By Jeph Duarte | Pounding The Rock (PtR), 2026-08-30 19:00:00
前几天，我偶然在Blazer’s Edge上看到一篇文章，那是波特兰开拓者队版的“敲击岩石”。这篇帖子，向被低估的杰拉米·格兰特道别，是对一位在开拓者困境时期坚守阵地的可靠球员的真挚告别。
杰拉米·格兰特，2014年首轮第39顺位被费城76人选中，刚刚打完他NBA生涯的第十二个赛季。他曾效力于76人、雷霆、掘金和活塞，之后才落脚波特兰。在开拓者的四年是他职业生涯中效力同一支球队最长的时期。他在“撕裂之城”的第一个赛季结束后，球队核心达米安·利拉德便提出交易申请，远走密尔沃基。
此后开拓者一直挣扎前行，尽管有所进步（从2024年的21胜到2025年的36胜，再到上赛季的42胜），但他们始终无法突破瓶颈。
作者阿德里安·贝尔内西奇写道：
“格兰特是一名真正的开拓者。有几年时间，他确保了球队不至于烂到无可救药。他或许有时会粘球，但那是因为年轻球员还没有展现出自己处理球的能力。我记得2024年NBA交易截止日那晚，开拓者主场迎战活塞。格兰特与新秀图马尼·卡马拉、阿什顿·哈根斯、马蒂斯·塞布尔和贾巴里·沃克一起打完了那场加时失利。安芬尼·西蒙斯因伤提前离场。格兰特是唯一一个能制造出些许进攻威胁的人。”
他对“球员坚守球队”的看法让我回想起了德玛尔·德罗赞在2018至2021年间效力马刺的那段时光。在科怀·伦纳德离队和“三巨头”解体之后，马刺陷入了下滑的漩涡。那个时代给圣安东尼奥带来了自1997年以来的首个胜率不足五成的赛季——而1997年的低迷很大程度上是因为大卫·罗宾逊的伤病。再往前追溯，1985至1989年间马刺曾连续四个赛季无缘季后赛，那时阿尔文·罗伯逊正是银黑军团黑暗岁月中的那束光。
在被交易到圣安东尼奥后，德玛尔·德罗赞坦言自己当时非常震惊。他原本以为会在多伦多度过整个职业生涯。在那三个赛季中，德罗赞场均得分超过21分，助攻和篮板均创下生涯新高。在向重建核心输送弹药的同时，他也将职业赛场上的经验智慧传授给了年轻球员。他的老将风范对德章泰·穆雷、德里克·怀特、凯尔登·约翰逊、德文·瓦塞尔、朗尼·沃克四世和特雷·琼斯的成长至关重要。有德罗赞作为导师，让一大批球员变得更好。
在成功希望渺茫的情况下，坚持打球、承担领导责任、全力以赴，这需要极大的勇气。这是一种特殊的球员品质。听到一位开拓者球迷对杰拉米·格兰特的评价，让我重新燃起了对德玛尔·德罗赞的敬意与钦佩。
这也让我想到了其他球队。2010至2014年间，骑士从常年争冠球队沦落到连季后赛都进不去。那正是勒布朗·詹姆斯做出“决定”并远赴迈阿密打球的四年。当时一定有一位球员试图接过火炬。任何一支伟大球队失去头号球星时，这种情况都必然会发生。
你还能想到哪些在球队最黑暗时刻依然闪耀的球员吗？
由生成式 AI 翻译，翻译内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
查看原文：Open Thread: The brightest light to shine during the Spurs darkest times
Open Thread: The brightest light to shine during the Spurs darkest times
The other day I stumbled upon an article on Blazer’s Edge, the Portland Trail Blazers version of Pounding The Rock. The post, Bidding Farewell to the Underappreciated Jerami Grant, is a heartfelt adieu to a solid player who stood with the Blazers during the time when they are struggling.
Jerami Grant, originally drafted 39th overall in 2014 by the Philadelphia 76ers, just completed his twelfth season in the NBA. He’s played with the 76ers, Thunder, Nuggets, and Pistons before landing in Portland. The four years he spent with the Trail Blazers was the longest tenure with one team of his career. After his first season in Rip City, Damian Lillard — the franchise’s centerpiece — requested a trade and left for Milwaukee.
Since then the Trail Blazers have struggled, and although there have been improvements (from 21 wins in 2024 to 36 wins in 2025 to 42 wins last season) they have simply been unable to get over the hump.
The author Adrian Bernecich stated,
“Grant was a Blazer. For a couple of years ensured the franchise wasn’t devastatingly bad. He may have held onto the ball but that was because the young guys hadn’t shown an ability to do it themselves. I think back to the night of the 2024 NBA Trade Deadline when the Blazers hosted the Pistons. Grant finished the overtime loss alongside rookie Toumani Camara, Ashtan Hagans, Matisse Thybulle and Jabari Walker. Anfernee Simons left the game early with injury. Grant was the only guy able to generate any semblance of offense.”
His take on having a player stay with the team took me back to the DeMar DeRozan’s stint with the Spurs from 2018-2021. The Spurs entered a downward spiral after the loss of Kawhi Leonard and the departure of the Big 3. This era brought the first losing records to San Antonio since 1997, and that was in large part due to injuries to David Robinson. Before that, the Spurs had a four year run of losing seasons between 1985 and 1989 when Alvin Robertson was the shining light on an otherwise dark time for the Silver & Black.
After being traded to San Antonio, DeMar DeRozan admitted he was shocked. He’d originally expected to play in Toronto for his entire career. During those three seasons, DeRozan averaged over 21 points per game and had career bests in assists and rebounds. While dishing out to a rebuilding core, he spread institutional knowledge to the young players. His veteran presence was essential to the growth of Dejounte Murray, Derrick White, Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, Lonnie Walker IV, and Tre Jones. Having DeRozan as a mentor made a great number of players better.
It takes a lot to play on, take on leadership, and give it your best when the chance for success seems slim. It’s a special breed of player. And hearing a Trail Blazer’s take on Jerami Grant really brought back the respect and admiration for DeMar DeRozan.
It got me thinking about other teams. From 2010-2014, the Cavaliers went from perennial contenders to nary a playoff berth. This was the period when LeBron James made his “decision” and spent four years in Miami. There had to be a player who attempted to carry the torch. It has to happen when any great team loses their top player.
Can you think of any other players who shone bright for a team during their darkest hour?
By Jeph Duarte, via Pounding The Rock