The Portland Trail Blazers created a bit of NBA history on Saturday night when they started five rookies against the visiting Denver Nuggets.
This marked only the second time in over 50 years that a team has started five first-year players, with the last occurrence happening over a decade ago.
An Inexperienced But Hungry Starting Lineup
Head coach Chauncey Billups decided to roll the dice and give significant playing time to all of Portland‘s recent draft picks and offseason acquisitions.
Lining up for opening tip-off were:
- Scoot Henderson – #3 overall pick in 2023 Draft
- Duop Reath – Undrafted free agent
- Kris Murray – #7 overall pick in 2022 Draft
- Toumani Camara – Second round pick in 2022 Draft
- Rayan Rupert – 2022 second round pick
This extremely young starting unit faced the daunting task of matching up with the rugged defending champion Nuggets. Denver boasts MVP frontrunner Nikola Jokic, premier scoring guard Jamal Murray, and an experienced supporting cast.
How Portland Ended Up With A Rookie-Laden Roster
The Trail Blazers find themselves firmly in rebuild mode after trading away long-time stars Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum over the past two seasons. They now feature a roster brimming with potential, but lacking in actual NBA experience.
A series of impactful offseason moves brought an infusion of youth and draft capital:
- Trading McCollum to Pelicans for 2022 first round pick
- Dealing Norman Powell and Robert Covington to Clippers for 2025 first round pick
- Letting go of veterans in free agency to open playing time
As a result, Portland now relies heavily on the contributions of NBA newcomers. The latest example being this starting five consisting exclusively of rookies.
How The Last Team With 5 Rookie Starters Fared
The only other instance of five first-year players starting an NBA game occurred on April 26, 2012.
On the last day of a lockout-shortened 66-game schedule, the Golden State Warriors trotted out the following teenage lineup:
- Klay Thompson
- Charles Jenkins
- Chris Wright
- Jeremy Tyler
- Mickell Gladness
This motley crew faced a dynastic San Antonio Spurs squad led by legends Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.
As expected, the game ended as a lopsided Spurs victory with the Warriors losing 107-101.
Most of those Golden State starters never made any meaningful NBA impact. But Thompson of course developed into a multi-time All-Star and key cog during Golden State‘s championship years.
How Portland’s Rookie Lineup Fared Against Denver
Just like that 2012 Golden State team, Portland‘s rookie-led starting unit faced long odds going up against the reigning West champions. Denver‘s star tandem of Jokic and Murray presented a huge challenge for the newbie lineup.
The Nuggets predictably raced out to an early double-digit lead, overwhelming Portland‘s youngsters with their execution at both ends.
But the plucky rookies managed to settle down and stage an admirable comeback to keep things close. Henderson in particular flashed impressive poise and scoring ability for a 19-year old facing elite competition.
And while Denver still claimed a comfortable 132-117 victory, Billups had to be encouraged by the flashes of brilliance demonstrated by this rookie group.
Why Portland Decided to Start 5 Rookies
Rather than just chalking it up to tanking, there were some reasonable motives behind Coach Billups‘ unorthodox strategy:
- Player Development – Extra playing time accelerates young players’ growth
- Reduced Veteran Injury Risk – Less wear-and-tear for trade chips like Grant and Brogdon
- Evaluate Young Talent – Determine keepers to build around for future
Giving significant exposure to the rookie class kills a few birds with one stone during what the team knows is a transition year.
Sources:
apnews.com/article/trail-blazers-rookies-lineup-06bf9682b35be46e1bf1fbb24cb43211
www.nba.com/news/blazers-start-5-rookies
