Terrell Brandon (Born May 20, 1970), a two-time NBA All-Star, grew up in Northeast Portland. A standout player at Grant High School, in 1988 he was named Oregon High School Basketball Player of the Year and led his Grant Generals to the state title.
He then spent two years at the University of Oregon, where he set school and Pac-10 records in numerous categories, including scoring average (22.2), assists (315) and steals in a single game (8) and single season steals (63). In TB’s first season (1990) the Ducks were 15-14 and advanced to the NIT.
In 1991, he was the team’s leading scorer in 27 of 28 games. After earning team MVP honors twice, Brandon entered the NBA draft in 1991 and was the 11th pick overall, going to the Cleveland Cavaliers. His Portland home was packed with friends and family on draft night, surrounding his mother, Charlotte, who later would help found the Mothers of Professional Basketball Players organization.
In 1992 he was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. It was just the start of a 12-yuear career. Terrell played for Cleveland, Milwaukee, and Minnesota. He was selected for the NBA All-Star game twice and was the winner of the 1996-97 NBA Sportsmanship Award. He set a franchise single season record for rebounds by a point guard (3.8 rpg) with Minnesota before retiring after 2001-02 season. In 1997, Sports Illustrated labeled him “The Best Point Guard in the NBA”.
Brandon scored just 6 shy of 10,000 career points, averaging 13.8 per game as well as 6.1 assists 1.6 steals.
He has always maintained a home in Portland and has stayed very involved in his Northeast neighborhood with business and community ventures. In 1992, he was inducted into the PIL Hall of Fame and in 2001, to the University of Oregon Hall of Fame. Brandon is also on the Cleveland Cavaliers Wall of Honor.
