Pop holds Aldridge out of team workout, says 'Welcome to the Spurs'

Barely a week into his first training camp with his new team, LaMarcus Aldridge is already getting a lesson in San Antonio Spurs culture.

Aldridge sat out a team workout Tuesday, the first he's missed in training camp so far, with what was deemed leg tightness. As it happens, sitting out wasn't Aldridge's notion. He wanted to participate. But the Spurs decided to rest him for precautionary reasons, and didn't give him a choice in the matter.

"We sat him out," head coach Gregg Popovich said, according to Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News. "He didn't want to do it. I said, 'Welcome to the Spurs. Go sit.'"

Alrdridge had better get used to the additional down time. With the Portland Trail Blazers, he played at least 34.9 minutes per game every year after his rookie season in 2006-07. Nobody on the Spurs played more than 31.8 last season.

But the 30-year-old need only look across the gym at a spry Tim Duncan - about to embark on his age-40 season - to see the long-term benefits.