In his ninth year as a member of the Portland Trail Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge is starting to break team records and has inserted himself in the discussion for Portland’s best all-time player.
In the Blazers’ all-time statistics, Aldridge ranks second in points, third in rebounds, fourth in blocks and seventh in games played. By the end of the season, barring any major setbacks, Aldridge should move up to fourth in games played, second in rebounds and possibly third in blocks. Depending on how long he is a Trail Blazers player, the only major category Aldridge will have trouble passing is total points, held by Clyde Drexler.
Nobody can predict the future here, but if Aldridge were to win an NBA championship with the Blazers, I think he could have a real argument to be their best all-time player.
Drexler was an amazing player. He played 11.5 seasons with Portland, was an eight-time All-Star with them, was on the “Dream Team” and most notably, is the on the top 50 greatest players ever list. The main reason I put Aldridge in the argument with Drexler is because they still both have zero championships with the Blazers. Drexler is right now the best Blazer ever, but a lot of people refer to him as a Houston Rockets great because of the championship he got with them.
Bill Walton is also in the discussion. With the Blazers, he was the MVP and Finals MVP on their only championship team. The reason he isn’t No. 1 is because he only spent four seasons with Portland, and two were unfortunately riddled with injuries.
We can’t predict the future and who knows how long Aldridge will be with the Blazers, but I expect a max deal signed for him, keeping him around until the end of his career. If he can keep up his high level and get that coveted ring, I think we’ll see his jersey in the rafters next to Drexler and Walton, and possibly even above both.
Brian Brennan is a Portland Trail Blazers writer for www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on Twitter @b2brennan.
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