The Portland Trail Blazers 2020–21 featured one of the league’s most productive offenses, led by Damian Lillard’s elite scoring and playmaking. CJ McCollum provided efficient secondary scoring, while Norman Powell added perimeter firepower and Jusuf Nurkić anchored the interior with rebounding and defense. The statistics reflect a team built around offensive efficiency and three-point shooting, but inconsistent defense prevented it from matching its offensive production.
Offensive engine for the Portland Trail Blazers, orchestrating elite pick-and-roll volume with deep pull-up range that extended defensive coverage well beyond the arc. Generated top-tier scoring efficiency (45/39/93 splits) while carrying late-clock creation and clutch shot volume, driving Portland’s half-court identity.
MVP-7, All-Star, All-NBA Second Team
CJ McCollum
Starter/Star [1.1]
34.0
High [1.2]
23.1
3.9
4.7
1.3
87.12
Primary secondary scorer and isolation counter next to Lillard. Thrived in mid-range creation and off-the-dribble three-point shooting (40.2% from three), stabilizing lineups when defenses trapped high. Functioned as a three-level scorer who punished drop coverage.
Norman Powell
Starter/Star [1.1]
34.4
Medium [1.1]
17.0
3.3
1.9
1.7
57.96
Acquired midseason, slotted as downhill wing scorer who attacked closeouts and spaced from the corners. Provided athletic rim pressure and transition scoring, improving lineup balance with his slashing and catch-and-shoot gravity.
Jusuf Nurkić
Starter/Star [1.1]
23.8
Medium [1.1]
11.5
9.0
3.4
2.1
62.19
Interior anchor in limited games, offering playmaking from the elbows and short roll. Combined defensive rebounding with rim deterrence (1.1 BPG) and connective passing that unlocked split actions around Portland’s guards.
Enes Freedom
Key Contributor [1.05]
24.4
Medium [1.1]
11.2
11.0
1.2
1.2
56.77
High-efficiency interior scorer (60.4% FG) and elite offensive rebounder. Provided second-chance scoring and low-post production but required schematic cover due to pick-and-roll defensive limitations.
6MOY-10
Robert Covington
Starter/Star [1.1]
32.0
Low [1.0]
8.5
6.7
1.7
2.6
46.71
Defensive playmaker functioning as weak-side rim protector and passing-lane disruptor. His 1.4 SPG and 1.2 BPG reflected hybrid help responsibilities, while spacing the floor primarily as a spot-up forward.
Carmelo Anthony
Bench [1.0]
24.5
Medium [1.1]
13.4
3.1
1.5
1.3
46.99
Sixth-man microwave scorer providing half-court shot creation against second units. Operated from mid-post and pick-and-pop sets, stretching defenses at 40.9% from three while absorbing bench usage.
6MOY-7
Gary Trent Jr.
Key Contributor [1.05]
30.8
Medium [1.1]
15.0
2.2
1.4
1.0
45.74
Floor-spacing two-guard who specialized in movement shooting and point-of-attack defense. Converted 39.7% from three, often tasked with guarding opposing perimeter creators before being traded midseason.
Anfernee Simons
Bench [1.0]
17.3
Medium [1.1]
7.8
2.2
1.4
0.4
25.52
Developmental combo guard flashing advanced pull-up shooting (42.6% from three). Provided bench spacing and secondary ball-handling in limited minutes.
Derrick Jones Jr.
Key Contributor [1.05]
22.7
Low [1.0]
6.8
3.5
0.8
1.5
26.04
Defensive wing stopper utilized for athleticism and vertical spacing. Contributed as a cutter and transition finisher while guarding multiple perimeter positions.
Nassir Little
Bench [1.0]
13.3
Low [1.0]
4.6
2.7
0.5
0.4
16.40
Energy forward offering rebounding bursts and corner shooting development. Provided switchable defensive length in short rotations.
Harry Giles
Bench [1.0]
9.2
Low [1.0]
2.8
3.5
0.8
0.5
15.20
Depth big supplying passing touch and interior activity in reserve minutes. Operated as a short-roll facilitator in small bench lineups.
Rodney Hood
Bench [1.0]
19.1
Low [1.0]
4.7
1.9
1.2
0.6
16.80
Wing returning from injury, used as secondary spacer and ball-mover. Efficiency dip limited his on-ball scoring impact compared to prior seasons.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
Bench [1.0]
9.7
Low [1.0]
2.5
2.4
1.2
0.6
13.40
Short-term depth forward providing physical defense and interior hustle scoring in limited appearances.
CJ Elleby
Bench [1.0]
6.4
Low [1.0]
2.3
1.1
0.3
0.3
8.00
Rookie wing focused on spot minutes for floor spacing and effort rebounding within developmental rotation context.
T.J. Leaf
Bench [1.0]
5.0
Low [1.0]
1.7
0.7
0.1
0.4
5.80
End-of-bench stretch forward appearing in limited games, minimal offensive involvement.
Keljin Blevins
Bench [1.0]
4.4
Low [1.0]
0.7
0.6
0.2
0.1
3.20
Depth reserve used situationally; low-usage perimeter minutes in developmental role.
TEAM TOTALS
—
240.3
—
116.1
44.5
21.3
11.9
—
Collective profile built around elite guard shot creation and high three-point volume (15.7 made threes per game). Offensive rating driven by backcourt gravity, with defensive volatility tied to rim protection depth and perimeter containment.
In the 2021 First Round vs the Denver Nuggets, produced one of the most efficient high-volume scoring series in playoff history, shooting 44.9% from three on 13.0 attempts per game. Operated as a heliocentric engine for the Portland Trail Blazers, bending coverage with deep pull-ups and punishing traps with advanced pick-and-roll reads, including a 55-point Game 5 masterpiece widely cited as an all-time clutch performance.
CJ McCollum
Starter/Star [1.1]
40.0
High [1.2]
20.7
6.0
4.3
1.0
84.48
Functioned as secondary shot creator and late-clock isolation scorer, attacking Denver’s drop coverage with mid-range pull-ups and drives. Elevated rebounding (6.0 RPG) from the guard spot added possession value, though efficiency fluctuated against length at the point of attack.
Jusuf Nurkić
Starter/Star [1.1]
28.8
Medium [1.1]
13.2
10.3
2.7
1.7
67.08
Interior anchor tasked with battling MVP Nikola Jokić. Delivered double-digit rebounding and rim protection (1.2 BPG), while facilitating from the elbows to relieve pressure on Lillard. Foul trouble limited his minute ceiling and defensive continuity.
Norman Powell
Starter/Star [1.1]
36.0
Medium [1.1]
17.0
2.2
2.0
1.8
55.18
Slotted as downhill wing scorer, thriving on catch-and-shoot threes (38.5%) and straight-line drives against rotating defenses. Provided athletic finishing and secondary creation but had limited on-ball reps within Portland’s guard-dominant hierarchy.
Robert Covington
Starter/Star [1.1]
38.0
Low [1.0]
9.3
7.8
1.2
2.5
45.76
Defensive playmaker and weak-side rim protector, posting 1.5 SPG and 1.0 BPG in heavy minutes. Spaced the floor at 50% from three, capitalizing on Lillard-generated gravity while toggling between help defense and perimeter containment.
Carmelo Anthony
Bench [1.0]
23.8
Medium [1.1]
12.3
3.2
1.5
0.5
38.50
Sixth-man scorer providing half-court shot creation against second units. Leveraged pick-and-pop spacing and mid-post isolation to punish smaller defenders, stabilizing bench offense during non-Lillard stretches.
Anfernee Simons
Bench [1.0]
17.8
Medium [1.1]
6.5
2.7
0.8
0.5
23.10
Emerged as a high-efficiency floor spacer, hitting 61.1% from three in the series. Functioned primarily as an off-ball release valve, capitalizing on defensive overloads toward Lillard.
Enes Freedom
Bench [1.0]
11.2
Low [1.0]
2.0
2.6
0.0
0.4
10.00
Situational interior rebounder used in short stints to generate second-chance opportunities. Defensive matchup constraints limited extended run.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
Bench [1.0]
7.2
Low [1.0]
2.0
1.6
0.0
0.4
8.00
Energy forward utilized for physical defense and interior activity in brief rotation minutes.
Nassir Little
Bench [1.0]
3.0
Low [1.0]
1.7
0.3
0.0
0.3
4.60
Depth forward seeing limited action; contributed spot shooting and length in garbage-time contexts.
T.J. Leaf
Bench [1.0]
2.3
Low [1.0]
2.0
1.0
0.0
0.0
6.00
End-of-rotation stretch big appearing briefly; minimal tactical involvement.
Derrick Jones Jr.
Bench [1.0]
5.0
Low [1.0]
2.0
0.0
0.0
0.5
5.00
Limited to two appearances; deployed for defensive athleticism in short bursts.
Keljin Blevins
Bench [1.0]
2.0
Low [1.0]
1.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
2.00
Depth reserve with marginal playoff role.
CJ Elleby
Bench [1.0]
4.0
Low [1.0]
0.0
1.5
0.5
0.0
4.00
Rookie wing receiving developmental minutes late in games.
Harry Giles
Bench [1.0]
4.0
Low [1.0]
0.0
3.0
0.0
0.0
6.00
Appeared in single game; rebounding presence in limited stint.
TEAM TOTALS
—
248.3
—
119.5
41.7
22.8
10.7
—
Offense-driven playoff profile built on extreme three-point volume (16.2 makes per game at 41.3%). Guard-centric creation powered a 119.5 PPG output, but defensive resistance against elite center play and late-game execution swings defined the series outcome.
