Spurs Forward LaMarcus Aldridge Returns To Portland

LaMarcus Aldridge has only played for two teams in his 10 year career. He was drafted 2nd-overall in the 2006 NBA Draft to the Chicago Bulls before being traded to a team in which he would play nine years for, the Portland Trailblazers.

In those nine seasons with the Trailblazers, Aldridge put up great numbers. He averaged 19.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and one-block per game. With almost a decade spent in one place, there are certainly memories to be hold and that fans still to this day, hold close to their hearts.

Aldridge was their man. A silent-assassin if you will, he does not do much, if not any, trash talking to opponents. He goes out and gets it done with his play.

During his 2014-15 year, which would be his last with Portland, everyone around the NBA new that there was a chance that Aldridge would possibly be suiting up somewhere else. How the fans react to Aldridge will say a lot of the city.

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Lets face it, his leaving was not the circus that LeBron James put forth. Besides, we all know that LeBron is hungry for attention and the way he went about leaving Cleveland for Miami, well, a circus.

Aldridge did not halt the press or want to break in your favorite show to brings his decision, as the San Antonio Spurs organization does, they did it behind close doors. Granted with social media, we knew what was going on, but it was not a skeptical.

When Aldridge decided on San Antonio as his new place to call home, it was a sigh of relief. For me, I have been a fan of him since his days at the University of Texas. When he went to Portland and the Spurs would face them, I’ve always liked the way he played.

Now that he is with San Antonio Spurs, Aldridge brings his play alongside a future Hall of Famer Tim Duncan. So far in seven games this season, Aldridge has had up and down games. That is a given for a player that comes from being the main option to a team that has many. He is averaging 15.1 points per game along with 9.1 rebounds.

I believe once Aldridge steps foot onto that court for the first time in the opposing jersey, there will be a mix of cheers and grumblings. Face it, you never want a player as popular as he was with Portland to leave. Especially when that team is a five-time champion in the league.

How do others see his will return will go? Fansided Networks own Rip City Project’s Chad Crawford expressed his thoughts on his return.

If I were at the game Wednesday, I would cheer and clap until my throat was raw and my hands were red. Because, as much as I hate seeing him in another uniform, I can’t be mad at him for the reasons he left. He gave us 9 great seasons, full of memories. We shouldn’t feel bitter or betrayed by the fact that he wanted to be closer to his family in Texas, or the fact that San Antonio gives him a better chance to finally capture the illusive championship he so deeply desires.

All eyes will definitely be on Aldridge tonight as San Antonio heads into Portland. I feel that he will have his best game as a Spur against his former team. It has to be, right?

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