LaMarcus Aldridge finally chose to join the San Antonio Spurs, where he signed for four seasons. He was a Nicolas Batum’s partner and now Tony Parker and Boris Diaw are the new ones.
His deal will be a four-year maximum contract worth more than $80 million, with an opt-out after the third year.

It all seems to indicate that the speech given by Gregg Popovich in Los Angeles Friday night has inspired LaMarcus. Playing with Tim Duncan on his final days in the NBA and then taking over for him as the frontcourt linchpin (a person vital to the organization) alongside Kawhi Leonard, these are the words of Popovich that encouraged Aldridge.

Being that it was the second meeting held by the San Antonio Spurs, it seems that everyone made an impact. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Kawhi Leonard and Gregg Popovich, all gave their opinion on Wednesday morning.

LaMarcus spent 9 years of his career with the Portland Trail Blazers, but it didn’t stop him from meeting twice with the Los Angeles Lakers and receiving various offers from the Toronto Raptors, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat.

Now 29 years old, making four All-Star teams while with the Blazers and being named second-team All-NBA this season, turned to 23.4 points, 10.2 rebounds per game last season, his career has been impressive, so far. Let’s recap, he’s been the central building block of the uprising of the Blazers, he’s been named the second all time leading scorer last year in December only second to the great Clyde Drexler, he’s also been leading rebounder, for the franchise, this March, passing Drexler, averaging more than 20 points per game for each of the past 5 seasons, he finished with a career high of 23.4 this last season with 10.2 rebounds per game in 71 appearances as a starter.

Following the 2009-2010 season, he had signed a $65 million, 5 year extension with the Blazers and although rumours were spread about a trade in 2013, he remained with the franchise although expressing his concern for a much needed improvement among is teammates. In the Western Conference, the Blazers finished 5th with 54 wins and with Aldridge leading the team, they also reached a first round victory versus the Houston Rockets, also winning 51 games, finishing 4th, last season, they were then eliminated in 5 games by the Memphis Grizzlies

Resulting in a career year, last year, thus injuring a ligament in his left thumb back in January and given almost eight weeks to recuperate and undergo surgery, he, nonetheless missed only two games and played with his injured thumb.

Growing up in the Dallas Fort Worth area, spending 2 years at Austin University in Texas, this, now, 6 foot 11 power forward, enlisted for the 2006 draft. In 648 games, he holds a career average of 19.4 points and 8.4 rebounds in 35.5 minutes per game.

I’m happy to say I’m going home to Texas and will be a Spur!! I’m excited to join the team and be close to my family and friends.

— Lamarcus Aldridge (@aldridge_12) July 4, 2015