By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
With plenty of happy moments stemming from 16 NBA seasons including seven All-Star Game selections, LaMarcus Aldridge ventures into retirement.
Aldridge, 37, announced his decision via a post on Twitter shared Friday.
“In the words of TB12, you only get one big, emotional retirement…,” he wrote referring to Tom Brady, “So, on that note…I’m thankful for all the memories, family and friends I made throughout my career. It was one hell of a ride and I enjoyed every min! 12.”
Health concerns led to his initial retirement towards the end of the 2020-21 season, but he was cleared of the irregular heartbeat issue and rejoined the Brooklyn Nets for the 2021-22 season and averaged 12.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.0 blocks, 0.9 assists, and 0.3 steals per contest over 47 appearances, including 12 starts.
Appearing in a total of 1,148 games between the Regular Season and the Playoffs shaped his NBA career from the Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs to the Nets. Aldridge poured 20,558 points over 1,076 regular-season showings and 1,494 more points in 72 postseason appearances. Besides reliable finishing, he was efficient in defense equipping a solid understanding of the game.
Coming out of Texas following two NCAA seasons, he was selected second overall in the 2006 NBA draft trailing Italian Andrea Bargnani. He went on to emerge as the leading player for the Blazers getting an All-Star Game nod in each of his last four seasons in Portland, between 2012 and 2015. As a member of the Spurs, he enjoyed additional All-Star selections in 2016, 2018, and 2019, upping the total to seven.
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