Juan Dixon got used to the comforts of home having played his entire basketball career in the Baltimore area.
Whether it was Calvert Hall in high school, the University Maryland in college or the Washington Wizards in the NBA, Dixon always knew he would be a crowd favorite. That all changed for the 6-foot-3 guard this past off-season when Dixon signed as a free agent with the Portland Trailblazers.
Dixon not only went from the East Coast to the West Coast, but from a team in playoff contention to one in a complete rebuilding mode. While the Wizards made the postseason for the second straight year, the Trailblazers finished an NBA-worst 21-61.
However, Dixon quietly had his best season as a professional by finishing third in the team in scoring at 12.3 points per game while also averaging 2.3 rebounds and 2.0 assists per contest. All were career highs.
“It was very different being in a completely different time zone and coast after playing my whole career in theMaryland/D.C. area,” said Dixon, while assisting Loyola coach Jimmy Patsos at his basketball camp this week. “But, the weather is nice there, I have a home out there, and I look forward to helping the team when I get back.”
Dixon said he feels that he can help return the franchise to respectability with the help of a number of young players, including former Maryland backcourt mate Steve Blake, guard Sebastian Telfair and forward Zach Randolph.
“I knew this would be a rebuilding year and that we would struggle,” he said.
Patsos, a former Maryland assistant, said Dixon is a player no one should ever underestimate.
“Juan brings with him to the court intangibles you can?t measure, which is something that often gets overlooked because of his size,” he said.
Dixon added that despite their recent struggles, Terps coach Gary Williams has faced some unfair criticism.
“When you win a national title ? there is pressure for a coach to at least meet those expectations,” he said. “At the same time, the players on the court have to step up their games.”
THE DIXON FILE
Hometown: Baltimore
Age: 27
Position: Guard
Did you know? Dixon was the 17th overall selection in the 2002 NBA draft ? He is Maryland?s all-time leader in career point with 2,149 and second in career steals with 333 ? Portland has missed the playoffs the last three years after reaching the postseason the previous 21 seasons in a row.
