At 35 years old and with a long list of personal accolades on his ledger, veteran big man LaMarcus Aldridge is willing to fill whatever role is asked of him as the star-rich Brooklyn Nets set their sights on winning an NBA championship.
"I'm not here to be an All-Star," Aldridge said Tuesday, according to ESPN's Malika Andrews. "That's not what I'm trying to do. I'm just trying to bring the value, try to bring the things I'm good at, and trying to help this team win. I'm not worried about being an All-Star anymore."
Aldridge, who signed with the Nets over the weekend, hasn't been named an All-Star since earning his seventh nod in 2018-19.
Dating back to the start of last season, the big man has averaged 17.4 points on 48.6% shooting from the floor, 6.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.4 blocks in 31 minutes per game.
Nets head coach Steve Nash cited Aldridge's long-range shooting skills as one of the attributes his latest addition brings to the table. The 15-year vet has hit nearly 38% of his 3-pointers since the beginning of the 2019-20 campaign.
"He has the ability to make 3-pointers, so that opens the floor up," Nash said. "He understands that this is a different role and a different team. I want him to find that natural balance between the way he has traditionally played and the way we play."
