Let’s face it; the NBA All-Star selection process will always be heavily criticized while it operates in it’s current format. So, it’s nothing new to hear that someone is bashing how the All-Star rosters are made up and which players are, or are not, selected.
Count San Antonio Spurs big-man LaMarcus Aldridge among the critics, but his complaint isn’t necessarily about the process, but in the number of players that were selected from the Golden State Warriors over his Spurs team.
Aldridge, in an an interview with The Vertical, said it wasn’t fair the Warriors will send four players to the All-Star Gae (Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson) while the Spurs will be only sending Kawhi Leonard. Aldridge may have a point since San Antonio holds the 2nd best record in the NBA, behind Golden State.
“I’m older, so I’m not going to come home and be mad or anything,” Aldridge said. “But I do think that it was wrong for Golden State to have four [All-Stars] and we’re a few games behind and only have one.”
“It is what it is,” Aldridge said. “I’m in this position and I’m going to enjoy my break and just come back fresh.”
Aldridge also spoke about his transition to a new role with the Spurs, after spending 9 seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers.
“It was very difficult, because I couldn’t be the guy that I’ve been my whole career,” Aldridge said. “It was very difficult to adjust from being who I was to who I am now. Now, I’m fine. I do what I’m asked to do. I rebound, take shots every now and then. I’m not really asked to be that guy that I was, so I just play the role that they want me to play. Play defense. Do pick-and-pop when they need it, and other than that just play off Kawhi.”
While the All-Star game may have Aldridge feeling a little down, Monday night certainly cheered him up when San Antonio beat the Indiana Pacers to notch their 42nd win of the season. The win extended the Spurs’ streak of consecutive winning seasons to a league-record 20.
“It was a heck of a competitive game,” San Antonio head coach Gregg Popovich said. “It was real physical and aggressive. I thought both teams played real well. I’m obviously thrilled with a win on the road. It could have gone either way.”