Former Trail Blazers general manager Harry Glickman dies at age 96

Harry Glickman (Google Images)

According to Reuters Media on Wednesday, former Portland Trail Blazers general manager Harry Glickman passed away at the age of 96. The cause of death was not revealed at this time.

Glickman was the general manager of the Trail Blazers from 1970 to 1981. In that 11 year time period, the Trail Blazers had a record of 405 wins and 497 losses. However, even though Portland was 92 games below the .500 mark while Glickman was in charge of player personnel, he is the only general manager in Trail Blazers history to win the NBA Finals. In 1977, the Trail Blazers beat the Philadelphia 76ers four games to two.

However, Glickman was so much more than just the general manager for the Trail Blazers. He was also the person responsible in bringing professional basketball in the National Basketball Association to Portland. Glickman was able to generate $3.8 million in investor support in 1970, and was the team’s president from 1987 to 1994.

Among the coaches Glickman hired were Basketball Hall of Fame head coaches Lenny Wilkens of Brooklyn, New York, and Dr. Jack Ramsay of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Wilkens, who is second all-time in coaching wins with 1332, won 75 games with the Trail Blazers from 1974 to 1976. Ramsay spent 10 seasons coaching the Trail Blazers from 1976 to 1986, but will be most remembered for winning the NBA Finals with Portland in 1977.

When it came to bringing players to Portland, Glickman deserves high praise in putting the 1977 Trail Blazers team together. Among the players on that team were Bill Walton (selected first overall by Portland in the 1977 NBA Draft), point guard Lionel Hollins, center Lloyd Neal, guard Larry Steele, small forward Bob Gross, and power forward Maurice Lucas. Walton was the most recognizable Trail Blazers star at that time as he was the 1977 NBA Finals most valuable player award and the 1978 NBA most valuable player award as well.