When we heard rumours of LaMarcus Aldridge possibly signing with the San Antonio Spurs, we all thought the same thing.
Are you serious?! They’re going to have a smooth transition from Tim Duncan to LaMarcus Aldridge?! Oh come on! It’s just not fair.
But apparently LaMarcus Aldridge doesn’t see it like that. He’s not looking to fill Duncan’s shoes.
“No, because I’m not trying to be Tim Duncan. I’m not trying to fill his shoes. No one is going to fill his shoes. First of all, he started there and he ended there. I’m not doing that. I didn’t start there. There’s no pressure, because I didn’t start there and I’m not trying to be him. My game is totally different than his.
“I never had any issues with it. I think the media blew it up more, like I’m trying to fill his spot and take his role. I was like, ‘No, I’m trying to be me.’ I feel like me being there with Pop in the system with the guys, I should be ok. That was what I was weighing: Go to Phoenix, be the face and the guy, or go to San Antonio and probably win sooner and be more blended in. That was my issue. And I was like, ‘If y’all want me to come here and average 12 or 13 points, that’s not who I am. I like scoring.’ They were like, ‘No, we want you to play in the system, but you scoring is needed here.’ Once I heard that, I was fine.”
Now I would find it interesting if the Spurs break their spoken promise and use ‘the system’ as an excuse to make him shoot less. Because it is a possibility.
Aldridge is making out as if it was a tough decision for him. We look at it from the outside and think Spurs, Aldridge, match made in heaven. But stating who he is and the Spurs promising that they wanted his scoring. Seems like the Spurs actually had to make an effort.
