From 1976-1986, Jack Ramsay patrolled the sideline as head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. In his first season in charge, Ramsay led the team to a 49-33 record and the 1977 NBA championship. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992 and finished his coaching career with a record of 864-783 (453-367 with the Blazers).
On Friday the legendary coach celebrated his 89th birthday, and current Blazers coach Terry Stotts took the opportunity to honor the man who brought the team its only championship to date.
Terry Stotts honoring Jack Ramsay's 89th birthday. That's class. pic.twitter.com/1BPDzaCErp
— Mike Barrett (@blazermb) February 22, 2014
Portland defeated the Utah Jazz 102-94 behind 28 points from All-Star Damian Lillard, who had this to say after the game about Stotts’ gesture.
“Our whole team respected it. We understood it,” Lillard said, via SI’s Point Forward. “He was showing respect to a past Trail Blazers coach, the only coach who has won a championship. It was kind of fun with that relaxed look. To see him do something like that, I think it was cool.”
Stotts is in his second season as Blazers head coach and after a 33-49 record last year has the team at 37-18, good for fourth in Western Conference.
