NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 05: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) LaMarcus Aldridge #21 of the Brooklyn Nets (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
After being bought out by the San Antonio Spurs, the LaMarcus Aldridge retirement party appeared to be drawing closer before the Brooklyn Nets threw him a lifeline. Given his offensive skills, Aldridge was viewed as the frontcourt presence Brooklyn needed in the franchise’s chase for its first championship.
Aldridge played five games with the Nets, averaging 12.8 points and 4.4 rebounds while keeping their free-flowing offense moving. Brooklyn appeared to have found their missing piece in the former Portland Trail Blazers star.
Unfortunately, the basketball gods and Aldridge’s body had something else in mind. After missing the last two games due to what was termed an “illness,” Aldridge has surprisingly announced that he isn’t stepping on an NBA court again.
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Aldridge confirmed on Twitter that he has played his last game in the NBA, citing an irregular heartbeat. Aldridge claimed that the pain he felt after his last game was “one of the scariest things I’ve ever experienced.” Nets GM Sean Marks backed Aldridge’s decision to call it quits, saying that his “health and well-being are far more important than the game of basketball.”
Brooklyn Nets LaMarcus Aldridge has called it a career.
Aldridge, who was picked second overall by Portland in 2006, ended his career as one of the best power forwards of the last few decades. He averaged 19.4 points and 8.2 rebounds per game with the Trail Blazers and Spurs, being named an All-Star seven times over that span.
Aldridge’s post offense was the stuff of legend, as his lethal mid-range jumper made him one of the highest-scoring bigs in the league on an annual basis. While his defense eroded with age, his Portland tenure proved that he was, at one point, one of the best interior defenders.
The return of DeAndre Jordan to the rotation should help the Nets replace Aldridge in the short-term, with Nicolas Claxton and Alize Johnson likely slated for bigger roles off of the bench now that Aldridge has left the game.
Even though he couldn’t help the Nets in the postseason this year, Aldridge has been one of the best big men the game has had to offer for over a decade, and he will get some Hall of Fame consideration. It’s unfortunate it had to end this way, but LMA’s long-term health is more important than anything right now.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - FEBRUARY 06: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers guards James Harden #13 of the Brooklyn Nets (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Brooklyn Nets: Ben Simmons’ quotes on BK prove he’s not paying attention
The Brooklyn Nets will try to snatch the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference away from the Philadelphia 76ers, as the two teams are both vying for the best record in the conference. While Kevin Durant, James Harden, and the absent Kyrie Irving will run and gun, the 76ers can afford to slow it down and grind out victories thanks to Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid.
The Nets, fresh off a demolition of the Minnesota Timberwolves, will take on the 76ers, but Durant will likely have to watch his minutes, Irving is still on leave due to personal reasons, and Harden is unlikely to play due to an injury.
Even with those question marks, Brooklyn’s depth should make Simmons and the 76ers perfectly aware of the fact they could be in for a dogfight in this game. At least, they should’ve made Simmons aware, as the former No. 1 overall pick is remaining strangely cool when asked about the Nets.
Simmons did acknowledge the talent the Nets have at their disposal, but he parroted the same tropes everyone else is using to harsh Brooklyn’s buzz, playing the hits by mocking the alleged lack of defense and questioning how the Nets will distribute shots between their stars.
This sounds like a comment made BEFORE Harden started playing with the Nets.
The Brooklyn Nets are proving Ben Simmons wrong everyday.
Since their loss against the Detroit Pistons in February, the Nets have been allowing under 110 points per game, which would be one of the best marks in the league if extrapolated out to a full season. They might not have the best interior defense in the world, but the unit as a collective is playing well.
Simmons appears to think that the fact there is only one ball will limit Brooklyn’s effectiveness. It seems like he missed out on the fact that Harden is leading the league in assists per game and both Irving and Durant have proven to be exceptional off-ball offensive players. Those seem like pretty important caveats.
The Nets have the second-highest scoring offense in the league, and that is with their collection of star power only playing a handful of games together. Brooklyn has given the league no indication that they will slow down when all three are back in the starting lineup, proving the inaccuracy of Simmons’ comments.
The Nets are by no means a perfect team, as the backup Lakers proved this week. However, Simmons bringing back the old “there’s only one ball” takes is doing a disservice to the exceptional offense the Nets have crafted over the last few months. Hopefully, whatever members of the superstar trio show up can give Simmons an education in that regard.
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