On This Date in Sports November 24, 2001: Porter the Every Man

In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com

Terry Porter finishing his career with the San Antonio Spurs, becomes the first NBA player to record 15,000 points, 7,000 assists, 1,000 steals, and 1,000 three-pointers. Porter reaches 7,000 assists during a 99-94 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center. Porter, in the final year of a 17-year career, finishes his career with 15,586 points, 7,160 assists, 1,583 steals, and 1,297 three-pointers.

Terry Porter was born and raised in Milwaukee on April 8, 1963. Playing at Division III, Wisconsin-Stevens Point attracted the attention of NBA scouts. He was the only player from an NAIA school invited to try out for the 1984 Olympic Basketball team. In the 1985 NBA Draft, Porter was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 24th and final pick in the first round. 

In the NBA, Terry Porter proved to be a complementary point guard playing aside Clyde Drexler on the Portland Trail Blazers. He recorded his first two triple-doubles in 1987. A year later, he became the first player in Portland history to average double digits in assists with 10.1 per game. Named to the NBA All-Star Game twice, Terry Porter was a vital part of the Trail Blazers as they reached the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992. Porter spent a decade in Portland, becoming one of the franchise's leader in assists with 5,319 dimes. In 1993 for his charity work in Portland, Terry Porter won the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award.

Following the 1994/95 season, Terry Porter departed Portland signing a free-agent deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves. In Minnesota, Porter provided veteran leadership for a team that included Kevin Garnett and Stephon Marbury. In his second season in the Twin Cities, Terry Porter helped the Timberwolves secure their first playoff berth. After three seasons with the Wolves, Terry Porter spent the lockout-shortened season with the Miami Heat, before signing with the San Antonio Spurs in 1999. Terry Porter spent his final three seasons with the Spurs providing a role off the bench. 

After his career ended, Terry Porter went into coaching. He had tenures with the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns and has been the head coach at the University of Portland since 2016.