I don't think Barkley will... I know Hakeem will always be remembered as a Rocket, despite his cup of coffee with the Raptors... and no matter how long Jordan laces 'em up as a Wizard, he will always be a Bull... but Drexler? that's kinda weird, huh? I mean he owns like every Portland record there is to own. He went to the Finals with the Blazers. But I think ultimately Clyde will be remembered as a Rocket...maybe because he's from Houston. Maybe because of the storybook was he won the title here. Maybe because his skills were still pretty well intact (though somewhat diminished) by the time he became a Rocket. what do you think??
Hmm...in NBA2k3, the West All Stars of the 90's, he is dressed in a Portland TrailBlazers jersey. So he will be remembered as a Portland TrailBlazer. He did win the the championships here, though. Of course, Hakeem will always be a Rocket. Michael......duh. Charles Barkley...
That's a good question. I think Barkley will be remembered as a Sun more than a 76er. Though he spent more time in Philly, his best years were definitely during his stint in Phoenix. Drexler? My head says he will be remembered as a Trailblazer. He spent so many years in the northwest with such a talented team that reached the Finals. However my heart thinks he will be remembered as a Rocket because of his championship, its his hometown, and the reunion with Dream. I guess we'll find out for sure when he gets voted into the Hall-of-Fame.
oh...a computer game has him listed as such...and since we all play those computer games, there's the dispositive answer. right.
Clyde will always be connected with Houston and Hakeem because... 1. Houston Cougars and PHI SLAMMA JAMA. 2. His return to Houston and Championship season. Clyde was the guy who should have always been a Rocket and finally came home. To most of the NBA I think he will be remembered as a Blazer but to most Houston fans I think he will be remebered as a Rocket.
I think I'll send you some Rocket-red colored glasses. Also, SLA gets an award for having wonderful deduction skills.
wait..NYKRule...seriously..he won a title here! he was then part of a team that went to the WCF two years later. he's from houston. he went to the NCAA tourney with the University of Houston. i don't think it's that big of a stretch to say people might remember him more as a rocket, despite his great years with the blazers. it would be rocket-red colored glasses if i said barkley would be remembered as a houston rocket...but there are other factors at work with drexler.
He played 11 1/2 years on the Portland Trailblazers. He had his best years by far on the Blazers. I don't think winning a title matters in this. He was simply dominating on the Blazers, he was a shadow of himself on the Rockets.
The Hakeem story is complete if you only mention his career with the Rockets. The CB4 story is the Sixers and Suns with only a brief mention of his final years here necessary. The Drexler story is 75% Trailblazers and 25% Rockets (including the "full circle PSJ thing"). Houston is the final chapter. The story does not resolve unless you discuss his years here. That being said, if one were to ask "what cap would he wear into the HOF" (using a baseball analogy), it would have to be Portland.
I'm pretty certain Clyde has said on every occasion that if he's ever admitted into the Hall of Fame, it'd be as a Rocket. Likewise, Charles Barkley has maintained that he'd enter as a 76er. When they were announced as members of the Top 50 of all time, weren't they wearing these respective jerseys? I believe so, but that was a few years ago.
Just like OJ wants to be remembered as a football player. The general public will remember him for something else.
rezdawg and NYKRule, Don't be so quick to rule out Clyde going into the Hall of Fame as a Rocket. Please see Moses Malone's example. It will by Clyde's choice if he goes as a Houston Rocket or Portland Trailblazer. Moses Malone had his best years in Houston winning 2 MVP's and taking the Rockets to an NBA Championship. Moses Malone made his name and his reputation as a Houston Rocket but chose to go into the Hall of Fame as a 76er because that is where he won his championship. Like Moses, Clyde spent 4 years with the team he won an NBA championship with. Also like Moses, Clyde won a championship in his first season with the club. Like Moses in Philly, Clyde put up very good Hall of Fame type numbers in Houston. Barkley has already hinted that he will go into the Hall of Fame as a 76er. There is no question that Hakeem will go into the Hall as a Rocket. Clyde on the other hand might choose to go into the Hall of Fame as a Rocket because of his close ties to the city of Houston and because of his friendship with Hakeem. This is also the place where he won his only championship. It is certainly not a pipe dream to suggest that Clyde Drexler could chose to be remembered as a Houston Rocket when he is inducted to the Hall of Fame.
I'm just taking this thread's title literally. He might go into the hall as a Rocket, but he'll be remembered as a Blazer.
I will always remember Moses Malone as a Houston Rocket but he was enshrined into the Hall of Fame as a 76er. http://www.hoophall.com/halloffamers/Malone.htm
Terrific analogy crash! The parallels are very similar. But I think Clyde may have a stonger tie to the Traiblazers than Moses did since Clyde spent 11+ seasons with Portland while Moses spent 6 seasons with Houston. It;s gonna be a tough choice for the Glide.
Basketball is not Baseball. One does not "go into the hall of fame" as a member of a certain team. The busts do not include representations of caps or uniforms. Every organization (college and pro) that the player was a part of is recognized on the plaque and in the bio.
