Trail Blazers’ fans needed a break from ‘El Cheapo’ Tom Dundon. Scoot Henderson delivered | Bill Oram Who needs a T-shirt when what you get instead is a chance for the Blazers to actually win the series against San Antonio?

Tom Dundon is gonna have to pony up for a charter back to San Antonio. The Blazers won't go away quietly in this series.
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...

How confident is Scoot Henderson? He still thinks he should have gone No. 1 over Wemby | Bill Oram Victor Wembanyama was always the probable pick to go first in the 2023 draft, but with one performance in Las Vegas, Henderson made them think twice.

Anymore, if someone mentions Scoot Henderson in the same sentence as Victor Wembanyama it’s to highlight what Scoot has not achieved.

As Scoot finds his footing in the NBA, Portland’s first-round matchup with the Spurs can be a reconsideration of all that.

www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...

41 points, a dozen assists and the game-winner, all on a night everyone agreed he didn’t quite have his best stuff.

That’s what superstars do.

Welcome to your moment, Deni Avdija.

www.oregonlive.com/sports/2026/...

Deni Avdija was already an All-Star. Play-in win was his superstar moment| Bill Oram In the NBA there is a distinction between an All-Star and a bona fide, price-of-admission superstar. Avdija may have just moved into the second group.

This was the season Deni Avdija became an All-Star. Tuesday may have been the night he became a superstar.

Column from the Valley of the Stunned: www.oregonlive.com/sports/2026/...

The Blazers are going to need a head coach. Will Tom Dundon pay for one? | Bill Oram Portland's coaching conundrum could be a big opportunity, but few believe the franchise's new owner will swing for the fences.

The expectation in NBA circles is that Trail Blazers’ owner Tom Dundon plans to try to hire a coach far below market value.

What that means and why I think it sets the wrong tone for his franchise: www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...

It’s uncomfortable around here when the Blazers aren’t any good. And the last four years have sucked some of the soul out of the franchise — if not the city.

Friday vs the Clippers felt like a step toward restoring that.

Column:
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...

The Oregonian/OregonLive is hiring a sports editor myjobs.adp.com/advancelocal...

32 teams. Eight bowl games. A New Year's Day championship.

How the eclectic creator of Big League Chew aims to fix the College Football Playoff — and why he believes his 101-word plan will work.

It’s a WNBA expansion epidemic.

The Portland Fire’s first player? Bridget Carleton, taken No. 1 in the WNBA expansion draft.

Tom Dundon will change Trail Blazers in ways big and small. In fact, he’s already begun | Bill Oram When it comes to trading for star players Dundon says he is "probably more aggressive than most."

Big changes may be ahead for the Trail Blazers under Tom Dundon, but on Thursday little ones were already visible.

Column from Moda:

www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...

New Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon says ‘hard work is enjoyed’ — and Portland is about to find out why Inside the billionaire's whirlwind first day in Portland.

In his first night in Portland, Tom Dundon dined at Nostrana. @freemanjoe.bsky.social joined him for an illuminating conversation.

"I don't seek out change for change sake," he said. "I seek out improvement."

Good read here.

www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...

Tom Dundon levels challenge to Trail Blazers as he takes over as franchise’s owner | Bill Oram The hard-driving owner of the Carolina Hurricanes says, "I'm not flexible about my standards."

Notes from a halftime chat with new Trail Blazers’ owner Tom Dundon.

“I’m not flexible about my standards,” he said.

www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...

Tom Dundon levels challenge to Trail Blazers as he takes over as franchise’s owner | Bill Oram The hard-driving owner of the Carolina Hurricanes says, "I'm not flexible about my standards."

There's no pretense with new Blazers majority owner Tom Dundon.

Are you the hard-ass everybody says you are?
“I think so,” he said.

Dundon was in LA for his first day in this position, and talked to The O's @billoram.bsky.social

www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...

Portland officials have been using this monumental code name to discuss Trail Blazers arena project The name reflects the scale and significance of the Moda Center to Portland, a city spokesperson said, as officials work to finalize public funding.

Fun little Moda Center scoop from @shanedkavanaugh.bsky.social www.oregonlive.com/politics/202...

Other new names: Richard Chaifetz (SF Giants co-owner), Marc Grandisson (Arch Capital CEO), Taavet Hinrikus (tech entrepreneur), Dan Zilberman (finance guy).

Other minority owners revealed, and one name jumps out: Jennifer Gates, Bill Gates eldest daughter.

Blazers maintain a link through ownership to Microsoft.

Dundon’s first comments about buying the Blazers included in the statement:

The Trail Blazers announce that their sale to Tom Dundon has closed. For the first time in nearly four decades, the Allen family does not own Portland’s NBA team.

Thanks for finding it. Glad you enjoyed.

High Point may not have made the Sweet 16, but we’ll always have the cowbell.

Powerful demand from @oregonian.com editorial board: “Oregon families must draw a line here and demand that our elected and educational leaders do so as well.” Couldn’t agree more. #ClassroomTimeMatters

www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2026...

What an unbelievable slate of games the tournament gave us in Portland:

High Point/Wisconsin
BYU/Texas
Gonzaga/Kennesaw St.
Texas/Gonzaga
High Point/Arkansas
Even Razorbacks/Hawaii was entertaining.

All bangers, no skips.

High Point is just so fun.

AJ Dybantsa was the biggest star at Moda Center on Thursday. However, a seventh-year senior from High Point stole the show. On two very different paths to college basketball immortality: www.oregonlive.com/collegebaske...

They were right.

The star of the national championship team probably should get more than just one.

Easy fellas, bad time to twist an ankle. You’ve got another game to play.

Chase Johnston was 64-136 from the field this season and... 0-4 from 2. Until that breakaway layup that is going to be the game-winner for 12th-seeded High Point.

March gonna March.

Too soon to name High Point's Chase Johnston the tournament's Most Outstanding Player? He's terrific.