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Barrett's avatar

I’ve shared season tickets for the last few years, which meant I had 10 home games a year to see the Blazers (and Dame) play basketball. With two small kids, my wife would often decide not to go last minute. In her place I’d invite a friend who also loves ball. He probably went to 8-10 games with me over three years.

Well, he felt bad about never paying for tickets, but I was just happy not to be solo so it seemed fair to me. Nonetheless he wanted to “repay” me by buying great seats to a game when a lackluster opponent came to town (so they’d be affordable).

So he picked the lowly Rockets last year on 2/26. He bought fifth row near center court. We got there early to enjoy the courtside amenities which I had only ever experienced once before. Watched intros and warmups. Assumed it would be a meh game.

And then we got to watch Dame explode for 71 in what was his last great performance as a Blazer. By halftime we were wondering if he’d possibly beat Kobe’s all time high. I got his career high record breaking three on video along with my idiotic cheering.

I was heartbroken but understanding when Dame requested a trade. The org let him down. As fans we’ll always wonder what could have been. But I’ll also always have that game when he went for 71 and I was in the fifth row.

Best basketball moment of 2023. Probably best basketball moment of my life.

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Jason Walker's avatar

Marc, I do love the picture of The Circle that is sports. In 2023, we saw one phenom putting the final chapter(s) in a career that started with a much anticipated lottery in 2003. LeBron hit that iconic shot that broke another phenom’s all-time scoring record. Later in the year, we welcomed another much anticipated lottery, and another star, Wemby, debuted. Circle!

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