Maurice Cheeks, a 15-year NBA veteran as a player, joined the Blazers on June 27, 2001, becoming the 10th head coach in the franchise's history.

Began his coaching career as an assistant coach in the CBA where he led the Quad City Thunder to the league championship in 1993-94.

Hired by the Philadelphia 76ers, in 1994, as an assistant coach. He was with the 76ers for seven seasons, spending four of them under Head Coach Larry Brown.

As 76ers assistant coach, Cheeks is credited for the development of All-Star guard Allen Iverson, the league's Most Valuable Player. He helped coach the 76ers to the 2001 NBA Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Selected by Philadelphia in the second round of the 1978 NBA draft and became the 76ers starting point guard. He starred on the 1983 NBA championship team and was a four-time All-Star.

Cheeks played 15 seasons in the NBA, the first 11 with Philadelphia, before stints with San Antonio, New York, Atlanta and New Jersey. Led the 76ers in assists in all 11 seasons he played, and topped the team in steals in each of his first 10 years. Cheeks retired in 1993 as the league's all-time leader in steals and was fifth on the career assists list. The 76ers retired his jersey in February of 1995.

He shares the NBA Finals single-game record for most steals in a game with six, and he shares the single-game playoff record for most steals with eight. He was selected to the NBA's All-Defensive Team four times and played in four All-Star games. He was a member of 76ers 1983 World Championship team.