Trail Blazers owner Tom Dundon: ‘My intention here is clear: bring a championship to Portland’

On the eve of his team’s NBA preseason opener against the Golden State Warriors, and in the midst of a series of controversies surrounding his ownership and management of the franchise he bought seven months ago, billionaire Tom Dundon told Portland Trail Blazers season ticket holders in a letter sent Tuesday night that his “intention” as owner of the franchise “is clear: bring a championship to Portland.”

In the letter to Blazers “Season Ticket Members,” copies of which were obtained by multiple Portland media members — including Sean Highkin of the Rose Garden Report, who notes that at least half of the contents of the letter appear to have been generated by AI — Dundon recapped the successes of last season, which saw the Blazers finish above .500 and return to the playoffs for the first time in five years. He praised the development of young players like All-Star forward Deni Avdija, ascendant defenders Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan, and former No. 3 overall draft pick Scoot Henderson, as well as the contributions of veterans Jrue Holiday and Robert Williams III.

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Dundon highlighted Portland’s surprise offseason trade for former Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant — “a two-time All-Star and one of the most explosive players in the league” — as well as the highly anticipated return of franchise icon Damian Lillard after missing all of last season rehabilitating a ruptured Achilles tendon, and the arrival of new head coach Micah Nori to take over what Dundon called “a team with talent, depth and momentum.”

“The expectation is straightforward: compete every night and take another step forward,” the letter reads. “No shortcuts.”

Dundon — who made his fortune in subprime auto loans, owns the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, and purchased the Trail Blazers at a valuation of $4.25 billion back in March — has come under fire frequently during his opening months as the Blazers’ owner for what some have characterized as a number of financial shortcuts in his stewardship of the franchise.

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/article/trail-blazers-owner-tom-dundon-my-intention-here-is-clear-bring-a-championship-to-portland-173242169.html

Author : Dan Devine

Publish date : 2026-10-07 17:32:00

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