LaMarcus Aldridge | Ep 212 | ALL THE SMOKE Full Episode | SHOWTIME BASKETBALL
Dec 28, 2023
auto_awesome
LaMarcus Aldridge, 16-year NBA vet and 7x all-star, talks about his long career, including playing with Brandon Roy & Greg Oden in Portland, his run with Kawhi in San Antonio, his stint in Brooklyn, and his scary heart condition. He also discusses why Kawhi left the Spurs and current day NBA.
Perseverance and the support of teammates played a crucial role in the guest's NBA career despite facing health scares and personal loss.
Teammate Zach Randolph's tough and competitive nature pushed the guest to develop physically and mentally as a player.
Finding his role and gaining consistent playing time was a challenge for the guest, but he persevered and made the most of his chances.
The guest's drive to prove others wrong fueled their determination to succeed, using doubt as motivation to prove their critics mistaken.
Deep dives
Overcoming Adversity: Rising through Challenges
Despite facing health scares and the loss of his mother, the podcast guest persevered and found success in his NBA career. He credits the support of his coach and teammates, like Brandon Roy, for helping him navigate these difficult times.
Learning from Mentors: Zebo as a Mentor
The guest shares how his teammate, Zach Randolph, pushed him in practice, helping him develop physically and mentally as a player. He credits Zebo's tough and competitive nature for his own growth and improvement on the court.
The Challenge of Finding Role on the Team
Due to the team's roster and dynamics, the guest faced challenges in finding his role and gaining consistent playing time. He shares how he had to navigate the ups and downs of not always getting the opportunity to shine, but ultimately persevered and made the most of his chances.
Building Chemistry and Learning from Veterans
The guest reflects on the early days of his NBA journey, including building chemistry with his teammates and learning from veterans like Brandon Roy. He shares moments of personal growth and how he developed a close bond with Brandon Roy through their shared experiences on and off the court.
Proving doubters wrong fuels determination
The podcast episode explores the motivation behind proving others wrong. The speaker shares how being labeled as a project and not being considered good enough early in their career fueled their determination to prove everyone wrong. The individual speaks about having a list of people who doubted them and how they were determined to show them that they were mistaken. This drive to prove others wrong became their main focus and helped them succeed.
The importance of chemistry and camaraderie in a team
The podcast episode emphasizes the significance of chemistry and camaraderie in a team. The speaker discusses their experience playing in a team that had a strong sense of unity and how it contributed to their success. They mention specific teams, such as the Portland Trail Blazers and how their camaraderie stood out. The speaker highlights the positive impact of having players who genuinely cared and supported each other, creating a winning environment fueled by trust and chemistry.
Balancing living in the present and saving for the future
The podcast episode touches on the importance of finding a balance between enjoying the present and saving for the future. The speaker shares advice on financial matters and stresses the significance of savings. However, they also emphasize the importance of living a little and treating oneself, especially considering the unpredictable nature of careers in professional sports. The speaker advises finding a balance between saving and enjoying the fruits of one's labor, stressing the need to live a fulfilling life while still planning for the future.
16-year NBA vet and 7x all-star, LaMarcus Aldridge, chops it up with Matt & Stak on the latest episode of ALL THE SMOKE. Aldridge talks about his long career, including his time playing with Brandon Roy & Greg Oden in Portland, his run with Kawhi in San Antonio, and his stint in Brooklyn. He opens up about his scary heart condition that almost ended his career, explains why Kawhi left the Spurs, talks current day NBA and much more!
