Open Thread: Damian Lillard says Portland would have won a title had LaMarcus Aldridge never come to the Spurs
Dame Time spoke out about his career on the Club 520m Podcast earlier this week
From 2012-2015, Damian Lillard and LaMarcus Aldridge were the face of the Portland Trail Blazers franchise. For only three season together, they became a dynamic duo of the NBA.
In Lillard’s first season, he earned the Rookie of the Year honors while Aldridge was in the early stages of a five-year All-Star run. The Trail Blazers went 33-49 that year and missed the playoffs, but the next two years saw vast improvements.
In 2013-2014 season, the Trail Blazers went 54-28, and made it to the playoffs. Unfortunately, they faced a championship bound San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Semifinals and were sent home after a gentlemen’s sweep.
On Season 2, Episode 93 of Club 520, hosts Jeff Teague and DJ Wells talked to Lillard about his vast career covering Dame Time and his big stories — “the shot” against Paul George, playing alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, battling against Russell Westbrook, facing Steph Curry, and making the NBA Top 75 All-Time list.
At the 17:30, Lillard shared:
If [Lamarcus Aldridge] would have never went to San Antonio, we would have won at least once already. I would have came into my own but he was that good
– Damian Lillard
[via @club520podcast ] pic.twitter.com/uuJZQI1UnH
— BASKETBALL ON (@BASKETBALLonX) August 20, 2024
“If he would have never went to San Antonio, we would have won at least once already. I would have come into my own, but he was that good.”
LaMarcus was one of the top free agents going into the summer of 2015. And with his ties to Texas and family on his mind, he chose the San Antonio Spurs who had only a year before won an NBA title.
Aldridge looked to be a natural transition to Tim Duncan as the Spurs legend looked toward retirement. LMA had the makings of building a new Big 3 with Kawhi Leonard as the latter had racked up DPOY and Finals MVP.
For Dame it will remain a “what could have been.”
For the Spurs, it was a “never quite was.” Not because of Aldridge, but the quadriceps injury to Leonard limited the duo’s court time and the drama that ensued shortened The Klaw’s time on the roster.
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