Rick Adelman (Blazers – #12 with ball) had some classic long sideburns going there…
It’s amazing what these guys could do back then wearing their plain ol’ Converse sneakers and high tube socks.
Notice the empty seats. In 1970, I attended the first ever Blazer game with my high school basketball team. The Blazers gave away the tickets to try to get folks in the stands. Of course, just a few years later with the championship team, tickets were difficult to obtain. Rick Adelman, who was the starting point guard at that opening game, was recently voted into the Basketball Hall of Fame for his success as a coach at Portland and various other cities.
Yeah those Converse shoes. No support. But I cared for mine like they were gold. Ran “em” through the washer. Kept them nice and white looking. Worst shoes ever made. I remember Penny’s had a knock off they sold that were less expensive but it just wasn’t the same.
My husband’s office had tickets close to the floor and were very frequently available. I used them a lot and loved watching players like Adelman. There was a force behind their wins that was different from today. Wish I had tickets like that today.
Looks like Nike paid Adelman to grow a Nike Swoosh on the sides of his face.
Thanks for another well-timed photo VP! The buzz of excitement is audible for game 2 tonight! Folks in their Blazer gear, a few more flags and signs. Nothing like the old days tho, remember the signs everywhere?
Assuming this is the end of the 72′ season, Blazers are gonna finish dead last in the league at 18-64. Btw, Bulls were in Western Conference then, and finished 57-25, third best in conference and entire league behind the Bucks and Lakers (both finished 63-19), featuring Kareem Abdul Jabbar/Oscar Robertson and Jerry West/Wilt Chamberlain respectively. So, the west was massively better than the east and the Blazers got battered. This will be the worst regular season record ever for the Blazers, and we’ve never won less than 21 since. Nineteen years later the Blazers will go 63-19 themselves, in the Drexler era. Btw, the #22 in this photo is Jimmy Collins…
In my opinion, one of the best parts of Oregon culture is our sports, and nothing runs much deeper than Rip City. Those empty seats won’t last long.
Back then the players were playing to win as a team; latter it was play to be the star and is why most of our close to winning the Championships fell apart, no team effort only individual performance to be the STAR.
DJ, Converse probably didn’t tell folks not to run their shoes through the wash back in the 50s, 60’s, 70’s, but they do now. They recommend just rubbing the uppers with a damp cloth with soap rubbed into it. For the rubbery side areas, they recommend cleaning with a soapy toothbrush.
Blazers Jersey #25 was first worn in the 1970-1971 by center Leroy Ellis for one season, and next was warn by Bob Davis for 1972-1973 season and not used again until 1978.. Looking at box scores records for home games where players with these numbers played plated against the Bulls I only found one. On October 25, 1970– #12 Adelman,#25 Ellis, #18 Boerwinkle and #22 Collins played at Veterans Memorial Coliseum for 3,352 fans. #25 Bob Davis only play 9 games for the Blazers, and only 1 against the Chicago Bulls in 1973.
Dennis, yep, this is definitely from the inaugural 70-71 season. Blazers uniforms were slightly tweaked for second year though 75, including having their “pinwheel” logo very prominently displayed on the front of the shorts which is absent here. Also shorts waistband striping above was unique to first year uniform. The Efiles date says “circa” so I imagine they just picked a year in the middle of Adelman’s tenure as close enough.
Portland hit the big time with a real Professional major sport league team and never looked back, and then Scottie Pippin, Arvydas Sabonis, Clyde Drexler and Bill Walton showed up for a while and then entered the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Is there a way to find out the name of the photographer?
Vintage Portland 
I had socks like that.
Bob Davis number 25 behind Rick.
Rick Adelman (Blazers – #12 with ball) had some classic long sideburns going there…
It’s amazing what these guys could do back then wearing their plain ol’ Converse sneakers and high tube socks.
Notice the empty seats. In 1970, I attended the first ever Blazer game with my high school basketball team. The Blazers gave away the tickets to try to get folks in the stands. Of course, just a few years later with the championship team, tickets were difficult to obtain. Rick Adelman, who was the starting point guard at that opening game, was recently voted into the Basketball Hall of Fame for his success as a coach at Portland and various other cities.
Yeah those Converse shoes. No support. But I cared for mine like they were gold. Ran “em” through the washer. Kept them nice and white looking. Worst shoes ever made. I remember Penny’s had a knock off they sold that were less expensive but it just wasn’t the same.
My husband’s office had tickets close to the floor and were very frequently available. I used them a lot and loved watching players like Adelman. There was a force behind their wins that was different from today. Wish I had tickets like that today.
Looks like Nike paid Adelman to grow a Nike Swoosh on the sides of his face.
Thanks for another well-timed photo VP! The buzz of excitement is audible for game 2 tonight! Folks in their Blazer gear, a few more flags and signs. Nothing like the old days tho, remember the signs everywhere?
Assuming this is the end of the 72′ season, Blazers are gonna finish dead last in the league at 18-64. Btw, Bulls were in Western Conference then, and finished 57-25, third best in conference and entire league behind the Bucks and Lakers (both finished 63-19), featuring Kareem Abdul Jabbar/Oscar Robertson and Jerry West/Wilt Chamberlain respectively. So, the west was massively better than the east and the Blazers got battered. This will be the worst regular season record ever for the Blazers, and we’ve never won less than 21 since. Nineteen years later the Blazers will go 63-19 themselves, in the Drexler era. Btw, the #22 in this photo is Jimmy Collins…
In my opinion, one of the best parts of Oregon culture is our sports, and nothing runs much deeper than Rip City. Those empty seats won’t last long.
Back then the players were playing to win as a team; latter it was play to be the star and is why most of our close to winning the Championships fell apart, no team effort only individual performance to be the STAR.
DJ, Converse probably didn’t tell folks not to run their shoes through the wash back in the 50s, 60’s, 70’s, but they do now. They recommend just rubbing the uppers with a damp cloth with soap rubbed into it. For the rubbery side areas, they recommend cleaning with a soapy toothbrush.
Blazers Jersey #25 was first worn in the 1970-1971 by center Leroy Ellis for one season, and next was warn by Bob Davis for 1972-1973 season and not used again until 1978.. Looking at box scores records for home games where players with these numbers played plated against the Bulls I only found one. On October 25, 1970– #12 Adelman,#25 Ellis, #18 Boerwinkle and #22 Collins played at Veterans Memorial Coliseum for 3,352 fans. #25 Bob Davis only play 9 games for the Blazers, and only 1 against the Chicago Bulls in 1973.
Dennis, yep, this is definitely from the inaugural 70-71 season. Blazers uniforms were slightly tweaked for second year though 75, including having their “pinwheel” logo very prominently displayed on the front of the shorts which is absent here. Also shorts waistband striping above was unique to first year uniform. The Efiles date says “circa” so I imagine they just picked a year in the middle of Adelman’s tenure as close enough.
Portland hit the big time with a real Professional major sport league team and never looked back, and then Scottie Pippin, Arvydas Sabonis, Clyde Drexler and Bill Walton showed up for a while and then entered the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Is there a way to find out the name of the photographer?