Terry Stotts Pens Letter Bidding Farewell to Rip City
Terry Stotts hopes Path Blazers fans “wait on Portland extraordinary” as he departs after 9 years on the sidelines.
The Path Blazers occupy made the playoffs eight consecutive seasons, the longest active scoot in the NBA. But that unparalleled music file of annual competence wasn’t sufficient for Terry Stotts to wait on his job, now not after Portland fell in the principle spherical for the fourth time in five seasons.
Per chance parting ways with a coach who’s led a crew to its most sustained degree of success in franchise history is unfair. You wouldn’t label it by the grace Stotts has proven on his diagram out of Rip City.
In an commence letter crew personnel, fans and the metropolis of Portland at gigantic, Stotts expressed undying gratitude for the “fabulous accelerate” of being the Blazers’ coach for the final 9 years.
In 2012, when I was employed as the Path Blazers’ Head Coach, I would possibly well now not occupy imagined the fabulous accelerate this coaching breeze would pick. The unprecedented opportunity to be the Head Coach of the Blazers for the final 9 years has been such an honor and privilege. It surely has been far extra than a “appropriate side”, and now it has reach to an finish.
Stotts saved special thanks for Damian Lillard, who confirmed him connected love and appreciation in an Instagram put up on Saturday.
Clearly, a assorted thank you would possibly possibly well occupy to jog to the Damian Lillard. These final 9 years pick up now not had been seemingly for me if it weren’t for the talent, management, and belief of Damian Lillard, a factual MVP. I am immensely gay with the culture Neil, Damian and I created with the Blazers.
Stotts, a 27-year coaching worn, is Portland’s 2nd all-time winningest coach on the succor of Hall-of-Famer Dr. Jack Ramsay. He took the reins with the Blazers in 2012-13, ending his profession with an general long-established-season file of 402-318 (.558)
Even though he’s reportedly already being thought of for the Orlando Magic’s coaching emptiness and must also garner hobby from the Indiana Pacers must they plot a practicing alternate, Stotts’ home will smooth be in Portland.
Being the Head Coach of the Path Blazers has been a life altering journey. There had been so many special recollections that my wife, Jan, and I will continuously address; recollections tantalizing very honest appropriate of us and lasting friendships. We completely devour living in Portland and all that Oregon has to give. We’re proud to call Portland home.
Stotts final message to Rip City? “Relieve Portland Queer.”