TRAIL BLAZERS OFF TO AN EXPLOSIVE START

LILLARD'S RETURN AND MORANT'S ARRIVAL SPARK EXCITEMENT IN PORTLAND

With Damian Lillard back in Portland, Ja Morant joining the roster and a strong opening record, the Trail Blazers have given fans plenty to celebrate as the 2026-27 NBA season gets underway.

The Portland Trail Blazers played at home against the Memphis Grizzlies on Oct. 29, earning their only loss of their six-game season as of Monday, Nov. 2.

By Natalie Brooks

The Advocate

The entire arena is buzzing with excitement. It’s Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026 opening night for the Portland Trail Blazers 2026-27 season, and fans have a lot to be excited about. 

Damian Lillard is finally back on the team and healthy enough to play after moving to the Milwaukee Bucks in 2023, tearing his left Achilles tendon during the 2025 playoffs, and rejoining the Blazers the following summer as he healed during the 2025-26 season. Point guard Ja Morant has been traded onto the team, a multi-time NBA All-Star and former NBA Rookie of the Year. The preseason went well, with the Blazers earning a 3-1 preseason record. This energy carries the Blazers through a very successful start to the season, garnering an unexpected 5-1 win-loss record as of their game on Monday, Nov. 2.

Lillard’s return was the highlight to the start of the season with many dormant fans returning to welcome our star player home. He walked onto the arena to a solid minute of cheers and screams booming throughout the arena, long enough for him to start his short pregame spee

ch before the cheers subsided. 

5–1

Trail Blazers' record as of Nov. 2, 2026, as reported in the article.

$600 MILLION

Estimated upfront funding for proposed Moda Center renovations.

Lillard’s speech was oriented towards the fans rather than himself or the team, noting that with “the long season like it is, you know, we know how important it is to take care of our home floor, we know how important it is to have support from our fans like we have from you, so we gon’ need you guys every game, and make this an advantage when teams come in here.”

Portland’s White Stag sign adds Ja Morant in neon for the Trail Blazers season opener. Photo by KATU

Morant starts his eighth NBA season with the Blazers after spending his first seven with the Memphis Grizzlies. He’s known as an explosive point guard, but has a somewhat controversial reputation from various suspensions and allegations he’s previously faced. The Blazers have worked to give him a warm welcome, including adding his image to the iconic White Stag, along with the phrase “Look who’s up” at the bottom of the sign. The “Call Ja” campaign allows fans to call the Ja Hotline at (855)-CALL-1-JA to leave a message welcoming Morant to the team or sharing the importance the Blazers have had in their lives and gain the opportunity to enter for a chance to win a signed jersey. Unfortunately, during his first game against his former team on Oct. 29, Morant suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring strain, and will be out for at least four weeks.

The players aren’t the only thing fans have to be excited about. Trail Blazer ownership and government leaders are currently negotiating a major renovation to the Moda Center. If approved, the Moda Center will receive approximately $600 million upfront for renovations, and up to $300 million more for ongoing maintenance over the following 20 years. The renovations will focus on infrastructural upgrades like plumbing and fire safety, event equipment for concerts, renovated locker rooms for the Blazers and the new Portland Fire team, and improved fan-facing features like entry and exit points and concessions. 

“We know how important it is to have support from our fans like we have from you.” — Damian Lillard

Ahead of the potential renovations, the Moda Center has already improved some concession options, especially noticeable on the 300 Level. Where there were previously mostly multiple in-house concession stands selling the same food at multiple locations throughout the arena, many more local businesses have been introduced, adding a much wider variety to the available food options. Some of the new locations include Backyard Bird which has a specialty in chicken strips, Cheese Works which features mac and cheese, and Speck, which specializes in bratwurst, pretzels and baked potatoes.

The Blazers’ recent success and return of Lillard has reignited the fan base and many fans are hopeful for a particularly successful season.