I’m from Wisconsin, but I lived in PDX 2007-2009 when I was at L&C law school. I have an affinity for the Blazers that predated that though - it’s built into me in multiple facets. I’m from Stevens Point, Wisconsin. That’s where Terry Porter played D3 ball before his incredible run with the Blazers. I remember watching the 1992 finals on a little tube TV with my mom, rooting for the Blazers solely on account of that thread of connection to our small town. From that moment I loved the Blazers. Hell, my mom even loves them - she’s a fan of great graphic design, and the Blazers logo is the only sports iconography I’ve ever heard her speak highly of.

When I moved to Portland, I met a friend in the law school who was from CO and a big time Nuggets fan. For my birthday in 2008 he got us tickets to the Nuggets/Blazers game. We had a blast - it was my first NBA game! (Sorry Bradley Center, only ever made it there for Marquette vs Syracuse).

The last few years with Giannis and the Bucks have been the most incredible fan experience I’ve ever had, in any sport. I love the Packers and Brewers, but basketball is the real one for me. While being a Bucks fan first and last, I always kept my eye on the Blazers. I felt the pain of Brandon Roy’s injuries. I was there in town when the Greg Oden stuff when down. Then they got this undersized dude who wasn’t on my radar, out of Weber State. Weber State? Had never seen that school in my dumbass NCAA $20 bracket challenge with my buddies. But after a bit of watching, I realized I love Dame’s game. His attitude, his seriousness and approach to the craft. Those are all easy to love, of course. He’s literally the consummate professional.

Over the last couple years, I’ve had conversations with friends multiple times where I would go off like a bomb - hands waving and yelling - about how Dame and Giannis would be the perfect combo on offense. X’s and O’s, pick and roll, yadda yadda yadda. And my friends rolling their eyes at my rabid enthusiasm. And I’m telling you, these were not isolated occurrences. If you ask my friends who actually like to talk ball, they’d tell you I went ham on this topic more than once.

Then the trade happened.

You know those moments in life when something unexpected but fantastically good occurs? How at first you might have a subdued reaction to it - like your brain is doing an emotional hedge against the chance that it’s not actually real? That was me. Flat faced. Calm. My brain: “This cannot happen, so your eyes and ears are wrong.” It took a good half of a day for it to properly sink in and start to feel real. Then the excitement began to build. Everything is new and fresh! Dame and Giannis…new coach…a few young players we’ve drafted!..Lopez back and looking healthy… Just everything positive and optimistic. But you still wonder how it will actually look on the court.

Tonight’s game tips off and I’m not watching. Yeah, I know, but it’s not my fault. I’m in an ultimate frisbee league and the game tipped 30 minutes after our games started for the evening. And to top it off, it’s pouring rain and the field is a muddy mess! We suffer through it. I check the box score at halftime. Looking good for the Bucks!

After the frisbee matches are finished at last, we all head to the bar that sponsors the league. Much to my wide-eyed delight, there are 8 minutes left in the 4th and it’s a close game! We all know what happened after that, but suffice to say when Dame hit the 3 off the kickout from Giannis with 3:56 to go I about fell out of my barstool screaming and terrifying my teammates who did NOT have a clue until tonight what level of give a shit I have for this. I almost spit tater tots in my friend’s face. HYPED.

So in closing, I’m personally living my own crazy NBA “what if?” fantasy right now. The reality of it is still sinking in. But I wanted to share my story in the hopes that any Blazers fans reading this can feel something positive knowing that Dame’s new Bucks fanbase has got some goddamn heart and soul.