Clyde Drexler
June 22, 1962 — New Orleans, Louisiana
Clyde Austin Drexler, nicknamed "Clyde the Glide" for his smooth, airborne style, was one of the most complete players in NBA history — a ten-time All-Star who led Portland to two NBA Finals appearances and won a championship with Houston before being enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
From Houston to Portland
Born on June 22, 1962 in New Orleans and raised in Houston, Drexler attended the University of Houston, where he was part of the famed "Phi Slama Jama" squad alongside Hakeem Olajuwon. The Portland Trail Blazers selected him 14th overall in the 1983 NBA Draft, and within a few years he had transformed into one of the league's elite wings. Standing 6 feet 7 inches and combining leaping ability with ballhandling, finishing, and defense, Drexler was the prototype for the modern shooting guard. He averaged more than 20 points per game in seven different seasons and led the Blazers to the NBA Finals in both 1990 and 1992 — falling short of the championship both times.
The Dream Team and a Championship Ring
In 1992, Drexler was selected for the United States Olympic team — the legendary "Dream Team" — that competed at the Barcelona Olympics. Playing alongside Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Hakeem Olajuwon, the team dismantled every opponent and captured gold by an average margin of nearly 44 points. Three years later, in February 1995, Drexler was traded back to Houston, reuniting with his college teammate Olajuwon. The Rockets won the NBA championship that June, and Drexler finally had the title his talent deserved. He was named to the NBA's 50th and 75th Anniversary Teams, placing him among the officially recognized greatest players ever.
Did You Know?
During his University of Houston days, Drexler was part of a squad so explosive that Sports Illustrated dubbed them "Phi Slama Jama" — a fraternity of slam dunkers. Their 1983 and 1984 NCAA tournament runs drew enormous attention and put Houston basketball on the national map, though the Cougars fell short of a championship both years.
Legacy and Hall of Fame
Drexler retired after the 1997–98 season with career averages of 20.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 2.5 steals per game — a statistical profile that places him among the most well-rounded players in league history. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004 for his individual career, and again in 2010 as a member of the Dream Team. He later became commissioner of the Big3 3-on-3 basketball league. Drexler is consistently ranked among the top shooting guards and top players of all time, and his nickname "Clyde the Glide" perfectly captures the effortless elegance with which he played the game.