[Old General Record] First Generation of Anti-Autobath! Undefined Superstar Insider!

Looking at the long history of the NBA, many players are born with distinctive labels, some are super geniuses, and some are iron-blooded fighters. But for Aldridge, he is a player who is difficult to accurately define.

Starting from the 2006 draft, this power forward from the University of Texas is destined to embark on a tortuous and complex career path.

In 2006, Aldridge was selected by the Bulls as the second-place and was immediately traded to the Trail Blazers. At that time, Portland had just escaped from the shadow of "Prison Blazers" and urgently needed a new atmosphere to emerge. The emergence of the same rookie Brandon Roy, partnering with Aldridge, inside and outside, quickly became the most anticipated combination in the league.

At that time, Aldridge could contribute 20+8 basic data stably every year. The soft finishing touch and stable mid-range shooting once gave the Trail Blazers hope for the playoffs.

But fate did not treat this young team well. In 2011, Roy bid farewell to the peak early due to injury, and Aldridge could only fight alone. The winning rate for two consecutive seasons was less than 50%, and the Trail Blazers were finally able to linger on the edge of the playoffs.

It was not until 2012 that the arrival of Damian Lillard rekindled hope. Lillard was full of stars when he first entered the league, and the "Brave Blazers Five Tigers" formed with Aldridge finally made a breakthrough in 2014.

They defeated the Rockets in the first round of the playoffs, and Lillard's 0-second three-pointer is still talked about. But many people overlooked that in the first two games of the series, Aldridge scored 46 points and 43 points to set the advantage. That year, he averaged 26.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game, and was the real inside pillar of the Trail Blazers.

However, behind the glory is undercurrent. Young Lillard longs for more stages, while Aldridge, the boss, is struggling with how to maintain his status and accept newcomers. Although the relationship between the two is not broken, it is always full of subtle tension. It was not until 2015 that Aldridge decided to join the Spurs that he told Lillard lightly: "It's over." Many years later, he admitted: "If there are any regrets in his career, it is probably because I'm too restrained and my interpersonal relationships are not handled well." After joining the Spurs, Aldridge took over the power forward torch left by Duncan. At that time, the three old GDPs were still there, and Leonard was gradually rising, and Ade was placed with high hopes. His mid-range shots can open up space, and his stable low-post singles can relieve Leonard's offensive pressure.

But there is always a gap between ideals and reality. In the first two seasons, his performance has not been fully integrated into the Spurs system, his offensive data has declined, and his defensive end has also encountered targeting. In the 2017 Western Conference Finals, Leonard was absent due to injury, the Spurs were swept by the Warriors, and Aldridge was unable to support it. Leonard then ran away. Although Ade returned to the average level of 20+ per game, the team's record has declined year by year. He himself was once discouraged and even applied for a deal.

Popovich admitted: "I am a little confused about his use and want him to do too many unsuitable roles." Fortunately, after the adjustment, Ade gradually regained his confidence, but the Spurs never returned to the top. In the 2019-20 season, he was reimbursed in advance due to injury, and the Spurs also ended the record of 22 consecutive years of playoffs.

If Durant is the most unsolvable outside pitcher in the NBA, then Aldridge is the founder of the first generation of "high-end battery" power forwards.

As early as college, he was asked to imitate Duncan and Rashid Wallace's shooting style, shooting higher and shooting on the board, becoming his signature. After entering the league, he gained weight from 111 kg to 122 kg to cope with stronger confrontations. But gaining weight did not limit his shooting feel, but instead made him more lethal in the mid-range shooting in the elbow area and bottom line. In his career, Aldridge's mid-range shooting accounted for as high as 51.4%, with a shooting percentage of 42.4%, which is always the top level in the league. The height of 211, the wingspan of 224, and the straight arm-style high lifting and high hitting made him almost unstoppable.

What is even more commendable is that he did not stick to the old times. After joining the Spurs, he gradually increased his three-point shooting, from averaging less than 1 game in the early stage of his career to more than 3 times in the later stage, his shooting percentage also increased to nearly 40%. With low footsteps, turnover jump shots, mid-range shots, and three-pointers from the outside, he covered almost all offensive areas. It can be said that it is a perfect combination of tradition and modernity. At the end of his career, Aldridge briefly joined the Nets and formed a "space warship" with Durant, Harden and Irving. However, the good times did not last long. Due to his uneven heart rhythm, he had to suddenly announce his retirement in 2021. That news made countless fans sigh.

Aldridge's data left by the company was frozen in 19951 points, 8478 rebounds, 7 All-Stars, and 5 All-Squad. There is no championship, but it carries the hope of the Trail Blazers and takes over the Spurs' torch. His skills, data, and honors are enough to leave a strong mark in NBA history.

He is not the most dazzling superstar, but the hardest to define existence. Low-key, but powerful; gentle, but full of contradictions; he is Aldridge, a quiet and complex power forward.

When people mention Aldridge, they may not immediately show the earth-shaking moment like they thought of James and Durant. But his unsolvable high jump shot and his persistence in Portland and San Antonio have become a unique memory in the NBA.

He may regret not being able to win the championship, but in the long river of the league, Aldridge is special enough and great enough.