Spurs' Aldridge: 'I probably will be booed' in 1st game back to Portland
LaMarcus Aldridge, who signed a reported four-year deal worth $80 million with the San Antonio Spurs this summer, isn't expecting to receive a warm reception when he returns to Moda Center for the first time in 2015-16 to take on his former team in the Portland Trail Blazers .
"I think going back (to Portland) my first time might be boos because I think people are really hurt by my decision," said Aldridge during an appearance on ESPN Radio's The Russillo Show on Monday, via ESPN.com. "They don't understand why I left. So I think my first game back, I probably will be booed."
Aldridge was drafted second overall by the Chicago Bulls in 2006, with his rights being sent to the Blazers shortly thereafter. He earned himself four All-Star nods during his nine-year stint with the franchise, leading Portland to five winning seasons and a Northwest Division title last year.
"Those are memories that will last forever. I think that city embraced me, and I embraced them," adds Aldridge.
"We grew together. We went from a team that (was) called the 'Jail Blazers' to actually being a team that everybody loved, and a team that everybody wanted to cheer for. So we had a great transition period together that I think both parties enjoyed."
Although the Spurs were always viewed as the front-runners to reach a deal with Aldridge throughout his tour of meetings, the 30-year-old affirms that Portland was in the running right down to the wire.
"It was really close. The only thing I can tell you is right before I made my decision, I called Portland and told them that they weren't in," Aldridge said.
"So obviously, it went down to the last minute. It came down to Phoenix, Portland, and San Antonio. Until the last minute, Portland was in the running. I've had so much history there. I'm engraved in their history books. I didn't want to leave all that behind. So that was tough."
Aldridge ends his tenure in Rip City with averages of 19.4 points and 8.4 rebounds on 48.5 percent shooting.