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LaMarcus Aldridge’s latest addition to Brooklyn isn’t just that the rich get richer. It’s a billionaire who wins the Powerball – and everyone is turned on.
The Nets officially signed Aldridge on Sunday, after the seven-time All-Star was bought out by San Antonio. It came after they already inked Blake Griffin six times All-Star and traded for reigning three-time champion James Harden in January, moves that have fans and pundits crying alike.
And Griffin laughs to himself.
“It’s pretty funny for me because for the last two years all I’ve heard is how bad I am. You sign with this team and everyone says, “It’s not fair!” Griffin said, when asked by The Post about the strong reactions. “People say whatever they want. I don’t value the opinions of others very much.
“I trust people I trust. If I’m not going to ask you for advice, I probably won’t take your criticism. So I have this circle of people and I have this group of people that I trust, real basketball players; this is what I listen to. I just think it’s funny. I guess you could say it’s fun. I can’t speak for LaMarcus; I don’t know what people are saying about him. This is what I felt when I arrived here. I heard how bad I was, and now people care for some reason.
To say they care would be an understatement. NBA Twitter was inflamed with comments once news of Aldridge’s signing broke on Saturday night, portraying the Nets as the NBA’s villains, the league’s Darth Vader.
ESPN figure Stephen A. Smith joined this choir with a long soliloquy on Twitter.
“What’s next if you’re the Brooklyn Nets?” I mean it’s almost like buying a championship to cry out loud. Blake Griffin arrives. LaMarcus Aldridge has now decided to leave, ”Smith said. “I mean, you want a championship, I got it all. You should be the favorites. KD, James Harden, Kyrie, Lethal Weapon 3, but damn! I mean, what about the competition?
“Are you just going to have everyone now?” Everybody? I mean, I can’t wait for the playoffs; I want competition. But if we just want to stock up and get everyone and everyone running around Brooklyn trying to steal a championship, I mean, come on. KD, Kyrie, James Harden – that’s cool. I understand all of this. Blake Griffin couldn’t find another location? LaMarcus Aldridge, all of you, after all the years you’ve been in Portland and San Antonio, is that what we’re doing now?
Griffin pushed back on the big robbery title narrative, noting that the Lakers drew similar attention when they added current Nets coach Steve Nash and Dwight Howard in 2012-13 to a team that already bragged about the late Kobe. Bryant and Pau Gasol. This team finished only seventh in the West.
“It’s just a little crazy how this all works out. At the start of the season, if you had said that James and LaMarcus and I would end up with the Nets, everyone’s betting against that. So that’s kind of how it all plays out, how it all goes, ”Griffin said. “That being said, we still have a lot of work to do and we still have to prove ourselves.
“There have been so many examples of teams, of people forming teams and everyone is doing a lot. I remember when the Lakers had Dwight and Steve. Sometimes it just doesn’t work. We realize it. We know we have work to do and we know we have to be great. “
Griffin and Aldridge join Harden, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and DeAndre Jordan. All of them have made at least one All-Star Game appearance, and they have a total of 41 to their names. But as Griffin points out – and as Nash himself learned about this Lakers team – names don’t guarantee rings.
It will be at the Nets. And while Griffin thinks it’s crazy that he, Aldridge, and Harden have all joined Brooklyn this season, he’s probably just as crazy that they are considered the big league bullies after being bullied five years ago. just 20-62 in GM Sean Marks’ first full season.
Irina Pavlova was then president of Onexim Sports – the parent company of the Nets – at the time. But times have changed, and so have their positions.
“Sort of being hated,” Pavolva tweeted “Feels so much better than being laughed at.”
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