Gadgets the Portland Trail Blazers can’t live without

Although Digital Trends has an office in New York and we employ writers that are literally all around the world, the city of our birth was Portland, Oregon. So when the opportunity arose to briefly speak with some of the Trail Blazers about what tech they are into, we couldn’t pass it up even though the conversation was brief as the team was preparing for what is essentially a three week road trip. 

NBA players have a unique vantage point when it comes to technology. They are in the position most of us aspire to when it comes to finances, so the players have the opportunity to be on the cutting edge of technology if they choose. They can select their gear based on what works for them without having to be hemmed in by the cost. There is a flip side to that though.

As they occupy the spotlight, professional athletes are forced to live under the near constant eye of fans. They live under a microscope, and technology for all the good it may bring, has also made the lives of players more open to the public, and more guarded as a result. It’s tough to go out and have dinner with friends when a single tweet can notify thousands of people to every detail of your night out. 

So while our time was limited, we asked four of the Blazers what they thought of tech, and what gadgets they are most into at the moment. 

Damian Lillard Lillard was the first player taken by the Blazers in the 2012 draft, and the sixth overall pick.  After growing up in Oakland, CA, Lillard attended Weber State, where he finished as the number two overall scorer in school history despite playing in only three full seasons.  He has since gone on to become the second highest scorer on the team, averaging 18.4 points per game for the Blazers, and he’s vying for rookie of the year honors.  He plays in the number 0 to honor his hometown of Oakland. What’s your favorite gadget/tech that you use on a daily basis?  My iPhone 4 What (if any) video games are you into and why?   Fight Night Is there any particular gadget or tech coming out in the near future (or in the distant for that matter) that you are interested in? Nah, not really With all the attention you get as a pro athlete, has technology made your life easier or harder? It makes it harder, because it seems like everyone has easy access to you.

J.J. Hickson Hickson is a fourth year starter originally hailing from Georgia. He spent one year at North Carolina State where he went 12 for 12 in his first game and set an NCAA Division 1 record for field goal percentage. Hickson is currently averaging a double double in both scoring and rebounding as a starter.  What’s your favorite gadget/tech that you use on a daily basis?  My old school iPod. It’s like 82 gigs, or something like that. You can’t buy those anymore. What (if any) video games are you into and why?  None Is there any particular gadget or tech coming out in the near future (or in the distant for that matter) that you are interested in?  The iPhone 6 – I heard they’re starting to leak pictures of it on the internet! With all the attention you get as a pro athlete, has technology made your life easier or harder?  It makes life easier, not just as an athlete, but as a human being. Almost all the information you need is right at your fingertips.

Wesley Matthews  The 26-year old Matthews has played in the NBA for three years, and been a Blazer for two. Matthews attended Marquette University and entered the NBA as an undrafted free agent. After impressing scouts at the NBA Summer League, he joined the Utah Jazz and soon became a starter.  He signed a 5 year deal with the Blazers and starts at the Shooting Guard position. What’s your favorite gadget/tech that you use on a daily basis?  iPhone 5 What (if any) video games are you into and why?  I play Xbox. No game in particular, I like them all and I play them all. Is there any particular gadget or tech coming out in the near future (or in the distant for that matter) that you are interested in?  The iPhone 6 and the new BlackBerry. With all the attention you get as a pro athlete, has technology made your life easier or harder?  Both. It’s easier to connect with fans and people who want to communicate with you. But it’s also harder because you have to protect yourself from certain people.

Will Barton After spending two seasons at the University of Memphis where he won the Conference USA Player of the Year award, the Baltimore native ended his collegiate career with over 1,000 career points in just two years. Barton was then drafted as a Shooting Guard by the Blazers with the 40th overall pick. What’s your favorite gadget/tech that you use on a daily basis?  iPhone 5 What (if any) video games are you into and why?  I don’t play video games too often, but when I do it’s NBA2K. I don’t just play with the Blazers, either. I play with all of the teams. Is there any particular gadget or tech coming out in the near future (or in the distant for that matter) that you are interested in?  No, not really. With all the attention you get as a pro athlete, has technology made your life easier or harder?  It makes it easier to access the things you need in life, like phone numbers to restaurants, etc. No different from any other person.