Examining the 10 greatest Portland Trail Blazers in history, ranked by Player Efficiency Rating (PER) sparks debate among fans, with names like Damian Lillard, Bill Walton, and Clyde Drexler in the mix. PER, a metric developed by John Hollinger, sums up player contributions, highlighting positive and negative aspects. While not perfect, it offers a way to compare player performance. The league average PER is 15.0 each season. Noteworthy is Billy Ray Bates, a lesser-known player with a PER of 19.0, despite a relatively brief NBA career.

The Big Picture

This analysis ranks Trail Blazers players based on a key metric, shedding light on player performance beyond traditional statistics and sparking discussions on the greatest player in the franchise's history.

By the Numbers
  • League average PER each season: 15.0
  • Billy Ray Bates' PER: 19.0
Yes, But

PER may not provide a complete picture of a player's impact, as it simplifies contributions into a single number, potentially overlooking intangible qualities.

State of Play
  • Debate sparked among fans regarding the greatest Trail Blazer based on PER rankings
  • Billy Ray Bates stands out as a statistical outlier in Blazers history
What's Next

Further discussions and analysis may delve into refining metrics like PER to better capture the nuances of player performance and impact on the court.

Bottom Line

Evaluating the best Trail Blazers through PER showcases a diverse mix of players and underscores the complexity of quantifying player excellence through advanced metrics.