Jack McCloskey – Coach for the Trail Blazers before Greg Oden
The second coach the Portland Trail Blazers had was Jack McCloskey. He served the team between 1972-1974. As well as being a coach, he was also a player for the NBA and an executive. During his time there, the team’s win-loss record was not something to be so proud of, at 48-116. Perhaps if it would have had Greg Oden playing (who only joined the Trail Blazers in 2007), things would have looked somewhat different. But as it was, McCloskey thus left in 1974.
When he did leave the Trail Blazers, McCloskey joined the Los Angeles Lakers, under Jerry West, as assistant coach. He hoped to have been promoted to head coach when West left but Paul Westhead was hired over him. In 1979, he became the general manager for the Detroit Pistons. This was probably where he was most well known since just two years ago, his name was honored in Detroit with a banner raised at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
A Discussion with Nate McMillan, Coach to Greg Oden
Nate McMillan inspires Greg Oden
Nate McMillan, the coach of the Portland Trail Blazers where Greg Oden plays Center, recently sat down with Benson Taylor of Sporting News. Coach McMillan explained that they’ve had a successful season, partly as a result of the excellent coaching staff. As he said, “We’ve got to be the hardest-working team out on the court. And our guys have responded to that.”
He plans to make a number of decisions in the offseason to help to rebuild the team so that it will be strong enough to compete in the Western Conference and possibly for a championship.
Greg Oden: Fun and Games
Apart from being a professional basketball player, Greg Oden also likes to play for fun, and to benefit kids. On one of his recent trips to Portland, Oden participated in a free throw contest, a three point contest and a game of horse. While he didn’t win all the games, Greg Oden was nonetheless delighted since the whole afternoon was a lot of fun and it was clear that the kids who participated had a ball (no pun intended). At the end of the day, being part of the game is often more important than who wins, and clearly Greg Oden is well aware of this fact.
Greg Oden Shoots a Public Service Announcement
See Greg Oden’s personality shine – and his charitable work take off – with this great video. Greg Oden is captured here filming a public service announcement for Team ODEN, his partnership with Oregon Mentors. Wouldn’t you love to be one of the kids hanging out with Greg Oden in this video?
Greg Oden matches career high as Blazers rout Bulls
PORTLAND, Ore. — Greg Oden tied a career high with 24 points and LaMarcus Aldridge also had 24 to help the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Chicago Bulls 122-98 onMonday night.
Oden, the first pick of the 2007 NBA draft, missed one of his eight shots from the field and added 12 rebounds. Aldridge pulled down a game-high 13 rebounds.
The Blazers had five players score in double figures. Brandon Roy had 18 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, while Andre Miller scored 16 and Rudy Fernandez 13.
Luol Deng scored 25 points and John Salmons added 22 for the Bulls.
Portland’s 122 points was a season high and the Trail Blazers outrebounded the Bulls 47-27.
Portland scored a season-high 66 points during the first half by dominating inside and getting to the free throw line. Four Blazers scored in double figures during the opening half, led by Aldridge’s 17 points.
Chicago made its first nine shots in the third quarter and cut its deficit to 80-75. But the Blazers closed the period on a 10-5 spurt to take a 10-point lead heading into the fourth before blowing the game open.
Notes: Chicago plays six consecutive road games during a 14-day span. Monday’s game was the fourth. Portland beat Chicago for the fifth consecutive time in the Rose Garden. … The Blazers have also won five straight over the Bulls, after sweeping the season series in 2007-08 and 2009-09.
Greg Oden & Team ODEN
Greg Oden might be a Center on the court – but he’s front and center off the court as well. Watch him explain Team ODEN, the charity work that he does with Oregon Mentors. Charitable work at its best with Greg Oden.
| Team Oden – Junior Parade |
The History of Oregon Mentors
Oregon Mentors originally began from a national youth development campaign called America’s Promise. One of the five promises that was part of America’s Promise, led by General Colin Powell, was that each child should have an “ongoing relationship with a caring adult – parent, mentor, tutor or coach.”
A number of people in Oregon began researching the idea of having a mentoring program in their state. After two years of research, they started the Oregon Mentoring Initiative, which soon became the Oregon Mentors and they launched it in January of 2001.
Today, groups such as the Portland Trail Blazers with Greg Oden, individuals, businesses and more help to keep the mentoring program working and growing for Oregon’s youth.
Welcome to Greg Oden’s Home
Take a tour of Greg Oden‘s home, with Greg as your very own guide.
Greg Oden Runs The Court
Greg Oden may be young, but he has already proven himself indispensable to the Portland Trail Blazers who need his size and talent to compete in the Western Division. Oden’s talent as a rebounder and blocker completes his image as an all around power center that can score at will. He is quick to the backboard and can manhandle most opponents that come his way. It’s for this reason that he was drafted by Portland in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft.
