It has become hard to deny the Trail Blazers’ bright future due to their promising players. Among those players is Portland’s defensive ace, Toumani Camara, who has become one of the league’s most underrated wings. He has become a versatile defender who can guard multiple players including Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic.
Portland’s Defensive Ace On Guarding SGA And Jokic
The past few seasons have not been kind to the Portland Trail Blazers, as they continue rebuilding their squad. Losing Damian Lillard to a trade request was tough, but the team continues to build for the long term. They are excellent with their draft picks, as they selected promising prospects like Scoot Henderson, Shaedon Sharpe, and Donovan Clingan. Portland’s trade history has been lackluster, but they have hit two home runs with Camara and Deni Avdija.
Camara has been a revelation because he was the supposed add-on to Deandre Ayton in the blockbuster 2023 trade. Now, Camara is a shoo-in for the Trail Blazers starting lineup. Toumani loves the responsibility of defending the opponent’s best player. The Belgian is one of the league’s most versatile defenders, going against stars like Shai and Jokic every night. He has gone under the radar, but he has a case for being the most underrated player in the league. Rip City fans appreciate that he is part of the Blazers’ bright future.
The Blazers Trust Camara To Guard Anyone
At 6’7″ and 229 pounds, Camara has all the physical tools to guard players from point guards to centers. That is a special skill, which is possible because of his frame and athleticism. His physical strength helps him withstand contact in the post, while his speed and athleticism are spectacular against guards. The Blazers struck gold in the Portland trade because Toumani has embraced the responsibility of guarding star players.
“With SGA, I would say he’s pretty shifty. He plays a lot of one-on-one iso. Like his mid-range, a lot of pump fakes, trying to draw fouls, and stuff like that. The most important for me is to stay in front of him,” Toumani said about defending the MVP candidates. “Kinda the same with Jokic, as soon as he crosses half-court, try to be physical with him. Not to let him get to his spots. He’s a big body, he’s hard to maneuver. Trying to not let him breathe in a certain way.“
No matter the assignment given to him, Camara takes on the challenge. He has a tremendous approach to defense, taking on challenges akin to Draymond Green. Portland has always needed versatile defenders because they can create chaos and transition opportunities. Camara is a terrifying matchup because he can suffocate them with his defense and force them to make mistakes.
Portland loves Camara’s defensive skills, and they have committed resources for a Defensive Player of the Year campaign. While he is unlikely to win the award, getting so much buzz for the All-Defensive Team proves his impact. The Trail Blazers organization appreciates him enough to want the rest of the league to follow suit.
There is no escape.https://t.co/czVQzukRGa pic.twitter.com/6XiVZTUtwM
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) March 31, 2025
The Blazers’ Bright Future Will Involve Portland’s Defensive Ace
Toumani leads the league in offensive fouls drawn by a wide margin at 31. The closest to him is Austin Reaves, who has 22 in the 2024-25 season. Excluding the Blazers, only eight NBA teams have more charges drawn than Camara alone. That is an unbelievable stat that shows the 24-year-old’s impact on Portland’s defense. According to Blazers broadcaster and stats guru Tom Haberstroh, Camara is second in the league in defensive stops.
With that impact, Portland’s future will involve Camara. He is superb on that end while improving on offense. Toumani has vastly improved his three-point shooting, taking off from 33.7% to 37% on more attempts. That is an impressive development, which will keep happening as he gets more offensive responsibilities. The offense is where Portland needs improvements, but they can always rely on their defense.
The Trail Blazers have a top-five defense when Toumani Camara and Donovan Clingan share the court allowing only 109.6 points per 100 possessions.
Portland has a strong foundation in place with those two players to build a long-term elite defensive unit. pic.twitter.com/KlYCMhcf7T
— Evan Sidery (@esidery) April 11, 2025
With Camara, Avdija, and Clingan as the defensive core, the Blazers have a promising future. Henderson is following suit, as he has potential as a hard-nosed defender in addition to his advanced playmaking. The final member of the core is Sharpe, who is not the best defender, but extra effort could help him. GM Joe Cronin still has something to prove through making a Portland trade or signing good players. The Blazers will be a tough team as long as they keep improving on the roster.
© Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
