Friday, September 3rd, 2010 at 10:40 am  |  82 responses

For Old Time’s Sake: Clyde the Glide

If there was ever an NBA superstar that flew (pun intended) under the radar, it was Clyde Drexler. Throughout his 15 year career he played on only two teams, The Blazers and Rockets, and earned some great accolades along the way. Drex won a championship with the Rockets in ’95, played in 10 All Star Games, played on the original Dream Team in ’92, was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history, and was inducted into the HOF in 2004. Drex was also the SEC player of the year at Houston in ’83 (that fro was bananas) and a member of the PHI SLAMA JAMA fraternity along with Hakeem and Larry Micheau. They got that on your campus? Not mine. His best season statistically came with the Blazers in the ’88-’89 season when he posted averages of 27.2 pts, 5.8 assts, 7.9 rbs, amd 2.73 stls. The Glide was a BALLHAWK, he could fly and take your cookies. Shout out to Kevin L for this ill mix.

-Schneezy

For more old school videos, check out SLAMtv in the Media section.

Have a video you want to see in FOTS? send the video link to slamteam@harris-pub.com.


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  • The Philosopher

    And, his team LOOKED underrated.
    Without Reggie they are a lottery team.
    Even with Person and Smits. (maybe a stretch)
    Reggie is more clutch than Ray.

  • http://sdjkflf.com Jukai

    Is Reggie more clutch than Ray….
    Or did Reggie have to take more clutch shots cause his team wasn’t as good?
    Sorry, Ray Allen is a better all-around player. It’s pretty much the difference between one spot, but I just think Reggie Miller was a rich man’s Michael Redd. He could SCORE. Could you count on Reggie doing ANYTHING else?

  • total scrotal implosion

    Manu is top 10 mos def. Better defender, passer, rebounder than ray. And better handles. Ray was a better pure shooter, but the finals arent a 3pt contest, what did ray shoot in 2010 finals? Exactly. Manu had a great playoffs, he always does when healthy, he damn near won finals mvp in 05.

  • http://sdjkflf.com Jukai

    While bringing up Allen’s shooting percentages in the 2010 finals is fair game, Manu has had some AWFUL playoff series. Not a good idea to bring that in the debate.

  • JTaylor21

    Jukai you can’t really believe that Ray Ray is more clutch than Reggie (a player renounced for his clutch abilities during the era of MJ). The fact that people in the 90s and today remember Reggie for his clutchness at the same time MJ was playing should tell you all you need to know. Also ray allen has NEVER being a great defender and I don’t know why people would think that. Is it because all of a sudden because he went to boston where they had one of the best defenders of this era (KG) and the best defensive coach (Thabeu) people swear his this GREAT defensive force instead of giving a MAJOR of the credit to a great help defensive team.

  • JTaylor21

    @TSI you can’t be SERIOUS about Manu “third best player on my team” Ginobli being Top 10, joking right? Manu has never being a great player for an extended period of time and has had the luxury of playing with All-Time great players for his WHOLE career. Do you think that Manu can be the MAIN factor for a team and the MAIN focus of defenses night in and night out and still carry a team to the playoffs let alone win a chip. I DOUBT it but DO you?

  • http://thetroyblog.com Teddy-the-Bear

    @ Jukai: Sure Miller was dirty on defense–but that worked in his favour a lot of the time. So I don’t get how that’s a knock on his defensive game.
    Miller is definitely not overrated, and if anything SLAM underrated the hell out of him by not including him in their Top 50.
    I’m not saying there is a clear-cut “Who’s better?” between Reggie Miller and Ray Allen, but you definitely can’t say Mr. Shuttlesworth is FOR SURE the better player.
    That said, keep in mind that Reggie Miller and Jesus Shuttlesworth are two of my favorite ball players of all time.

  • The Philosopher

    Jukai:
    Reggie had the better mid range game. Reggie was better off screens. Reggie is the better shooter. Reggie is the better scorer, which you’ve correctly alluded to.
    And, yes, Reggie is among the most clutch players in NBA History.
    Even if Reggie had to take more clutch shots…
    What do you mean when you state “because his team wasn’t as good” concerning Reggie Miller’s clutchness?
    Let us say that his teams weren’t good.
    That means he has to be more clutch in order for his team to succeed.
    Further validating his greatness.

  • The Philosopher

    Also, Reggie as you know, had the most dangerous step back jumper in The History of The League.
    Unlimited range and accurate from unlimited range.
    Body Ray a few good times, and you are in his head.
    Ever since UConn he had that tendency.
    Reggie was mentally tougher than Ray, enabling him to overcome his perceived shortcomings.
    Yeah, Ray can play the point, and what not…
    He has become an overrated defender.
    Reggie is an underrated defender and passer.

  • hammer

    Manu? People r putting manu as a top 10 list of sg gr8ts!? Dam. Manu’s prime yrs and as 1 of the top players n the league lasted bout 5yrs(’03-’08). He isn’t a HOFamer plus he wasn’t even the focal point on his own team. I already listed the top 5 sg earlier 2day. Now here r 6-15. Iverson,dumars,pisto pete,sam jones and som1 who everybody here has forgotten 2 mention:earl the pearl, miller,shuttlesworth,wade,mitch richmond and david thompson. That’s top 15. And there STILL no room 4 manu there. It just surprises me how some people here have such short memories

  • http://slamonline.com Dave.

    When the ’92 Finals were on I saw the best piece of courtside graffiti ever:
    “To Air is human, to Glide is divine. GO BLAZERS.”

  • http://www.kb24.com The Seed

    Cosign JTaylor21, Clyde doesn’t get enough respect and did play in MJ shadow, but these Highlights refreshing my memory and got me thinking he might be top 10 dunker all time now.

  • http://www.slamonline.com J

    Juks.. Manu is.. a better defender, he hustles all the time, he’s a better passer and way better at creating offense.. ball handler and far superior slasher. contrary to what you said ray’s better offense (though not by a big margin imo) wont overshadow everything else manu is better at. he is as clutch as ray and has a bigger impact on changing the game because of what he can do on defense..

  • MusketeerX

    Clyde was a freak… just an awesome freak. Jealous of his athleticism.

  • cheers

    Clyde was very underrated so was mitch richmond. Mitch was a beast during his days in the warriors and the kings. So sad they played during the Jordan era.

  • cheers

    some recommendation for old time sake video
    ron harper (was a beast before the injuries)
    mitch richmond (was a beast, but played in the jordan era)
    bryan scott (a great contributor to a dynasty; exciting player)
    robert horry (Definition of clutch)
    jerome kersey (exciting player)
    tracy mcgrady (my 2nd favorite player)

  • http://sdjkflf.com Jukai

    JTaylor21: No one ever looked at Ray Allen as a great defender, even now. But he was always adequate. The same could not be said for Miller, who was subpar on defense, but tripped up a guy once or twice to stop a drive so people consider him ‘decent.’ He wasn’t.
    Teddy-the-Bear: Of course there’s no clear cut better player. I have Reggie at eight and Miller at nine, so that is a DEFINITE sign that either could be interchangeable. I just think people value Reggie way too much.
    The Philosopher: Reggie was a subpar defender and an AWFUL passer. Reggie looked to score and that’s what he did. As I said, he’s a rich man’s Michael Redd. His offense was incredible, some of the best the league has seen. But his one dimensional play limits him in my mind.
    J: Manu’s not a better slasher, not is he better at creating offense. Watch some Ray Allen videos.

  • haslem

    ray allen>reggie miller. those pacers were a damn good team, not just a bunch of scrubs carried by reggie. ray would have killed to play with some rebounders in his prime, reggie played with rik smits, the davis brothers, detlemph, and playmakers such as mark jackson as well as jalen rose straight up ballin’ easing the offensive pressure on him. that 2004 sonics was him and a young rashard lewis and THATS it and they still won 52 games. people forget his bucks squad were a game away from the nba finals despite their starting center being ervin ‘no magic’ johnson. ray rays got more all star selections an all nba second team which reggie could never crack and at the end of the day a championship. the argument that reggie’s era was more intense isn’t fair. sure, jordan stands out as a peer, but don’t forget ray ray was playing against kobe bryant, allen iverson, tracy mcgrady, vince carter, not to mention less talented but still quality two guards such as michael redd and gilbert arenas, and shooters like peja. d-wade was a beast. if anything his era had more competitive players at his position/skill set than reggie did. I can only think of MJ, mitch ritchmond, the tail end of clyde’s career, sporadic flashes of brilliance from sprewell and a few golden years from glen rice. Ray Ray didn’t have it any easier.

  • jammal o

    wow, those 89 stats are crazy, almost lebronish

  • http://www.shawnkemp.com Masr

    im still a young kid so can someone please tell me some ones game in the league right now compared to drexler (never got to see him play)? It goes without saying i love basketball and love playing it so i want to be a student of the game.

  • PlanetAsia14

    Top Five shooting guard of all time, without a doubt.

  • http://www.stonesthrow.com Michael NZ

    Great mix, god awful music choice.

  • jumpman22cn

    Great stuff, one of my avourites. Those plays were just “like clubbing baby seals” . ^^

  • James aka…

    heres a hypothetical. What would have been better, Jordan and Drex or Jordan and Pipp. I think Pipp complemented Jordan perfectly, but would drex have made up for more than you lost with pipps D with his scoring? Could you have been looking at a gigantic backcourt duo of jordan at the 2 and drex at the 1, or even at the 2 and 3 like the bulls? I could see them going for 55 ppg for a few seasons.

  • L

    @2:03 sick finger roll. Gotta love the glyde..L

  • The Philosopher

    @Masr:
    Vince Carter is as close as you get to Clyde Drexler today.

  • http://sfdjklf.com Jukai

    Masr: Think Andre Iguadala in form and strength and body, but with the skillsets (as The Philosopher said) of Vince Carter, in terms of handles and passing and rebounding and hangtime… and the passion to continue to USE those skillsets to his full potential, even when his knees were going.
    That’s the most apt description of Clyde I can give.

  • hammer

    @masr. 1 player that does resemble drex would b lebron. And no I am no lebron fan @ all. Lebron tho is more bigger and stronger that drex was. But the way drex would steam down the court is how lebron does now. And drex would posturize some1 n the process as well. Drex also would attack the rim like lebron does. Their fg percentages r similar @ 47 percent. Drex was a better 3pt shooter tho @ 37 percent while lebron I believe is between 31-33 percent. He’s about the only 1 out there that kinda reminds u of clyde. A more powerful clyde tho

  • http://sfdjklf.com Jukai

    ^^^
    Not a bad comparison actually. I think Lebron’s a lot faster and flashier, but hey, it’s as good as any comparison

  • dma

    yeah it is a terrible choice for music. song is so angry and clyde is a nice soft spoken guy.

  • hammer

    @ jukai. Good point. Lebron is faster and flashier

  • http://thephotoriot.com davidR

    those 2 finger rolls at 1:57 are ridiculously beautiful

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