Former Trail Blazers star Chris Dudley announces bid for Oregon governor
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A former Portland Trail Blazers player is doing his best to become Oregon’s next governor.
Republican and 16-year NBA veteran Chris Dudley announced his candidacy for the role in a video posted online.
“I love Oregon and although we have some serious problems, there are solutions and I believe our best days are ahead of us,” he said in the video.
CLICK TO GET MORE SPORTS NEWS FOXNEWS.COM
Republican candidate for governor of Oregon, Chris Dudley, speaks at a town hall meeting at Portland Bolt & Manufacturing Co. on Thursday, August 26, 2010 in Portland, Oregon. (Tom Hauck/Bloomberg)
“But overcoming these challenges requires an end to empty promises, name-calling, finger-pointing, and fear-mongering that solves nothing. You deserve better.”
Dudley spent six of his 16 NBA seasons in Portland as the team’s center.
Born in Connecticut and attending high school in San Diego, California, Dudley played for Portland from 1993-97 before returning for the 2001-02 season. He played his final two seasons with the Trail Blazers before retiring.
Dudley was less than two percentage points away from becoming Oregon’s governor in 2010, falling 47.8% to 49.3% for then-incumbent Democrat John Kitzhaber.
Republican candidate for governor of Oregon, Chris Dudley, speaks at a town hall meeting at Portland Bolt & Manufacturing Co. on Thursday, August 26, 2010 in Portland, Oregon. (Tom Hauck/Bloomberg)
He joins a group of 14 Republicans who have now announced they will run to defeat current Gov. Tina Kotek. Kotek and five other Democrats also announced they are running.
The Oregon primary will be held on May 19.
Dudley began his NBA career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, who selected him in the fourth round of the 1987 NBA Draft. He played parts of three seasons there before being traded to the New Jersey Nets.
Republican candidate for governor of Oregon, Chris Dudley, stands in a photo taken after a town hall meeting at Portland Bolt & Manufacturing Co. in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday, August 26, 2010. (Tom Hauck/Bloomberg)
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
Dudley spent four seasons with the Nets before joining the Trail Blazers. After his first four seasons, he was transferred to the New York Knicks and Phoenix Suns before returning to Portland.
Follow Fox News Digital Sports streaming on X and subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
