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After 16 seasons, LaMarcus Aldridge, the second overall pick of the 2006 NBA Draft, has called it quits — this time for good. A longtime master of the midrange and of the high post faceup game, Aldridge has been the fulcrum of many winning iterations of the Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs over the years. Thus, it's no surprise that fans of the teams he gave All-Star production for showered him with love following his announcement to hang up his basketball shoes.
It's definitely heartwarming to see Aldridge remain beloved by plenty of Blazers fans, even if the end to his stint with the franchise that traded for him on draft night wasn't quite a climactic send-off after he chose to spurn them in free agency over the Spurs.
Congratulations on a great career @aldridge_12 I wish you stayed in Portland but the blazers should retire #12 @trailblazers https://t.co/kHretIamPl
— King (@bearden_king) March 31, 2023
Congrats on your retirement LA. You’ll always be one of my favorite Blazers! @aldridge_12 🖤❤️
— oregon girl (@oregon_girl3) March 31, 2023
@trailblazers plz bring Aldridge back for a coaching/mentor role!
Jabari Walker would benefit greatly, as well as guys like T-Wat and Drew. 🫡🌹— Trail Blazer (@RipCityRealm) March 31, 2023
Of course, Spurs fans are thankful as well that LaMarcus Aldridge — a nightly 20 and 10 threat — chose them in free agency and dedicated the latter years of his prime as the San Antonio dynasty tried to transition from one era to the next. (If only Kawhi Leonard stayed.)
https://twitter.com/LightBrewingz/status/1641962272976191491?s=20
HOF career, thank you for choosing the Spurs 💪
— Mendes FC (@PortuWolves) March 31, 2023
LaMarcus Aldridge has never quite become a megastar off the court, as his fundamentally sound, midrange-based game didn't particularly endear him beyond the most diehard of fans. Nevertheless, with Aldridge on his way to a life after basketball, some fans couldn't help but be nostalgic about his unstoppable scoring binges — including a career-high 56 against the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2016 without even making a single triple.
56 points without a single 3-pointer.
LaMarcus Aldridge did this on January 10, 2019. Wonder the next time this feat gets accomplished. pic.twitter.com/1xcHwhYUAa
— Steve Helwick (@s_helwick) March 31, 2023
LaMarcus Aldridge 46 point, 13 rebound game against the Rockets in the 2014 playoffs 🤦🏽♂️ Dude was so skilled and calm with everything he did on the court. True purist. Foot work, touch, middy and low post game. pic.twitter.com/T8YZg8fCEa
— Ball Don't Stop (@balldontstop) March 31, 2023
Kids today have no idea how good LaMarcus Aldridge was. He is a pure hooper, a walking bucket and has an elite mid-range jumper.
Congratulations on your great career man, @aldridge_12! 🫡 ✊🏽
— Ryan Rueda (@iDude14) March 31, 2023
In addition, the former Blazers, Spurs, and Brooklyn Nets forward elicited happy memories for some fans by virtue of his meta jumpshot animation in NBA 2K.
Never forget when Lamarcus Aldridge had this woman FOLDING in front of her man 😭pic.twitter.com/YBME6o1taW
— Blazers Palace (@blazers_palace) March 31, 2023
LaMarcus Aldridge jumpshot on 2K14 was PUREEEEEEEE! https://t.co/gxXN17bJo5
— The Big OG said FIRE DOC RIVERS! (@OHGEENiCK) March 31, 2023
But it's not like his appeal was limited to his on-court exploits. He also had unmistakable charisma, as evidenced by a video that resurfaced of a woman sitting courtside who clearly became enamored of LaMarcus Aldridge in a physical manner.
LaMarcus Aldridge walked so Jordan Poole could score 40
— Noah’s Ark That Back (@NoahsArkDatBack) March 31, 2023
While it will be sad to see one of the most dynamic scoring big men in NBA history retire, the fact that Aldridge was able to retire on his own terms should be cause for joy, especially when he has managed to overcome a few heart issues en route to a long and productive career.