Terry Porter

Terry Porter

NBA All‑Star | Portland Trail Blazers Legend | NBA & NCAA Head Coach

Terry Porter is an American former college basketball coach, former player and coach in the National Basketball Association. Porter was known for his defensive abilities and playmaking skills. After 17 seasons as a player in the NBA, Porter coached for 9 seasons, served 2 stints as the head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns, and served 5 seasons as the Portland Pilots head coach.

Read about Terry Porter’s Playing Career

Porter has been active with the Boys & Girls Club and is a member of the organization’s Hall of Fame. He also serves on the Board of Ambassadors for the Maurice Lucas Foundation.

  • Overall NBA Head Coaching Record: 99-116
    • 4-7 as the acting coach in 2013, credited to Adelman.
  • Overall NCAA Head Coaching Record: 43-103

Coaching Career

Porter was hired as an assistant coach for the Sacramento Kings under his former Trail Blazers head coach Rick Adelman in 2002. The team finished in second place in the western conference with a 59–23 record, reaching the playoffs, but would lose in the semi-finals against the Dallas Mavericks in 7 games.

Notable Players Coached

  • Chris Webber (5× NBA All‑Star, All‑NBA First Team, 1994 Rookie of the Year)
  • Peja Stojaković (3× NBA All‑Star)
  • Mike Bibby
  • Vlade Divac
  • Doug Christie
  • Bobby Jackson

“I’m glad they didn’t pass on me this time; ’85 was a tough
year for me,” Porter said at his introductory news
conference.

Porter returned to his home state of Wisconsin to become the 8th head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, succeeding George Karl. In his first season, the Bucks finished with a 41-41 regular season record and reached the playoffs but were eliminated in the first round by the Detroit Pistons, who would later win the 2004 NBA Championship.

In his second season, the team T. J. Ford was ruled out for the entire season due to a spinal cord injury. Michael Redd averaged a team high of 23.0 points per game. The team finished the season with a 30-52 record, not qualifying for the playoffs and Porter was fired in 2005.

Notable Players Coached

  • Michael Redd (2004 NBA All‑Star & Future 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist)
  • T.J. Ford (NBA All‑Rookie Second Team & Former 2003 Naismith College Player of the Year)
  • Desmond Mason (2001 NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion)
  • Keith Van Horn (Former 1997 No. 2 overall pick)
  • Joe Smith (Former 1995 No. 1 overall pick)
  • Toni Kukoč (3× NBA Champion & 1996 Sixth Man of the Year)

After taking a year off from NBA coaching, Porter coached his son’s fifth-grade basketball team, which ended up having an undefeated season. He was hired as an assistant coach for the Detroit Pistons under Flip Saunders, who coached him in Minnesota.

In 2 seasons with the team, the Pistons reached two conference finals losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics respectively.

Notable Players Coached

  • Chauncey Billups (NBA Finals MVP, 5× NBA All‑Star, 3× All‑NBA, 2× All‑Defensive Team)
  • Rip Hamilton (3× NBA All‑Star, 2004 NBA Champion)
  • Rasheed Wallace (2004 NBA Champion, 4× NBA All‑Star)
  • Tayshaun Prince (2004 NBA Champion, All‑Defensive Second Team, Future 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist)
  • Ben Wallace (4× Defensive Player of the Year, 4× All‑Star, NBA Champion, 2021 Naismith Hall of Famer)
  • Antonio McDyess (NBA All‑Star, 1999 All‑NBA third team)

“Terry knows how to deal with people as basketball players and as men,” Williams said. “He bonded with Clyde (Drexler) one way, and with me another and Jerome (Kersey) another. He communicates, teaches and directs without coming down on you” – Buck Williams on his former Trail Blazers teammate in 2003

Porter was hired as the Phoenix Suns head coach, succeeding Mike D’Antoni, marking this as Porter’s second NBA head coaching job. The Suns traded for Jason Richardson and needed an offensive changed, which resulted in firing Porter despite a 28–23 start in the middle of his first season. He was replaced by assistant coach Alvin Gentry who had a more offensive minded philosophy.

Notable Players Coached

  • Steve Nash (2× NBA MVP, 8× All‑Star, 7× All‑NBA, Hall of Famer)
  • Amar’e Stoudemire (6× NBA All‑Star, 5× All‑NBA, Rookie of the Year)
  • Shaquille O’Neal (4× NBA Champion, NBA MVP, 15× All‑Star, 2016 Naismith Hall of Famer)
  • Grant Hill (7× NBA All‑Star & 2019 Naismith Hall of Famer)
  • Jason Richardson (2× NBA Slam Dunk Contest Champion)
  • Leandro Barbosa (2007 NBA Sixth Man of the Year)
  • Boris Diaw (2006 NBA Most Improved Player)

Porter took 2 seasons off from the NBA and later returned in 2011 as an assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves, reuniting with head coach Rick Adelman.

In 3 seasons with the team, the Timberwolves increased their wins and improved their record but did not reach the playoffs in any of those seasons. Porter served as the acting head coach due to Adelman handling a family matter, he went 4-7 in the 11 games Adelman did not coach.

Minnesota Timberwolves Regular Season Records

  • 26–40 (2011-2012)
  • 31-51 (2012-2013)
  • 40-42 (2013-2014)

Notable Players Coached

  • Kevin Love (6× NBA All‑Star, 2× All‑NBA, NBA Champion, 2011 Most Improved Player)
  • Ricky Rubio (NBA All‑Rookie First Team)
  • Andrei Kirilenko (NBA All‑Star, 3× All‑Defensive Team, 2007 EuroBasket Russian Olympic medalist)
  • Corey Brewer (2011 NBA Champion)
  • Kevin Martin
  • J.J. Barea (2011 NBA Champion)

Porter took another 2 years off before becoming the head coach of the Portland Pilots, the men’s basketball team of the University of Portland. In 2021, he was fired and replaced by Ben Johnson. Under Porter, the Pilots had an overall 43–103 record in nearly five seasons.

Notable Players Coached

  • Alec Wintering (2016 All-WCC First team)