Dame Is Home, Splitter Is Coaching, and the Play-In Is on the Line
The headline of this offseason was Damian Lillard signing a three-year, $42M deal to return to Portland—but he's rehabbing a torn Achilles and won't play until 2026-27. That left interim head coach Tiago Splitter to hold things together after Chauncey Billups was arrested in October for alleged involvement in an illegal gambling scheme. Despite the chaos, Deni Avdija has emerged as the team's star with All-Star-caliber numbers including a 41-point game on New Year's Day, and Donovan Clingan is averaging nearly 11 points and 11 rebounds per game as a double-double force. Scoot Henderson finally returned from his torn hamstring and is finding his footing off the bench. At 31-35, Portland is fighting for a play-in spot, and with the Jazz on deck March 13, every possession counts.
Rip City Runs Deep: Why This Fanbase Is Unlike Any Other in the NBA
The 'Rip City' battle cry—coined by broadcaster Bill Schonely in 1971—still erupts through the Moda Center on every big play more than five decades later. Blazers fans don't just show up; they fill a 19,393-seat arena with genuine belief even through rebuilds and roster chaos. Game nights pulse with 'Let's Go Blazers' chants and a reverence for franchise icons like Clyde Drexler and Bill Walton that borders on sacred. The annual Blazer's Edge Night tradition brings the online fan community together in-arena, proof that Portland's fanbase is as tight-knit and authentic as the city itself.
Portland vs. Golden State: The Northwest-Bay Area Grudge Match
The Blazers-Warriors rivalry hit its peak during the late-2010s Western Conference playoff runs, when Portland was one of the few teams capable of genuinely pushing a dynasty Golden State squad. That edge never fully faded—the two clubs have been jostling for Western Conference positioning again in 2025-26, and every matchup carries the weight of a small-market fanbase proving itself against the NBA's glamour franchise. When the Blazers beat the Warriors, Rip City feels it in their bones. For Portland fans, this isn't just a rivalry—it's a statement.
Too Many Blazers Storylines, Too Little Time? Scoutcast Has You Covered
Blazers fans are juggling more storylines than any fanbase should have to: Dame's Achilles rehab timeline, Scoot Henderson's minutes restriction and development arc, Deni Avdija's injury status, Tiago Splitter's interim coaching decisions, and a Western Conference bubble race where a single loss can end postseason hopes. Scoutcast delivers a personalized daily audio briefing so you never miss a beat—injury updates, standings shifts, and play-in race breakdowns, all surfaced for you before your morning commute. One tap, two minutes, fully caught up on your Blazers. That's Rip City intelligence, on demand.
Frequently Asked Questions
At 31-35, Portland is squarely on the Western Conference play-in bubble heading into mid-March 2026. Every game carries postseason weight, including a key matchup against the Utah Jazz on March 13. The Blazers' path depends on staying healthy and winning the majority of their remaining games against bubble competition.
No—Lillard signed a three-year, $42M deal to return to Portland in July 2025, but is sitting out the entire 2025-26 season to rehab a torn left Achilles. He's expected to return for the 2026-27 campaign and even competed in the 2026 NBA Three-Point Contest during All-Star weekend as a show of progress.
Henderson missed the first 51-plus games of 2025-26 with a torn left hamstring suffered in a preseason workout, but has returned and is now playing off the bench without a minutes restriction. He erupted for 28 points against Indiana and is starting to look like himself again as Portland makes its play-in push.
Clingan has been a reliable double-double machine in his second NBA season, averaging approximately 10.9 points, 10.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.3 blocks per game. He has recorded double-digit rebounds in 23 games this season, establishing himself as one of the most productive young centers in the league.
Tiago Splitter, a former NBA center and assistant coach, was elevated to interim head coach after Chauncey Billups was arrested in October 2025 for alleged involvement in an illegal gambling scheme and placed on leave by the NBA. Splitter has navigated a brutal injury situation all season while keeping Portland in play-in contention.