The Oregon NBA Connection

There’s no doubt that the state of Oregon has a strong connection to the NBA. From NBA superstars like Damian Lillard to up-and-comers like Bol Bol there are plenty of players with Oregon ties.

In this blog, we’ll take a look at some of the most notable Oregonians in the NBA, and see what makes the state such a hotbed for basketball talent.

The Oregon Trail and the NBA

The Oregon Trail was a 2,170-mile (3,490 km) east-west, large-wheeled wagon route and emigrant trail in the United States that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon. The eastern part of the Oregon Trail spanned part of what are now the states of Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho, and Oregon. The western half of the trail spanned most of the current state of Oregon.

The trail was used by about 400,000 settlers from 1843 to 1869. These settlers were able to reach the western half of Oregon in about five to six months. Most Oregonians today live within a few hours’ drive of the trail.

The NBA has had a Number of players with connections to Oregon. Some have gone on to have great careers in the NBA while others have had more modest success. Here is a look at some of the most notable players with ties to Oregon.

Current Players:

Damian Lillard – Lillard was born and raised in Oakland, California but he played his college basketball at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. He was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 6th overall pick in 2012 and he has been one of the best players in franchise history. Lillard is a 4-time All-Star and he was named All-NBA First Team in 2018. He is currently one of the best players in the NBA and he is known for his clutch shooting ability.

CJ McCollum – McCollum was born in Canton, Ohio but he played his college basketball at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. He was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 10th overall pick in 2013 and he has developed into one of the best Shooting Guards in the NBA. McCollum is a 2-time All-Star and he was named All-NBA Third Team in 2016. He is one of the best scoringguards nd he has developed into a very good all-around player for Portland.

Enes Kanter – Kanter was born in Switzerland but he grew up in Turkey playing Professional Basketball there before coming to America to play College Basketball at Kentucky. He declared for the NBA draft after his freshman year and he was drafted by the Utah Jazz withthe 3rd overall pick enver Nuggetsin 2011 . He played three seasons for Utah before being traded tto achieveothe Oklahand eing joining theyhoma City Thunder prior to th beaver 2014–15 season where hoenjey yed foevrethree seasons . In 2017 , The Thunder traded him ntoachieved tto then Knickerbockershe New York Knicks where ghkjhe has plyed ever since . He sgkjnasly pksplayed fiver seasonsfor OKCsgfhas averaged a double – double each year an d won an Olympic medalist inturkeywith thje Turkish national team enjgkfywhete they won bronze at EuroBasket 2001 . Also that year youtubeKnicks , Hedoachieved Turkoglualso wopn an NBA Championship with th erutbejyr New Jersey Nets .

The NBA in Oregon

The state of Oregon is home to two NBA teams the Portland Trail Blazers and the Detroit Pistons Although the Pistons are based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, they began their life as the Fort Wayne Pistons, an NBA team that was based in Fort Wayne Indiana. The team relocated to Detroit in 1957.

Oregon has been home to the Trail Blazers since 1970, when the team was founded as an expansion franchise. The Trail Blazers have won one NBA Championship in 1977. They have also appeared in three other NBA Finals in 1990, 1992, and 1999.

The Trail Blazers and the NBA

The Portland Trail Blazers are an NBA team based in Portland, Oregon. They are part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the NBA. The team was founded in 1970, and they have won one NBA Championship in 1977. They have also been to the NBA Finals three times, in 1990, 1992, and 1999. The team is currently owned by Paul Allen

The NBA in the Pacific Northwest

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has a strong connection to the Pacific Northwest region of the United States The region is home to two NBA Teams the Portland Trail Blazers and the Seattle SuperSonics In addition, the NBA has a strong presence in Vancouver, British Columbia, with the Vancouver Grizzlies

The connection between the NBA and the Pacific Northwest began in 1970, when the Portland Trail Blazers were founded as an expansion team. The team quickly became a fan favorite, thanks in part to their star player Bill Walton The Blazers would go on to win the NBA championship in 1977.

In 1979, another expansion team was founded in Seattle, Washington. The Seattle SuperSonics would enjoy great success in their early years, winning the NBA championship in 1979. However, the team struggled in recent years and in 2008 they were sold and relocated to Oklahoma City

In 1995, Vancouver was awarded an expansion franchise, which became known as the Vancouver Grizzlies. Unfortunately, the team was not successful on or off the court, and after six seasons they were sold and relocated to Memphis, Tennessee.

The Rose Garden and the NBA

The Rose Garden, home of the Portland Trail Blazers is one of the most recognizable arenas in the NBA. Located in downtown Portland, the arena is a popular destination for basketball fans from all over the world. But the Rose Garden has not always been home to the Blazers. In fact, the team has only played there since 1995. Before that, they spent 33 years playing at Memorial Coliseum, also located in downtown Portland.

The NBA and Nike

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a men’s professional Basketball League in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). It is widely considered to be the premier men’s professional basketball league in the world. The NBA is an active member of USA Basketball (USAB), which is recognized by FIBA (also known as the National Basketball Federation) as the national governing body for basketball in the United States

Nike, Inc. is an American multinational corporation that is engaged in the design, development, manufacturing, and worldwide marketing and sales of footwear, apparel, equipment, accessories, and services. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, in the Portland metropolitan area It is one of the world’s largest suppliers of Athletic Shoes and apparel and a major manufacturer of sports equipment with revenue in excess of US$24.1 billion in its fiscal year 2012 (ending May 31, 2012). As of 2012, it employed more than 44,000 people worldwide. In 2014 the brand alone was valued at $19 billion, making it the most valuable brand among sports businesses. As of 2017, the Nike brand is valued at $29.6 billion. Nike ranked No 66 on Forbes’ 2019 list of America’s top 500 public companies

The NBA and Adidas

Adidas is a German sportswear company that has been associated with the NBA since 2006. In 2008, they became the official outfitter of the NBA, and they have been supplying NBA teams with uniforms and apparel ever since.

The company has a strong presence in the state of Oregon, where they have their North American headquarters in Portland. They also have a manufacturing facility in Hermiston, which employs over 800 people.

Many current and former NBA players have ties to Oregon, either through Adidas or through other connections. For example, Damian Lillard who plays for the Portland Trail Blazers is a major endorser of Adidas products. Other notable players with ties to Oregon include Kevin Durant CJ McCollum, and Terrence Ross.

The NBA and Puma

In recent years the NBA has been forging ahead with new and innovative partnerships. One of the most notable has been with Puma, which is now the official outfitter of the Portland Trail Blazers

It’s a perfect match, really. The Blazers are one of the most stylish teams in the league, and Puma is a brand that knows a thing or two about style. Not to mention, both the Blazers and Puma are based in Oregon.

This partnership has been a boon for both parties involved. The Blazers have access to Puma’s cutting-edge performance gear, while Puma gets to dress one of the coolest teams in the NBA. It’s a win-win!

The NBA and Reebok

The NBA has a special connection to Reebok, as the company is based out of Beaverton, Oregon.
Reebok has been an official outfitter of the NBA since 2006, and they have 3 year extension with the league that will keep them as partners through 2019.
Reebok also manufactures the official game balls for the NBA, which are made in their factory in Thailand.

The NBA andOther Sports

Professional basketball in the United States has its roots in Oregon. The first professional Basketball league was the National Basketball League (NBL), which was founded in Eugene, Oregon in 1898. The league only lasted two years, but it laid the groundwork for future professional basketball leagues.

In the early 1900s, there were several attempts to start professional basketball leagues, but none of them were successful. It wasn’t until 1946 that the Basketball Association of America (BAA) was founded, and this league eventually evolved into what we now know as the NBA.

Interestingly, Oregon also played a role in the development of another major professional sport in the United States football. In 1892, William “Pudge” Heffelfinger became the first professional football player when he was paid $500 to play for the Allegheny Athletic Association against the Pittsburgh Athletic Club.