LaMarcus Aldridge
I grew up in low-income areas and I've seen people take negative energy and just accept it. They give into and end up living a pretty rough life. At a young age, I just knew I wasn't going to give in because I didn't want to end up being one of those people in the neighborhood that didn't have anything and lived a hard life.
I've had to fight through a lot of adversity, but I just kept fighting.
My biggest thing I've learned is just putting time into getting ready. When we're young, you just go on the court and just hoop. But I think as you get older, it's more about, making sure everything is firing and making sure everything is ready to go and warmed up.
I feel like everything with me gets blown out of proportion. I think it's because I'm so quiet about things that people just run with anything they hear.
I'm probably one of the most misunderstood people in the league.
I don't like new environments. I don't like being around a lot of new people. It makes me uncomfortable.
I like my little shell. I like my little circle of three or four people that I'm close to. I think that comes off as bad to people that don't really know my personality.
I'm a private person; I'm pretty to myself.
I'm definitely not one to prolong things and drag it out, that's not really my personality.
I think every player wants to be wanted.
I want to be the best Blazer - ever.
I do love being at home. But when it's forced, it's a little bit different.
I feel like I've made some good memories in San Antonio. I feel like I'm in a really good family in San Antonio. They understand me. I understand them.
Man, I'm pretty spoiled in San Antonio. I don't do media every day.
When I was born, the umbilical cord came wrapped around my neck, so when I came out, I wasn't breathing.
I'm a fighter. So if you're going to doubt me or say that I can't do something, I'm going to prove to you I can do it.
I've always been a workout type guy. So if I'm feeling down or I'm not happy with something, I go to the gym and I get a shot of energy.
I've been playing NBA Live since I was little, and I won't lie, I always play with the team with the highest rating.
My first car was an '86 Honda Prelude. It was redone, so it had a new motor, new paint, rims... but it wasn't nearly as much as my Range Rover.
I love video games. I had a Sega Genesis and a Nintendo 64 growing up, and I've had every 'NBA Live' that has ever come out.
I really enjoy being out on the court and going through the grind and battling. That's something a video game can't do for you.
My coach, Robert Allen, helped me a lot. He had more influence on my growth as a player than anyone else.
When I was younger, I used to spend a lot of time either by myself or with my mom. But when I hit high school, she really became one of my close friends.
My long arms help me as I try to become more versatile.
I think my wingspan helps me out on defense, because I can cover a little more ground and block a few more shots.
I love Portland and I have so much history there and I knew it like the back of my hand, so the decision to leave was never easy.
I feel like, of course, Portland didn't want me to leave, but I feel like at the end of the day it's good to have a fresh start.
I've always had a very cordial relationship with Kobe.
I'm in the process of building a separate house behind my house, just for shoes. Like a little show room.
I'm from Texas.
I'm a mid-range guy and most teams give that up, but that's what I do.
You have to do your job and put your best foot forward and focus on what you have to do to win.
The key to win is playing defense.
As I get slower and older, I'm going to shoot more threes.
I've been told that I've shot the ball a lot better since I've been injured, so that's kind of weird.
I think since I've focussed on my form more my shot has been better.
It's an offensive foul if you go into the defender's body, but if I fade and a guy runs into my leg, it's a foul.
When I shoot, I'm square with the rim.
I think working so hard in Portland to earn the right to have it be my team and to have my own team over the years and try to play at a high level, that was hard-earned.
I want to win a ring, get better and try to learn.
I can see that when I talk, guys listen.
I feel like, I go out and play hard every day and I'm going to practice every day, I'm going to block shots.
I feel bad saying this but, I can't eat that because I'm on a diet. So, if I'm eating breakfast tacos, I'm not going to play well.
The issue you have with two competitive guys being brought up the same way is that you don't have one person who goes out of his way to make a relationship.
I knew I wasn't soft. I knew I could play on this level and I knew that being in the paint was just a physical position that I wasn't strong enough for. I wanted to get myself strong enough where I could be dominant down there.
Since I've gotten stronger, I can hold a guy off and get a rebound.
I see myself as a pretty mobile big man.
I think I play well getting up and down the court.
I miss playing basketball and the city of Portland and the Rose Garden.
When I got to the NBA, picking and popping came so natural for me.