Trail Blazers guard Vít Krejčí enters season under pressure to improve
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The gist
Czech guard Vít Krejčí closed Portland's preseason with a 118:128 loss to Golden State in San Francisco.
His three-point shooting fell from 42% with Atlanta to 30% after the trade.
Background
Vít Krejčí is a 25-year-old Czech Republic point guard for the Portland Trail Blazers, wearing #27, acquired from Atlanta before the February trade deadline. Portland brought him in hoping he could become the team's three-point sniper, but his shooting dropped after the move. The front office waived forward Jeremy Sochan this past week, which officially locked Krejčí into a roster spot. He enters the new season with his role and minutes still to be settled.
How it unfolded
- Oct 16, 2026Krejčí played for Portland in a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, making a long-distance shot, as the Blazers lost 118:128.
- Oct 20, 2026A report said Krejčí needs to improve for Portland, noting his three-point percentage fell from 42 percent on five attempts per game with Atlanta to 30 percent on about the same volume after the trade.
- Oct 21, 2026Krejčí carried no injury designation as of 6:09 PM ET, and had averaged 5.6 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists in his last 20 games.
- Oct 22, 2026The NBA's 2026/27 season opened, with Krejčí's connection to the Wembanyama MVP-favorite story described as indirect.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- SI/Blazers writer Sahal Arwo wrote that Krejčí was acquired to be Portland's three-point sniper and struggles to impact the game without his shot, but could carve out minutes if he starts well and finds consistency.
- Caution
- Arwo also noted rumblings in training camp that Krejčí's roster spot wasn't set in stone, and that on a non-guaranteed contract he was plausibly auditioning just to stay on the regular-season roster.
- Official
- Parlae noted Krejčí had no injury designation as of Oct 21, but that this is the official report rather than a promise he plays, since designations can still be added.
Still unverified
SI/Blazers writer Sahal Arwo reported rumblings coming into training camp that Krejčí's roster spot wasn't set in stone; Parlae noted that a clean injury report is not a guarantee he will play, since designations can still be added.