Top 50 players of 2012 #44 Wesley Matthews

By Bryan Thompson | Published July 24, 2012

Wesley Matthews or formerly known as “Wes” was a crucial element to the Trail Blazer’s offense and defense last season but while his stat sheet didn’t shine in 2012, Wes was the main option for the Blazers while LaMarcus Aldridge was out with an injury. Wesley is also the first Portland Trail Blazer to appear on the top 50 list.

2012 stats:

13.7 points per game
1.5 steals per game
3.4 rebounds per game
14.1 PER (Player efficiency rating)

In 2009 Wesley went un drafted out of Marquette University, but however impressed legendary coach Jerry Sloan and eventually got picked up by the Utah Jazz.

Wes came off the bench for Utah and supplied efficiency and energy for the Jazz which pushed the team to the 2nd round of the NBA playoffs.

But just one season after that, Utah parted ways with Matthews and was picked up by the Portland Trail Blazers who were looking for a deluxe Guard off the bench.

Wes gave Portland all they would’ve asked for. While Brandon Roy was down for a chunk of games in 2010, Wesley pushed the injury-bugged Blazers to the 6th seed in the playoffs and gave the eventual NBA champions Dallas Mavericks a scare; winning 2 games in the best of 7 series but it wasn’t enough for the Blazers.

In the 2011 season, Wesley’s role was upgraded when the team’s stud Brandon Roy went down with a vicious career ending injury; which left Wesley to start for the Blazers and to become Brandon Roy’s successor in Portland.

Portland started out the season blazing but fell apart when their star player and leader LaMarcus Aldridge went down with a season ending injury, and then also departing their core players and management down the stretch and began to rebuild.

Hoop Mix-tapes

Wesley Matthews Rookie mix-tape

Wes Matthews Role playing

Wes Matthews 20 points against New Orleans

31 points and 8 three pointers vs Kings