Aldridge with the Trail Blazers in December 2008
|
|
No. 12 – San Antonio Spurs | |
---|---|
Position | Power forward / Center |
League | NBA |
Personal information | |
Born |
Dallas, Texas |
July 19, 1985
Nationality | American |
Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
Listed weight | 260 lb (118 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Seagoville (Dallas, Texas) |
College | Texas (2004–2006) |
NBA draft | 2006 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2nd overall |
Selected by the Chicago Bulls | |
Playing career | 2006–present |
Career history | |
2006–2015 | Portland Trail Blazers |
2015–present | San Antonio Spurs |
Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
Stats at NBA.com | |
LaMarcus Nurae Aldridge (born July 19, 1985) is an American professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The power forward played college basketball for two seasons at the University of Texas. Aldridge was selected second overall in the 2006 NBA draft. After spending nine seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers, he signed with the Spurs in 2015. He has been selected to four All-NBA teams and is a five-time NBA All-Star.
Aldridge attended Seagoville High School, where he became a second-team Parade All-American and Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) Class 4A Player of the Year.
Considered a five-star recruit by Rivals.com, Aldridge was listed as the No. 4 center and the No. 16 player in the nation in 2004.
Aldridge attended the University of Texas. He declared for the 2004 NBA draft but ultimately withdrew his name. According to one report, Aldridge's initial decision to attend college rather than entering the pro ranks directly from high school was influenced by Shaquille O'Neal's personal advice that he should go to college and then evaluate his NBA prospects. However, in April 2006, near the end of his second year at UT, Aldridge announced that he would leave college to enter the 2006 NBA draft.
Aldridge was drafted second overall in the 2006 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls, only to have his rights traded to the Portland Trail Blazers for their pick, Tyrus Thomas, and Viktor Khryapa, shortly after. The Bulls acquired the pick from the New York Knicks in the 2005 Eddy Curry trade.