August 24, 2004

The Portland Trail Blazers announced today that Kevin Pritchard has been hired as the team’s Director of Player Personnel.

“We are very excited to bring Kevin to our organization,” said Trail Blazers General Manager John Nash. “Kevin brings experience as a former player, both in the NBA and internationally, as a successful minor league coach and as an NBA scout. He is one of the rising young executives in the NBA.”

The 37-year-old Pritchard spent the past year and a half as a scout with the San Antonio Spurs. Prior to that, he spent three years with the Kansas City Knights of the ABA where he served as the team’s general manager, head coach and director of player personnel. During the 2000-2001 season, Pritchard had seven players promoted to the NBA.

“To be able to join the Trail Blazers and be a part of the decision-making process along with (Trail Blazers Owner) Paul Allen, (President) Steve Patterson and John Nash was too good to resist,” said Pritchard. “It was very clear to me early on in the interviewing process that all three men are extremely dedicated. They want to win and want to do it the right way. The Trail Blazers are creating a positive culture and I am happy to be a part of that environment.”

After a stellar career at Thomas Edison H.S. in Tulsa, OK, Pritchard went on to the University of Kansas where he became one of the all-time best players for the storied program. He started 129 of 139 career games, averaging 12.2ppg, 2.4rpg and 3.6apg. He was an All-Big 8 selection as a senior and was a three-time All-Big 8 Academic Team selection.

As a sophomore, he hit 6-of-7 shots from the field to score 13 points as Kansas defeated Oklahoma, 83-79, to win the 1988 NCAA Championship. Fourteen years after leaving the Jayhawks, Pritchard is #4 all-time in steals (199), #6 all-time in assists (499), #7 all-time in three-pointers made (154) and #9 all-time in points scored (1,692).

Pritchard was a second round selection (34th pick overall) of the Golden State Warriors in the 1990 NBA Draft. He spent the 1990-91 season with the Warriors, averaging 3.9ppg in 62 games. During his NBA career, Pritchard also played for the Boston Celtics (1991-92), Philadelphia 76ers (1994-95), Miami Heat (1994-95) and the Washington Bullets (1995-96). He also played in Spain, Italy and Germany as well as in the Continental Basketball Association.