TUALATIN, Ore. — Nik Raivio kept it a secret as long as he possibly could.
Raivio was reluctant to tell his family and close friends about his NBA Draft workout Monday morning with the Portland Trail Blazers. Primarily because the former University of Portland guard had watched other promised workouts slip away at the last minute. But also because the opportunity to suit up in black and red and run a court bearing the iconic Rip City pinwheel logo meant something very special to Raivio.
While growing up in Vancouver and attending Mountain View High School, Raivio had been a Blazers fan. Especially during the “Clyde” years, when Raivio made special trips to Dairy Queen just so he could collect drinking glasses emblazoned with portraits of former Portland greats such as Drexler, Terry Porter and Buck Williams.
Monday, the ex-Thunder star was a temporary Blazer. And while Raivio’s goal of one day playing in the NBA could take years to accomplish, he was able to fulfill a lifelong dream during a sweat-filled 90-minute workout.
“It was special coming in here and seeing all this stuff,” Raivio, 24, said.
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