LaMarcus Aldridge (Part 3)

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12 Mar 2024

LaMarcus Aldridge (Part 3)

On December 9, 2014, LaMarcus Aldridge achieved a significant milestone in his career during a game against the Detroit Pistons. He surpassed Terry Porter for second place on the Portland Trail Blazers' all-time scoring list, accumulating 11,333 career points. Aldridge's strong performance continued throughout the first half of the season, averaging 23.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.
However, Aldridge faced a setback on January 23, 2015, when he tore the radial collateral ligament in his left thumb, sidelining him for an estimated six to eight weeks. Despite the injury, Aldridge opted against surgery and only missed two games. He returned to action on January 24 against the Washington Wizards, contributing 26 points to lead his team to victory.

Despite the injury scare, Aldridge's stellar performance earned him selection to his fourth consecutive NBA All-Star Game as a frontcourt reserve. Furthermore, he was named as a starter on February 14 by Western Conference All-Star head coach Steve Kerr, filling in for the injured Anthony Davis.
Aldridge continued to make history on March 20, 2015, becoming the Trail Blazers' all-time leader in rebounds during a game against the Orlando Magic.

However, the Blazers faced challenges as the season progressed. Wesley Matthews, whom Aldridge regarded as "the heart and soul" of the team, suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury on March 5 against the Dallas Mavericks. This loss significantly impacted the team's performance, and they struggled to maintain their earlier momentum, finishing the season with a 21–20 record in the latter half.
In the playoffs, the Blazers faced the Memphis Grizzlies and were ultimately defeated in five games. Despite the team's challenges, Aldridge delivered a stellar individual performance, averaging a career-best 23.4 points per game and leading the league with 659 field goals. His outstanding contributions earned him a spot on the All-NBA Second Team.

On July 9, 2015, LaMarcus Aldridge made a significant move in his career by signing a four-year, $80 million contract with the San Antonio Spurs. Despite the number 12 jersey being retired in honor of Bruce Bowen, Aldridge was granted permission to wear it upon joining the Spurs, with Bowen's blessing.
Aldridge made his debut for the Spurs on October 28 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, contributing 11 points and 5 rebounds in a close loss. He returned to Portland for the first time as a Spur on November 11, scoring 23 points and grabbing 6 rebounds in a victory over his former team.

Throughout the season, Aldridge showcased his scoring prowess, including a season-high 28 points against the Orlando Magic on February 1, 2016, and a remarkable 36-point performance against the New Orleans Pelicans just two days later. He earned Western Conference Player of the Week honors for his outstanding contributions during this period.
However, Aldridge faced challenges as the season progressed. He dislocated his right pinkie finger on April 7, which bothered him for the remainder of the regular season and into the playoffs.
Despite his injury, Aldridge played a crucial role in the playoffs. In the first round against the Memphis Grizzlies, he helped the Spurs secure a Game 1 victory with 17 points. The Spurs went on to sweep the Grizzlies and advanced to the conference semifinals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In Game 1 of the series against the Thunder, Aldridge delivered a spectacular performance, scoring a game-high 38 points in a convincing win. He continued his impressive play in Game 2, surpassing his previous performance by scoring 41 points, albeit in a losing effort.

LaMarcus Aldridge had a strong start to the 2016-2017 NBA season with the San Antonio Spurs. In the season opener against the Golden State Warriors, he showcased his skills by recording 26 points and 14 rebounds in a commanding 129–100 victory. Another standout performance came on December 25 against the Chicago Bulls, where Aldridge scored a season-high 33 points in a 119–110 win, marking his second-highest scoring output as a Spur.
However, Aldridge faced a setback on March 11, 2017, when he was ruled out indefinitely due to a minor heart arrhythmia. Fortunately, he was medically cleared to return just four days later. In his comeback game against the Portland Trail Blazers, Aldridge contributed 19 points and seven rebounds, reaching 1,000 points for a remarkable 10th consecutive season. This achievement placed him in the company of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade as the only active players at the time with such a streak.

During the playoffs, Aldridge played a pivotal role in the Spurs' success. On May 11, 2017, he delivered a stellar performance, scoring a season-high 34 points in Game 6 of the second-round series against the Houston Rockets. This victory marked Aldridge's first trip past the second round in his previous six postseason appearances. However, despite his efforts, the Spurs were swept by the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. Aldridge closed out the series with a disappointing performance, scoring just eight points in the final game.