History of LaMarcus Aldridge in Timeline
LaMarcus Aldridge is a retired American basketball player. He played for the University of Texas before being drafted second overall in the 2006 NBA draft. He spent a majority of his career with the Portland Trail Blazers and the San Antonio Spurs. He briefly played for the Brooklyn Nets, retiring in 2021 due to a heart condition but returning for one more season after receiving medical clearance.
1977: Matching History
The Spurs' impressive start to the 1977-1978 season tied them with the Portland Trail Blazers for the best home start by a Western Conference team.
1981: Kelvin Ransey Wins NBA Player of the Month
Kelvin Ransey's performance in 1981 earned him the NBA Player of the Month award, a recognition also achieved by few Portland Trail Blazers players.
July 19, 1985: Birth of LaMarcus Aldridge
On July 19, 1985, LaMarcus Nurae Aldridge was born. He would go on to have a successful career as a professional basketball player.
1986: First Spurs All-Star Since Artis Gilmore
Aldridge's All-Star selection in 2018 marked the first time a Spurs player who didn't start his rookie season in San Antonio had achieved this honor since Artis Gilmore in 1986.
1991: Clyde Drexler Wins NBA Player of the Month
In 1991, Clyde Drexler became one of the few Portland Trail Blazers players to receive the NBA Player of the Month award.
2004: LaMarcus Aldridge Ranked as Top Basketball Recruit
In 2004, LaMarcus Aldridge was highly regarded as a five-star recruit by Rivals.com and was ranked the no. 4 center and the no. 16 player in the nation.
2004: LaMarcus Aldridge Chooses College over NBA
Initially, LaMarcus Aldridge planned to attend college at the University of Texas at Austin instead of entering the NBA directly from high school, influenced by advice from Shaquille O'Neal.
2005: Chicago Bulls Acquire Draft Pick in Eddy Curry Trade
The draft pick used to select LaMarcus Aldridge in 2006 was originally acquired by the Chicago Bulls from the New York Knicks in the 2005 Eddy Curry trade.
April 2006: LaMarcus Aldridge Enters the NBA Draft
In April 2006, after completing his second year at the University of Texas at Austin, LaMarcus Aldridge declared for the 2006 NBA Draft.
2006: LaMarcus Aldridge Drafted into the NBA
In 2006, LaMarcus Aldridge was selected second overall in the NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls, who then traded his draft rights to the Portland Trail Blazers.
2006: Historic Rebounding Milestone
LaMarcus Aldridge reached a historic milestone, becoming the first player in the NBA since 2006 to score at least 18,000 points and secure 8,000 rebounds. This achievement solidified his place as a dominant force in the league.
2006: LaMarcus Aldridge's Rookie Season
LaMarcus Aldridge's rookie season in 2006 was marked by both early success and health challenges, including shoulder surgery and a diagnosis of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.
2006: Draft Rights Traded to Portland Trail Blazers
Shortly after being drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 2006, LaMarcus Aldridge's draft rights were traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Tyrus Thomas and Viktor Khryapa.
2006: Reaching Milestones
Since 2006, the year he was drafted, LaMarcus Aldridge became the only player in the league to achieve 18,000 points and 7,500 rebounds. This milestone was reached after a game on February 2nd.
2006: Unique Achievement Since Entering the NBA
Since entering the NBA in 2006, Aldridge's combination of points, rebounds, and blocks put him in a league of his own, highlighting his well-rounded game.
February 2007: LaMarcus Aldridge Becomes Starting Center
In February 2007, following an injury to Joel Przybilla, LaMarcus Aldridge was promoted to the starting center position for the Trail Blazers.
March 31, 2007: LaMarcus Aldridge Hospitalized for Heart Concerns
On March 31, 2007, LaMarcus Aldridge experienced shortness of breath and irregular heartbeat during a game against the Los Angeles Clippers, leading to his hospitalization in Portland.
2007: LaMarcus Aldridge's Second Season and Plantar Fasciitis
During his second season in 2007, LaMarcus Aldridge showed significant improvement, achieving career-highs in multiple statistical categories, despite battling plantar fasciitis.
2007: Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome Diagnosis
In 2007, LaMarcus Aldridge was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a heart condition. To address the issue, he had to step away from basketball for the remainder of the 2006-2007 regular season to undergo monitoring and treatment.
2007: LaMarcus Aldridge Named to NBA All-Rookie First Team
LaMarcus Aldridge's strong rookie season earned him a spot on the 2007 NBA All-Rookie first team, tying for fifth place in voting with Jorge Garbajosa of the Toronto Raptors.
2008: Dominant Playoff Performance
Aldridge's 34-point, 12-rebound game in the 2017 playoffs was the first such performance for the Spurs since Tim Duncan achieved it against the Phoenix Suns in 2008.
2008: Matching Manu Ginobili's Scoring Feat
Aldridge's scoring prowess was on full display when he matched Manu Ginobili's franchise record for most points in a half (28) since Ginobili's performance against Cleveland in 2008.
December 2010: LaMarcus Aldridge Steps Up After Brandon Roy's Injury
LaMarcus Aldridge's role and leadership grew in December 2010 when teammate Brandon Roy was sidelined with knee problems.
February 7, 2011: LaMarcus Aldridge Scores Career-High 42 Points
On February 7, 2011, LaMarcus Aldridge achieved a career-high 42 points against the Chicago Bulls.
2011: Heart Surgery
In 2011, prior to the start of the 2011-12 season, LaMarcus Aldridge underwent another surgery. This procedure aimed to correct complications that arose from his previous heart condition.
2011: Trail Blazers Return to Playoffs
LaMarcus Aldridge played a crucial role in the Portland Trail Blazers' return to the playoffs in 2011 after a period of absence.
2011: Birth of Second Son
LaMarcus Aldridge welcomed his second son in 2011.
2011: NBA Lockout Delays Season Start
The start of the 2011-2012 NBA season was delayed until Christmas Day due to a lockout.
November 12, 2012: LaMarcus Aldridge Sets Career-High in Assists
On November 12, 2012, LaMarcus Aldridge recorded a career-high eight assists in a game against the Atlanta Hawks.
2012: LaMarcus Aldridge Named Western Conference All-Star
LaMarcus Aldridge was selected as a reserve for the Western Conference All-Star team in 2012.
November 23, 2013: LaMarcus Aldridge Involved in Altercation with Andrew Bogut
During a game against the Golden State Warriors on November 23, 2013, LaMarcus Aldridge was involved in an altercation with Warriors center Andrew Bogut, leading to a fine.
December 12, 2013: LaMarcus Aldridge Achieves Franchise Record
LaMarcus Aldridge made Trail Blazers franchise history on December 12, 2013, by becoming the first player with at least 30 points and 25 rebounds in a game.
2013: LaMarcus Aldridge's Third All-Star Selection
LaMarcus Aldridge was chosen for his third NBA All-Star game in 2013, a testament to his consistent performance.
January 23, 2014: LaMarcus Aldridge Scores Career-High 44 Points
On January 23, 2014, LaMarcus Aldridge set a new career-high with 44 points in a game against the Denver Nuggets.
March 12, 2014: LaMarcus Aldridge Suffers Back Injury
On March 12, 2014, LaMarcus Aldridge sustained a lower back contusion during a game against the San Antonio Spurs, causing him to miss several games.
April 20, 2014: Career-High 46 Points in Playoff Win
On April 20, 2014, LaMarcus Aldridge set a new career high and franchise playoff record with 46 points, alongside 18 rebounds, in a playoff win against the Houston Rockets.
April 23, 2014: Historic Scoring Streak in Playoffs
On April 23, 2014, Aldridge scored 43 points against the Houston Rockets, joining elite company (Michael Jordan, Jerry West, Allen Iverson, and Tracy McGrady) as the only players to score 89+ points in the first two games of a playoff series.
December 9, 2014: Surpasses Terry Porter on Trail Blazers' Scoring List
On December 9, 2014, LaMarcus Aldridge achieved a significant milestone by surpassing Terry Porter to become the Portland Trail Blazers' second all-time leading scorer with 11,333 career points.
2014: LaMarcus Aldridge Selected for Fourth All-Star Game
Alongside teammate Damian Lillard, LaMarcus Aldridge was voted as a reserve for the 2014 NBA All-Star Game, marking his fourth consecutive All-Star selection.
January 23, 2015: Sidelined with Torn Ligament, Opts Against Surgery
On January 23, 2015, Aldridge was sidelined with a torn radial collateral ligament in his left thumb. Choosing to forgo surgery, he only missed two games.
March 2015: Spurs' Home Winning Streak
The Spurs' 35-game home winning streak, dating back to March 2015, marked the sixth-best streak in NBA history.
March 20, 2015: Becomes Trail Blazers' All-Time Leading Rebounder
LaMarcus Aldridge became the Portland Trail Blazers' all-time leading rebounder on March 20, 2015, during a game against the Orlando Magic.
July 9, 2015: Signs with San Antonio Spurs
On July 9, 2015, LaMarcus Aldridge signed a four-year, $80 million contract with the San Antonio Spurs, marking a significant move in his career.
2015: LaMarcus Aldridge Joins the San Antonio Spurs
In 2015, after nine seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge joined the San Antonio Spurs.
February 1, 2016: Season-High 28 Points in Spurs Win
Aldridge had a season-high 28 points in a win over the Orlando Magic on February 1, 2016, contributing to the Spurs' impressive 35-game home winning streak.
October 25, 2016: Strong Season Opener with Spurs
Aldridge started the 2016-2017 season strong with a 26-point, 14-rebound performance in a win against the reigning champion Golden State Warriors on October 25, 2016.
March 11, 2017: Sidelined with Heart Arrhythmia
Aldridge was sidelined indefinitely on March 11, 2017, due to a minor heart arrhythmia, raising concerns about his health.
May 11, 2017: Leads Spurs Past Rockets, Reaches Conference Finals
On May 11, 2017, Aldridge delivered a season-high 34 points, leading the Spurs past the Houston Rockets and into the Western Conference Finals for the first time in his career.
October 16, 2017: Signs Contract Extension with Spurs
Aldridge solidified his future in San Antonio by signing a three-year, $72.3 million contract extension with the Spurs on October 16, 2017.
November 14, 2017: Season-High 32 Points Against Mavericks
Aldridge had a season-high 32 points in a win over the Dallas Mavericks on November 14, 2017.
November 27, 2017: Another Season High Against Mavericks
On November 27, 2017, Aldridge set a new season high with 33 points in a win against the Dallas Mavericks.
January 23, 2018: Selected as a Western Conference All-Star Reserve
Aldridge earned his place among the league's elite by being selected as a Western Conference All-Star reserve on January 23, 2018.
March 17, 2018: Impressive 39-Point Performance
On March 17, 2018, Aldridge delivered an outstanding 39-point performance in a win against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
March 21, 2018: Joins Elite Company with Blocks and Points Milestone
On March 21, 2018, Aldridge reached a significant career milestone by becoming the 27th player in NBA history with 900+ blocks and 16,000+ points.
January 10, 2019: Career-High 56 Points
On January 10, 2019, LaMarcus Aldridge scored a career-high 56 points in a thrilling 154-147 double-overtime victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
January 31, 2019: Western Conference All-Star
LaMarcus Aldridge was named a Western Conference All-Star reserve on January 31, 2019.
November 7, 2019: Season-High 39 Points
LaMarcus Aldridge scored a season-high 39 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder on November 7, 2019, leading his team to victory.
June 8, 2020: Shoulder Surgery and Season End
The San Antonio Spurs announced on June 8, 2020, that LaMarcus Aldridge had undergone arthroscopic subacromial decompression and rotator cuff debridement on his right shoulder on April 24th. This injury sidelined him for the remainder of the 2019-20 season.
2020: Injuries and Reduced Role
During the 2020-21 season, LaMarcus Aldridge missed eight of the San Antonio Spurs' final 11 games leading up to the NBA All-Star break due to both hip and quadriceps injuries. Notably, the team performed well in his absence, securing six wins out of the eight games. This marked the first time in his career since his rookie season with Portland that Aldridge came off the bench, as he transitioned to a reserve role for the three games he participated in.
March 2021: LaMarcus Aldridge Signs with the Brooklyn Nets
In March 2021, LaMarcus Aldridge signed with the Brooklyn Nets after being bought out by the San Antonio Spurs.
March 25, 2021: Buyout Agreement with the Spurs
On March 25, 2021, LaMarcus Aldridge and the San Antonio Spurs reached a contract buyout agreement.
March 28, 2021: Signing with the Brooklyn Nets
LaMarcus Aldridge signed with the Brooklyn Nets on March 28, 2021.
September 3, 2021: Re-Signing with the Nets
On September 3, 2021, LaMarcus Aldridge re-signed with the Brooklyn Nets after receiving medical clearance to resume his professional basketball career.
2022: Passing of Older Brother
Tragedy struck in 2022 when LaMarcus Aldridge's older brother, LaVontae, passed away at the age of 42. LaVontae had also pursued a basketball career at Howard College before a knee injury cut his playing days short.
March 31, 2023: Second Retirement Announcement
LaMarcus Aldridge announced his retirement from professional basketball for the second time on March 31, 2023.
