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LaMarcus Aldridge did not come to the Nets to make “The Big Four”.
But he’s also not trying to lead the crowd off the bench.
In his first comments since surprisingly choosing the Nets over the Heat, Aldridge explained how he and the team agreed on his ability to stretch the floor as a 3-point shooting center that can paving the way for Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving.
“I’m not here to be an All-Star,” Aldridge said after practice Tuesday. “That’s not what I’m trying to do. I’m just trying to add value, try to bring in the things I’m good at and try to help this team win. I’m no longer worried about being an All-Star. “
Soon after, however, Aldridge broke his own introductory press conference after 12 minutes. Not exactly typical of a role player.
“If you could start, you’ll always want to start,” Aldridge said. “I think anyone who is competitive will say they want it and you’re going to fight for it, so I’m definitely trying to do my job and hope I get it. As for the minutes, I think if you go out and compete and do all you can, you’ll be fine. And we’re all here to win, so that’s not about that.
Durant, who hasn’t performed since February 13 with hamstring strain, has taken a hiatus to berate actor Michael Rapaport on social media for the past three months for signing Aldridge. James Harden and others stepped in, but Aldridge and Durant are both Texas alumni who missed their varsity teammate by a season.
“You listen to the teams and listen to the players tell you what they want, and Brooklyn immediately made it known that they were very interested,” said Aldridge. “KD hit me quickly and told me to come over here. He was just waiting, weighing my options, and then I ended up coming here. It’s a great team and I really think I can help.
The Nets are more than a “very good team”. They have the best Eastern Conference championship chances after adding Aldridge and Blake Griffin after their contracts were bought out by the Spurs and Pistons, respectively. Now it’s up to Coach Steve Nash to juggle egos.
Defensive center DeAndre Jordan has started 35 of 45 games this season. He was off the bench last season until the Nets fired coach Kenny Atkinson, and interim coach Jacque Vaughn immediately passed Jordan past Jarrett Allen. Aldridge’s career resume is very different from that of 2017 first-round pick Allen, who has since been traded.
“I feel like I’m helping fill the void of having a taller ‘5’ man who can score and play defense,” Aldridge said. “DJ is great and he brings great value to the team, but I think I fill a void to be able to be more offensive in the game, to be able to take the 3.”
Aldridge won’t play against the Rockets on Wednesday and his start date will depend on his conditioning needs. The Nets could also be without Landry Shamet (questionable with a sprained right ankle), but will have forward Alize Johnson on his second 10-day contract after having a 23-point, 15-rebound game last week.
The 6-foot-11 Aldridge has achieved 88 of their 209 3-pointers since the start of last season, shooting 37.9 percent from behind the arc as their game transformed.
“It’s, I think, such a precious piece to us as his midrange shot,” Nash said. “He’s a very competent 3-point shooter and that clears the ground and opens us up to more valuable opportunities at the rim or the 3 wide open.
“His sacrifice, he understands that it’s a different role and a different team, a different way of playing. I want him to find that natural balance between the way he’s played traditionally and the way we play so he’s comfortable – and at the same time effective in helping our team improve.
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