Nassir Little

Portland Trail Blazers

-Portland receives a 2029 first round pick and the right to first round pick swaps in 2028 and 2030 from MIL-

-Team trades Damian Lillard to MIL and Keon Johnson, Nassir Little and Jusuf Nurkic to PHX-

PORTLAND, Ore.&nbsp;(Sept. 27, 2023)&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Portland Trail Blazers have acquired center Deandre Ayton and forward Toumani Camara from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for guard Keon Johnson, forward Nassir Little and center Jusuf Nurkic, the team announced today. Additionally, Portland acquired Jrue Holiday, a 2029 first round pick and the right to swap first round picks in 2028 and 2030 from the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for guard Damian Lillard. Milwaukee also sends guard Grayson Allen to Phoenix.

“On behalf of the entire Portland Trail Blazers Organization, I want to express my gratitude to Damian for 11 storied years with this franchise and for his loyalty to the Portland community,” said General Manager Joe Cronin. “From becoming the all-time leading points scorer in franchise history to his dedicated commitment to youth across Oregon and the entire Pacific Northwest, Damian is and will remain a titan and a true trailblazer to this city.”

“I would also like to thank Jusuf Nurkic for his devotion to Portland these last seven seasons,” said Cronin. “A consummate professional on and off the court, Nurk has been a key leader for this team, and we appreciate his dedication and passion for this franchise, the city, and the fans.”

“Thank you to Keon Johnson and Nassir Little for their contributions to the Trail Blazers and Portland as well,” added Cronin. “We wish Dame, Nurk, Keon and Nas much success going forward."

During the 2022-23 season, Ayton averaged 18.0 points (58.9% FG, 29.2% 3-PT, 76.0% FT),&nbsp;10.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.6 steals, 0.8 blocks in 30.4 minutes per game in 67 games (all starts). Originally selected with the first overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft, Ayton holds career averages of 16.7 points (59.7% FG, 26.3% 3-PT, 25.5% FT), 10.4 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.7 steals, 1.0 blocks in 30.6 minutes per game in 303 games (296 starts) in his five seasons with Phoenix.

Holiday averaged 19.3 points (47.9% FG, 38.4% 3-PT, 85.9% FT), 5.1 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.4 blocks in 32.6 minutes per game in 67 games (65 starts) during the 2022-23 season with Milwaukee. The 14-year veteran guard holds career averages of 16.4 points (46.2% FG, 36.6% 3-PT, 78.3% FT), 4.1 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 1.5 steals, 0.5 blocks, 33.1 minutes per game in 906 games (825) starts.

Camara was drafted as the No. 52 overall pick in this year’s 2023 NBA Draft. The rookie forward played 125 games (106 starts) in four seasons at Dayton (2021-23) and Georgia (2019-21) and accrued averages of 11.0 points (51.3% FG, 30.7% 3-PF, 63.1%FT), 6.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 steals, 0.8 blocks in 27.3 minutes per game.

Lillard was drafted by the Trail Blazers out of Weber State with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. He appeared in 769 games (all starts) over 11 seasons in Portland, accruing career averages of 25.2 points (43.9% FG, 37.2% 3-PT, 89.5% FT), 4.2 rebounds, 6.7 assists and 1.0 steals in 36.3 minutes per game. Among all-time franchise leaders, he ranks first in points (19,376), points per game (25.2), three-pointers (2,387), free throws (4,427) and free throw percentage (89.5%), second in field goals (6,281) and assists (5,151), third in games played (769) and minutes per game (36.3), fourth in assists per game (6.7), and sixth in triple-doubles (3 - tied) and steals (732). During his time with Portland, Lillard was a seven-time NBA All-Star, an All-NBA First Team (2018), Second Team (2021, 2020, 2019, 2016) and Third Team (2023, 2014) selection, a member of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, the 2021 NBA Teammate of the Year, the 2013 NBA Rookie of the Year, and an NBA All-Rookie First Team selection (2013). The Trail Blazers made the playoffs in eight of Lillard’s seasons in Portland, advancing to the Western Conference Finals in 2019 and the Western Conference Semifinals in 2016 and 2014. Lillard also won a Gold Medal with the United States Men’s National Team at the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Nurkic spent the past seven seasons in Portland, where he averaged 14.4 points (51.3% FG, 29.8% 3-PT, 69.3% FT), 9.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.2 blocks in 27.0 minutes per game. He was originally drafted by the Chicago Bulls with the No. 16 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft and traded to Denver on Draft night. In 463 games (382 starts) with Portland and Denver, he holds career averages of 12.3 points (50.2% FG, 29.2% 3-PT, 67.1% FT), 8.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 blocks in 24.2 minutes per game. The Bosnia native ranks fourth in rebounds per game (9.8) and 10th in total rebounds (2,280) in Trail Blazers franchise history.

The Trail Blazers originally acquired Johnson from the LA Clippers on February 4, 2022. Over two seasons with Portland and the LA Clippers, Johnson has accrued career averages of 5.9 points (36.2% FG, 34.3% 3-PT, 73.9% FT), 1.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 0.60 steals and 14.4 minutes per game in 77 games (12 starts). He appeared in 40 games with Portland last season, averaging 4.7 points (37.6% FG, 34.6% 3-PT, 65.9% FT), 1.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 10 minutes per game.

Selected 25th overall in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Trail Blazers, Little has appeared in 192 games (34 starts) in Portland and holds career averages of 6.0 points (45.1% FG, 33.5% 3-PT, 72.5% FT), 3.2 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.4 blocks in 17.1 minutes per game. Last season, the former North Carolina standout averaged 6.6 points (44.2% FG, 36.7% 3-PT, 71.7% FT), 2.6 rebounds and 0.9 assists and 18 minutes per game in 54 games (four starts) with Portland.

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Trail Blazers Acquire Deandre Ayton, Jrue Holiday and Toumani Camara in Three Team Trade With Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns

porbely

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PHOTOS » A look back at Nassir Little's 2022 – 2023 season

Casey Holdahl

PORTLAND, Ore. (April 13, 2023) – Trail Blazers forward Nassir Little underwent successful surgery today to repair a right-side core muscle injury.

The surgery was performed by Dr. William C. Meyers at the Vincera Institute in Philadelphia. The procedure was similar to his left side repair performed May 10th of last year.

nassir-little-undergoes-abdominal-surgery

Nassir Little Undergoes Abdominal Surgery

PORTLAND -- The Trail Blazers are going to be at a disadvantage versus nearly every team they face from now through the end of the regular season as long as Damian Lillard (right calf), Jerami Grant (left quad), Jusuf Nurkic (right knee) and Anfernee Simons (right foot) are all sidelined.

But the players who are available are still trying their hardest, and it was almost enough to come away with victory Sunday afternoon versus the Oklahoma City Thunder. Portland led by as many as 12 in the first half and had they not turned the ball over 19 times for 29 Oklahoma City points, they likely would have avoided the season-series sweep, which the Thunder completed by coming away with the 118-112 victory in front of a crowd of 18,626 at Moda Center.

“I thought we played very well,” said Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups. “Defensively and offensively, we were in tune, we did a good job. I thought we made Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander) really work for his 31 (points) tonight. He got on the line, that’s just what he does, he’s really crafty and he does that, but for the most part, we did a good job on him, loading up. They had other guys that played well -- I don’t think we showed Isaiah Joe enough respect, we talked about him a ton, he found a way to break loose. But overall, I thought offensively we played pretty fast.”

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Chauncey Billups: "I keep preaching how we want to play" | Portland Trail Blazers | Mar. 26, 2023

And at this point, showing growth is likely more important for Portland that simply winning, as the chances of making the play-in tournament, while still technically possible, are increasingly unlikely with two weeks to play in the regular season.

So in that regard, the Trail Blazers did make progress Sunday afternoon, as Shaedon Sharpe once again posted a career-high with 29 points on 9-of-13 shooting while doing an admirable job defending Gilgeous-Alexander. Keon Johnson was also able to show much of what he’s been working on behind the scenes this season, going for 14 points and five assists in 21 minutes off the bench.

But perhaps no Blazer showed more promise in Sunday afternoon’s contest than Nassir Little. The 6-5 forward, who has appeared in 50 games this season, posted a season-high 28 points on 11-of-21 shooting from the field, 3-of-6 shooting from three and 3-of-3 shooting from the line to go with six rebounds in 31 minutes.

“Coach did a great job of drawing stuff to have me coming off pindowns, it allowed me to be aggressive,” said Little, who is averaging 6.1 points and 2.6 rebounds in 17.5 minutes per game this season. “I was able to see lanes, see how I could get my shot so props to him for getting me in position to get the ball and get open. I was kind of taking advantage of what they were giving me.”

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Nassir Little: "I love playing basketball" | Portland Trail Blazers | Mar. 26, 2023

Little started the second half after coming off the bench in the first due to Trendon Watford missing the final 24 minute due to a sprained right ankle. And he responded by leading an 11-0 run that turned a six-point deficit into a three-point lead.

“Nas has done a really good job of just kind of sticking with whatever he’s getting out there,” said Billups. “There’s been so many times where he’s not played a lot based on however I’m making the rotations and he’s always stayed consistent with his work and the things he’s trying to do to prepare. And then you see him come in on a night like tonight and get up a lot of shots and make a whole lot of them.”

Little would go on to score 13 points in the third quarter on 5-of-9 shooting from the field and 2-of-3 shooting from the line. So the third quarter ended up being the kind opportunity for Little that he would rarely get were the entire roster suited up.

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Nassir Little Highlights (28 points) | Portland Trail Blazers | Mar. 26, 2023

“I’m not really trying to show anything in particular, just really when guys get down you’ve got just more opportunities,” said Little. “So like, whatever situation Coach got me in, I’m just trying to take advantage of it. Just got to be aggressive, my mindset has to change a little bit, they’re going to need me to score a little bit more. So just kind of doing that but it’s something I’m capable of doing so it’s not really like I feel like I’m trying to showcase something that they don’t know I can do.”

Little, who signed a four-year contract extension prior to the start of the regular season, probably hasn’t had the season that he would have hoped. But as long as there’s some season left, Little will continue to put in the work and build for future seasons, which is a win for the Trail Blazers regardless of the result.

“I love playing basketball. That’s what I love to do, that’s what I’ve been doing for the majority of my life,” said Little. “So any time I have an opportunity to get to do that at the highest level, I love that, I’m ecstatic about it. I wish it could be under a different circumstance but at the end of the day we have a job to do and I’m prepared to do that.”

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Little Looks To Take Advantage Of Late-Season Minutes

Kylan Iwamasa

Nassir talks to the media about his and the team's performance today.

Nassir highlights from a 28-point performance against the Thunder.

Nas speaks to Brooke following the win in Orlando.

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Nassir Little: "We got to enjoy this one, build off it" | Portland Trail Blazers | Mar. 5, 2023

Nas highlights from a team-high and season-high 26-point performance against the Kings.

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Nassir Little Highlights (Season-High 26 points) | Portland Trail Blazers | Feb. 23, 2023

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