Looking back: Nik Stauskas and the 2018–19 Blazers
Historical update (November 2026): When I posted this video in August 2018, Portland had just signed Nik Stauskas as a free agent. The former Michigan star and 2014 lottery pick was supposed to give the Blazers another outside shooting option off the bench behind Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. The question was whether he could turn that shooting ability into a consistent role in Portland.
His Blazers debut certainly made it look possible. On October 18, 2018, Stauskas scored 24 points and hit five three-pointers in a 128–119 opening-night win over the Lakers, spoiling LeBron James’ first regular-season game in a Lakers uniform. Not a bad way to introduce yourself to Portland fans.
Unfortunately, that was the high point of a pretty short stay. Stauskas appeared in 44 games for Portland, averaging 6.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 15.3 minutes per game. On February 4, 2019, the Blazers sent him and Wade Baldwin IV, along with two future second-round picks, to Cleveland in the deal that brought Rodney Hood to Portland. I covered that move in my Rodney Hood trade reaction and breakdown.
So here’s a look back at the optimism surrounding Stauskas before the season began. He didn’t become the bench scorer we hoped for, but for one opening night, he sure looked like one.
Nik Stauskas’ Player Analysis Video.