistons), Steve Harris (19th by the Rockets), and Sam Vincent (20th by the Celtics), went ahead of him.

During his decade-long tenure in Portland, Porter went to the NBA Finals twice and continues to hold the NBA Finals single-game record for the most free throws made, none missed—15 (June 7, 1990 at Detroit). He was the recipient of the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award in 1993, and remains as the Trail Blazers' all-time assists leader with 5,319. Porter signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Timberwolves prior to the 1995-96 season and helped the Wolves clinch their first-ever playoff berth in 1996-97 and their first winning season the following year.

He signed with the Miami Heat before the 1998–99 campaign, and signed with the San Antonio Spurs prior to the 1999-2000 season. He retired after the 2001-02 season, having never been traded during his NBA career. Porter’s teams compiled a record of 815-547 (.598) during his career, and only once failed to make the postseason.

In 1,274 career games, Porter averaged 12.2 points, 5.6 assists and 1.24 steals during a career that included two All-Star berths (1991, 1993), two trips to the NBA Finals (1990, 1992) and 15,586 career points. He is 12th on the NBA’s all-time assist list (7,160). Porter has played for five of the top 36 coaches (games won) in NBA history: Pat Riley (1,210), Rick Adelman (945), Jack Ramsay (864), Gregg Popovich (797) and Flip Saunders (636).

On December 16, 2008, the Trail Blazers retired Porter's #30 jersey.[19]

NBA coaching career

Porter spent the 2002–03 season as an assistant coach with the Sacramento Kings, his first season in coaching.[20]

On August 6, 2003, the Milwaukee native was hired as head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks.[21] He was the eighth head coach in franchise history. He coached the Bucks for two years, leading a team which was expected to wind up in the playoffs after landing in the NBA draft lottery. However, the Bucks failed to make the playoffs the next season, and Porter was released during the 2005 offseason.

After a year away from the game, Porter joined the Detroit Pistons staff as an assistant coach for the 2006–07 season.[22]

On June 9, 2008, Porter was named the 13th head coach of the Phoenix Suns, succeeding Mike D'Antoni.[23]

On February 16, 2009, the Suns fired him after 51 games, and replaced him with assistant Alvin Gentry. The Suns had a 28-23 record, ninth in the Western Conference, with Porter.[24]

On December 6, 2011, he was hired as an assistant coach by the Minnesota Timberwolves under Rick Adelman.[25]

On January 8, 2013, the Timberwolves announced that Porter would be acting head coach while Adelman was not with the team due to family issues.[26][27]

Coaching record

Legend
Regular season G Games coached W Games won L Games lost W–L % Win-loss %
Post season PG Playoff games PW Playoff wins PL Playoff losses PW–L % Playoff win-loss %
TeamYearGWLWL%FinishPGPWPLPWL%Result
MIL 2003–04 824141.5004th in Central514.200 Lost in First Round
MIL 2004–05 823052.3665th in Central Missed Playoffs
PHX 2008–09 512823.549(fired)
Career 21599116.460 514.200

Business ventures

In 2006 Porter led an investor group attempting to purchase the then-troubled Portland Trail Blazers from owner Paul Allen. Porter teamed with Rob Kremer, a local talk-show personality and former investment banker, and Todd Stucky, a local businessman and longtime Porter friend, to raise the necessary capital to buy the team. Porter's buyout team was joined by George Postolos, who had recently resigned as CEO of the Houston Rockets, and who brought with him a lead investor to round out the Porter investor team package. After the 2006 draft in which the Trail Blazers significantly upgraded their personnel through a series of trades by Blazer executive Kevin Pritchard, Paul Allen appeared to renew his interest in the team, and removed it from the market.

Porter joined the Trail Blazers television broadcasting team before the start of the 2010–2011 season.[28]

Personal life

Porter, the youngest of six children, is an avid golfer. He and his wife Susie have three children - Brianna, Franklin and Malcolm. The family resides in the Portland area. Throughout his career, Porter has been active with the Boys and Girls Club and is a member of the organization's Hall of Fame. In 1994, he created the Milwaukee Scholars Fund, which provides scholarships to minority students in Milwaukee to attend schools in the University of Wisconsin System.

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1985–86 Portland 79 3 15.4 .474 .310 .806 1.5 2.5 1.0 .0 7.1
1986–87 Portland 80 80 33.9 .488 .217 .838 4.2 8.9 2.0 .1 13.1
1987–88 Portland 82 82 36.5 .519 .348 .846 4.6 10.1 1.8 .2 14.9
1988–89 Portland 81 81 38.3 .471 .361 .840 4.5 9.5 1.8 .1 17.7
1989–90 Portland 80 80 34.8 .462 .374 .892 3.4 9.1 1.9 .1 17.6
1990–91 Portland 81 81 32.9 .515 .415 .823 3.5 8.0 2.0 .1 17.0
1991–92 Portland 82 82 34.0 .461 .395 .856 3.1 5.8 1.5 .1 18.1
1992–93 Portland 81 81 35.6 .454 .414 .843 3.9 5.2 1.2 .1 18.2
1993–94 Portland 77 34 26.9 .416 .390 .872 2.8 5.2 1.0 .2 13.1
1994–95 Portland 35 9 22.0 .393 .386 .707 2.3 3.8 .9 .1 8.9
1995–96 Minnesota 82 40 25.3 .442 .314 .785 2.6 5.5 1.1 .2 9.4
1996–97 Minnesota 82 20 19.1 .416 .335 .765 2.1 3.6 .7 .1 6.9
1997–98 Minnesota 82 8 21.8 .449 .395 .856 2.0 3.3 .8 .2 9.5
1998–99 Miami 50 1 27.3 .465 .411 .831 2.8 2.9 1.0 .2 10.5
1999–2000 San Antonio 68 8 23.7 .447 .435 .806 2.8 3.3 .7 .1 9.4
2000–01 San Antonio 80 42 21.0 .448 .424 .793 2.5 3.1 .7 .1 7.2
2001–02 San Antonio 72 0 18.0 .424 .415 .819 2.3 2.8 .6 .2 5.5
Career 1,274 732 27.8 .463 .386 .836 3.0 5.6 1.2 .1 12.2
All-Star 2 0 17.0 .357 .143 1.5 3.5 1.5 .5 5.5

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1986 Portland 4 17.0 .444 .167 .500 1.3 3.0 .8 .5 6.8
1987 Portland 4 37.5 .480 .400 .900 4.8 10.0 2.5 .5 17.0
1988 Portland 4 37.3 .558 .333 .692 3.5 7.0 2.5 .0 17.0
1989 Portland 3 41.3 .500 .364 .833 5.3 8.3 .3 .3 22.0
1990 Portland 21 38.8 .464 .392 .842 2.9 7.4 1.3 .1 20.6
1991 Portland 16 16 37.2 .500 .362 .861 2.8 6.6 1.5 .1 18.1
1992 Portland 21 21 41.4 .516 .474 .832 4.6 6.7 1.0 .1 21.4
1993 Portland 4 4 38.0 .397 .158 .818 5.0 2.0 1.0 .0 16.5
1994 Portland 4 0 19.0 .343 .429 .786 3.0 2.3 1.0 .0 10.3
1995 Portland 3 0 7.0 .538 .400 .600 .7 1.3 .0 .0 6.3
1997 Minnesota 3 0 15.3 .385 .333 .750 1.0 3.0 .7 .7 5.3
1998 Minnesota 5 4 37.6 .429 .400 .833 5.0 3.2 1.0 .0 15.8
1999 Miami 5 0 27.8 .469 .250 .800 3.8 3.0 .6 .0 9.0
2000 San Antonio 4 0 22.3 .258 .286 .000 .3 1.3 1.5 .0 5.0
2001 San Antonio 13 13 25.1 .453 .333 .773 1.8 3.4 .8 .0 8.3
2002 San Antonio 10 0 13.1 .371 .294 .500 .9 .8 .4 .0 3.3
Career 124 31.8 .470 .372 .826 3.0 5.0 1.1 .1 14.7

See also

References

  1. Former Blazer Jerome Kersey dies at 52
  2. Pantages, Larry. - "Unless teams blow it, here's how NBA draft will go Top Prospects" . - San Diego Union. - June 16, 1985.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Porter Makes His Point(s)". - Associated Press. - (c/o - Boston Globe). - January 27, 1985.
  4. Terry Porter NAIA Honor
  5. Wilbon, Michael. - "Lesser-Knowns Make Their Case at Trials". - Washington Post. - April 21, 1984.
  6. "Soothing Decision for Porter". - United Press International. - (c/o Philadelphia Daily News). - April 23, 1984.
  7. "20 Named East-West All-Stars". - Associated Press. - (c/o - Lexington Herald-Leader). - March 27, 1985.
  8. "Detlef Named MVP of Aloha All-Star Classic". - Seattle Times. - April 15, 1985.
  9. Myslenski, Skip, & Linda Kay. - "SPORTS". - Chicago Tribune. - June 7, 1985.
  10. Butler, Vince. - "Porter values his college education". - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. - July 25, 1995.
  11. Copeland, Kareem. - "Bucks Basketball". - Wausau Daily Herald. - November 21, 2004.
  12. Sakamoto, Bob. - "Greenwood Injury Causes Trade Furor". - Chicago Tribune. - June 7, 1985.
  13. Price, S. L. - "Kings Play Clost to the Chest in 7-Card Draw Big Hopes Center on Big Men". - The Sacramento Bee. - May 7, 1985.
  14. Thomas, Ron. - "Warriors: Ewing Would Be a Start". - San Francisco Chronicle. - April 18, 1985.
  15. Pantages, Larry. - "Free Doesn't Think World of Proposed Deal". - Akron Beacon Journal. - June 15, 1985.
  16. Ryan, Bob. - "Bob Ryan's Mock Draft". - Boston Globe. - June 16, 1985.
  17. Hubbard, Jan. - "'DOUBTLESS' DRAFT - Rest assured Ewing to be No. 1, and Mavericks will look for size". - Dallas Morning News. - June 16, 1985.
  18. Price, S. L. "Ewing Heads Cast of 1985's Top Players". The Sacramento Bee. June 16, 1985.
  19. http://www.nba.com/suns/news/porter_portland_081216.html
  20. "Porter is introduced". Getty Images. 6 October 2002. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  21. Porter Bucks Headcoach
  22. Watson, Matt (August 23, 2006). "Terry Porter (finally) named assistant coach". Detroit Bad Boys. Retrieved July 1, 2014.
  23. SUNS: Suns’ Porter Takes Another Swing as NBA Coach
  24. "Alvin Gentry Named Suns Interim Head Coach". Suns.com. February 16, 2009.
  25. "Wolves Announce Basketball and Coaching Staffs". Minnesota Timberwolves. 6 December 2011.
  26. http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_22335492/minnesota-timberwolves-terry-porter-respected-coaching-circles
  27. http://news.yahoo.com/photos/minnesota-timberwolves-acting-head-coach-terry-porter-questions-photo-232533250--spt.html. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  28. Mike Tokito (2010-10-11). "Blazers: Terry Porter wants back into coaching, but for now is excited about broadcasting role". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2010-10-12.

External links