LeBron is staying. All is well in Cleveland. But while Cleveland rejoices in the return of their king, Portland and Oregonians interested in the Blazers and their star, LaMarcus Aldridge, are sitting on unsettled ground regarding the future of the lifelong Blazer they’re hoping will actually be lifelong … and the 8-year veteran from Texas should heed the hidden message “The King” not-so-cryptically sent last week.
Money isn’t everything and championships are often only as satisfying as the level of their journey. For LeBron James, the titles were important, but in the wake of the 4 straight Finals appearances and 2 NBA Championships the native Ohioan earned in Miami, he discovered the value of a championship journey and chose home over the superficial version of such he leased for 4 seasons in South Beach.
Sure, a championship is ultimately a championship, but the depth of winning it for and with the people who shared in its process will always exceed the shallow nature revolving around a mercenary approach. It means more to family, and family is what Aldridge has forged in the city of Portland and with the Trail Blazer franchise. And while competing and winning will always have value short term, it’s hard to quantify the long term value of community built over time.
LaMarcus Aldridge wasn’t always Portland’s favorite son. He played second-fiddle to Brandon Roy, was an enigma for a stretch of inconsistent years, and until recently remained a question mark regarding the ability to cornerstone a franchise on the rise. But last season, the 6’ 10” jump shooter became something more. He led by more than example, proved to outsiders the talent insiders already knew existed, and went beyond statistics and regular season wins, to a level capable of winning meaningful games during the league’s most meaningful times. His reward? The loving embrace of a city which lives to do just that.
Winning is great, but Portland is a city that appreciates effort and loyalty at a level rivaling it. They retired essentially everyone’s number from their 1 championship team, deify players like Terry Porter and Jerome Kersey who ultimately won nothing, and rally around anyone in a Blazer jersey willing to appreciate what this town believes itself to be: A special place.
Following the upcoming campaign, Aldridge will be a free agent. If he wants to leave for a better opportunity to win, he can. If he wants to leave for more money, he can. And if he wants to leave for a bigger market, no one can stop him. But if he wants to be an icon of a franchise, hero to an entire city, and “one of the good ones” in a profession fraught with quite the opposite, he’ll stay in Portland, finish what he started, and fully understand what LeBron communicated last week: There’s no place like home.
And Portland has become that to LaMarcus Aldridge … whether he realizes it or not.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
