One of the greatest Trail Blazers ever celebrated his 35th birthday on Tuesday.

Brandon Roy last played in the NBA in the 2012-13 season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, playing five games before suffering an injury that ultimately ended his pro hoops run.

Roy was acquired by the Blazers in a draft day trade with  Minnesota in the 2006 NBA Draft in exchange for Randy Foye out of Villanova.  Roy was taken with the No.6 overall pick.  He played five seasons in Portland before knee injuries forced him into premature retirement ahead of the 2011-12 season at just 26 years old.  He posted career averages in Portland of 19 points, 4.7 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game.

Roy was the 2006-07 NBA Rookie of the Year when he averaged 16.8 points and 4 assists per game in his first season in Rip City.  By the time his run with the Blazers ended, he was coming off the bench, but not without providing memorable moments like Game Four of the 2011 NBA playoffs first round against Dallas.  Roy came out of nowhere to score 18 points in the fourth quarter and lead the Blazers from 23 points down late in the third quarter to stun the Mavs 84-82 and tie the series at 2 games a piece.

Roy coached high school hoops with Nathan Hale high school in the greater Seattle area in 2016, leading them to a perfect 29-0 record during the regular season and coaching players like current Nuggets guard Michael Porter, Jr., among others.  He was then named head coach at Garfield high school in 2017.

Happy Birthday to one of the very best, on and off the floor.

 

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