This day in basketball history

1985 - LaMarcus Aldridge was born

Coming into the 2006 NBA draft, the consensus number one overall selection came down to two players: Andrea Bargnani or LaMarcus Aldridge. They both fit similar profiles, that being skilled big men who could shoot, but Bargnani's international appeal and lofty comparisons to Dirk Nowitzki enticed the Toronto Raptors to select him first overall.

And the franchise has regretted it ever since.

To be fair, there were some concerns of pairing Aldridge with Chris Bosh, as the two both profiled as mid-post power forwards. But while Bargnani went on to become a perpetual disappointment, Aldridge became an All-Star, and the centerpiece of a playoff team.

In eight seasons as a Portland Trail Blazer, Aldridge boasts career averages of 18.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, relying on a deadly inside-out game to pick apart opposing defensive schemes. Few bigs can average over 20 points per game while shooting less than 50 percent of their field-goal attempts from within 10 feet of the basket, a feat Aldridge has successfully replicated over the last four seasons.

1994 - Spurs re-acquire Sean Elliott

To most in San Antonio, small forward Sean Elliott is thought of as a Spurs lifer. He was drafted third overall by the Spurs, his jersey number (32) is hanging in the rafters, and he spent all but one season of his career in silver and black.

That one season was spent in Detroit, when Elliott was briefly traded from the Spurs to the Pistons in a four-player trade involving Dennis Rodman. While in Detroit, Elliott's play floundered, as his numbers dropped off across the board. The season prior, Elliot averaged 17.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. As a Piston, those averages dipped to 12.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists.

Luckily for Elliott, he was traded back to San Antonio the season thereafter, where he soon returned to his All-Star form. He also served as the starting small forward in the Spurs' 1998-99 championship run, throughout which he chipped in with 12 points per game. His three-point shooting and gritty defensive play complimented the front-court duo of Tim Duncan and David Robinson, and set a template for many future Spurs wings thereafter.

Birthdays

1963 - Mike Brown
1984 - Adam Morrison
1985 - LaMarcus Aldridge