It’s been nine years. Nine years with LaMarcus Aldridge as the reluctant star. If he hasn’t assumed his proper position as an NBA champion in Portland, he deserves to get there someplace else.
Why San Antonio? Tradition unlike any other. The Spurs had the great David Robinson toiling year after year. He seemed destined to follow the Charles Barkley trail to the O’Brien Trophy.
Except he won a couple of NBA championships with the young Tim Duncan before he finished.
From wiki: Robinson is also noteworthy for his harmonious relationship with Tim Duncan. Sportswriter Chris Sheridan noted that it was rare for someone like Robinson to have welcomed and mentored Duncan as willingly as he did.
LA is the most decent guy in Portland Trail Blazers history. He’s given fans a clean image when that wasn’t the easiest choice.
And it isn’t enough. Tim Duncan feels like Aldridge. He grew into greatness beside David Robinson. He could show LA the way to the top.
Mentorship works like that and LaMarcus Aldridge takes good advice. He listened to Shaq and went to college instead of straight to the NBA from high school. Dr. O’Neal got him to school for a couple of years.
When he got to Portland he joined a team with bigs like Raef LaFrentz, an eight year vet; Jamaal Magloire, six years in; Joel Przybilla with six years; and Zach Randolph with five years in Portland.
Which of them will ever be eligible for a retired number hanging in the Moda Center? Which one took time to do the mentor work with the new big?
Channing Frye showed up the next year. For a short while Portland had the next best thing to twins in Aldridge and Frye. Which of those two will pass the retired number test?
LaMarcus could stay with the Blazers and finish his NBA time as a loyal teammate to whoever else shows up. And that would be a shame in an era of player orchestrated trades. Isn’t LaMarcus good enough to attract Super Team interest?
LaMarcus Aldridge is Super Team caliber. San Antonio is the team. And we’ll cheer for him when he wins five titles in the next seven finals.
It would work the way it worked for Clyde Drexler when he left Portland for Houston and rescued the second of the Rockets’ back to back championships after Hakeem went down.
It would work the way it did for John Elway, who finished with two Super Bowls after Terrell Davis showed up at the end of his career.
It would work like it did for Joe Montana when Jerry Rice showed up halfway into his NFL career.
LaMarcus would inspire Tim Duncan to play two more years. They win those two titles, Duncan retires, then LaMarcus, Kawhi Leonard, and Danny Green terrorize the NBA the next four years together and win the way LeBron, D-Wade, and Chris Bosh were supposed to win in Miami.
Not one, not two, not three.
Portland would celebrate LaMarcus the Spur as one of our own. He’s given everything he’s been asked.
He got over an early heart scare. He got over looking like Channing Frye. He outlasted Brandon Roy’s shadow. Greg Oden came and went. Damian Lillard is the next to burn his brand into Portland.
LaMarcus has been the steady force for nine years. A lesser player would have shut it down this year with his thumb injury. Instead, LA played through it, putting off surgery but welcoming the pain.
He’s given his best to Portland, now he deserves the best in return, and it’s in San Antonio. He’ll be able to share his championship years with his son Jaylen.
Who would deny him that?
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