This summer, the Portland Trail Blazers will celebrate the 45th anniversary of their 1977 championship, the only title in franchise history.
However, that championship might not have been possible without the heroics of guard Herm Gilliam in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, which took place on this day, Mother’s Day, in 1977.
Gilliam, an eight-year NBA veteran, was traded to Portland earlier that season from the Seattle SuperSonics but didn’t get a whole lot of playing time at the start of the season. Despite being offered to be sent in another trade to the New Orleans Jazz to get more playing time, Gilliam preferred to stay in Portland to give himself a shot at his first championship.