LaMarcus Aldridge

LaMarcus Aldridge

Aldridge during an Nets game.
Brooklyn Nets - No. 21
Position:	Power Forward / Center
Personal information
Full name:	LaMarcus Nurae Aldridge
Born:	July 7, 1985 (1985-19-07) Dallas, Texas
Nationality:	American
Physical stats
Listed height:	6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight:	250 lbs (113 kg)
National Basketball Association career
Debut: 2006 for the Portland Trail Blazers
Career information
High school:	Seagoville (Texas)
College:	Texas (2004–2006)
NBA Draft:	2006 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd
Selected by the Chicago Bulls
Playing career:	2006–present (18 years)
Career history
2006-2015	Portland Trail Blazers
2015–2021	San Antonio Spurs
2021–present	Brooklyn Nets
Career highlights and awards
7× NBA All-Star (2012–2016, 2018, 2019) 2x All-NBA Second Team (2015, 2018) 3× All-NBA Third Team (2011, 2014, 2016) NBA All-Rookie First Team (2007) Third-team All-American – NABC (2006) First-team All-Big 12 (2006) Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (2006) Big 12 All-Defensive Team (2006) Second-team Parade All-American (2004) McDonald's All-American (2004)

LaMarcus Nurae Aldridge (born July 19, 1985) is an American professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

He played college basketball for two seasons with the Texas Longhorns. Aldridge was selected second overall in the 2006 NBA Draft. After spending nine seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, he signed with the San Antonio Spurs in 2015, where he played six seasons with the team. In 2021, he signed with the Brooklyn Nets after the Spurs bought out his contract. He has been selected to five All-NBA teams and is a seven-time NBA All-Star. He is widely known for his signature fadeaway jump shot.

On April 15, 2021, Aldridge announced his retirement from the NBA due to health issues. However, on September 2, 2021, Aldridge received medical clearance to return to playing professional basketball and on the following day, he resigned with the Nets.

Playing career

Aldridge attended Seagoville High School, where he became a Parade All-American and Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) Class 4A Player of the Year prior to graduating in 2004 and attending the University of Texas at Austin. He declared for the 2004 NBA Draft, but ultimately withdrew his name. According to one report, Aldridge's initial decision to attend college rather than entering the pro ranks directly from high school was influenced by Shaquille O'Neal's personal advice that he should go to college and then evaluate his NBA prospects. However, in April 2006, near the end of his second year at UT, Aldridge announced that he would leave college to enter the 2006 NBA Draft.

NBA Draft

Aldridge was drafted 2nd overall in the 2006 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls, only to have his draft rights traded to the Portland Trail Blazers for their pick, Tyrus Thomas and Viktor Khryapa, shortly after. The Bulls acquired the pick from the New York Knicks in the 2005 Eddy Curry trade.

Portland Trail Blazers (2006–2015)

Rookie season: 2006–07

Aldridge missed the first seven games of the 2006–07 NBA season due to off-season shoulder surgery, but returned ahead of schedule due in part to an injury to fellow rookie teammate Brandon Roy. Aldridge made an immediate impact on offense, averaging 8.4 points on 54% shooting from the field through his first 14 games. After the loss of starting center Joel Przybilla in February 2007 to season-ending knee surgery, Aldridge was awarded the starting center position and improved his scoring to 14.7 points alongside 8.0 rebounds per game in the month of March. This placed him second in the voting for the Western Conference Rookie of the Month to Roy. On March 31, 2007, in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers, Aldridge was taken to Providence Hospital in Portland for shortness of breath and irregular heartbeat. He was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome on April 9, 2007, and missed the remaining eight games of the 2006–07 season.

Aldridge was one of six players named to the 2007 NBA All-Rookie first team; he tied for fifth place along with Toronto Raptors player Jorge Garbajosa.

San Antonio Spurs (2015–2021)

On July 9, 2015, Aldridge signed a four-year, $80 million contract with the San Antonio Spurs. He recorded 11 points and 5 rebounds in a 112–106 loss in his debut against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Brooklyn Nets (2021)

On March 28, 2021, Aldridge signed with the Brooklyn Nets. On April 1, Aldridge posted 11 points, nine rebounds and a season-high six assists in a 111–89 win against Charlotte Hornets in his debut. On April 15, Aldridge announced his retirement due to an irregular heartbeat.

Heart ailment

During the end of the 2006–2007 season he was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a heart ailment. He missed the rest of the regular season in order to monitor the problem and correct it.

2007–08 season

Aldridge increased his play in his sophomore year, with career highs in points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals, and finished third in voting for the Most Improved Player award. During this season, Aldridge had injury troubles due to plantar fasciitis, which caused him to miss games from December 11 to December 18, 2007. After the time missed, Aldridge still had some trouble with the foot but was able to play effectively.

Awards and honors

NBA All-Rookie First Team: 2007

Career highs

Points: 36 on December 31, 2007 against the Utah Jazz. Rebounds: 18 on April 3, 2009 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Assists: 7 on March 22, 2008 against the Los Angeles Clippers. Blocks: 5 on November 30, 2007 against the Dallas Mavericks. (Matched 2 times) Steals: 4 on November 12, 2008 against the Miami Heat.

Gallery