LaMarcus Aldridge to wear No. 12 with Bowen's blessings

[SpursFan86]

619189805935665153

[Chinook]

The way it should be.

[Mr. Body]

No! LaMarcus is supposed to retire his own number with us!

[RD2191]

Nice, good to see Bowen being a good sport.

[ducks]

be funny if spurs want to retire lma number to

[GooberNuts]

Class act :bobo

[NASpurs]

:lol Bruce is the man

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

LaMarcus not counting on retiring his number with the Spurs :lol

[Spurs9]

Excellent, time to order my jersey then.

[Dex]

Wait....you can do that?

I thought once a number got retired, it was...well...retired.

[jhfenton]

I hope in the end that we'll have two #12 jerseys hanging in the rafters. That would probably mean multiple titles with LMA.

[Das Texan]

Too bad AJ wasnt such a good sport when they gave his #6 to Manu back in the day.

[Mr. Body]

Wait....you can do that?

I thought once a number got retired, it was...well...retired.

No, there's precedent for this. I think the Yankees have also retired the same number twice, somehow.

[kobyz]

Is that the first time player wear retired number?

[south side spur]

be funny if spurs want to retire lma number to
They can just put both of their names on the jersey

[jsandiego]

Does this mean we can retire Dominique's #21 jersey now?

[boutons_deux]

Wait....you can do that?

I thought once a number got retired, it was...well...retired.

yep, hasn't that always been the understanding of "retiring a player's number"? whatever ...

[TEXICAN]

:cryThe class

[loveforthegame]

Respect. :tu

[hater]

Why can't there be 2 #12 hanging from the rafters

Lol you ppl

[Spurminator]

I mean that's cool, but it sort of devalues the retired jersey concept a bit, no?

[BatManu20]

Good on him. Pure class. Makes me think he won't have his jersey retired here though (if he earns it first, of course)

[milkyway21]

12. :toast

[Mr. Body]

LaMarcus Aldridge leads us to five championships in a row and then what? AND THEN WHAT?

[Obstructed_View]

Steve Largent gave up his number to a scrub that played less than a season with the Seahawks. ;)

[BatManu20]

Why can't there be 2 #12 hanging from the rafters

Lol you ppl

Surely that would be the first time there's ever been two different player's jerseys retired with the name # on then, no?

[cjw]

NY Rangers have number 9 retired twice. Adam Graves and Andy Bathgate both had it retired the same night (though Bathgate is about 35 years older). So not unprecedented.

[SpursFan86]

I mean that's cool, but it sort of devalues the retired jersey concept a bit, no?

I mean, he'll still always have his jersey hanging up in the rafters with his name on it.

[BillMc]

I mean that's cool, but it sort of devalues the retired jersey concept a bit, no?
Agree.

It was kind of Bruce to allow that, but still not quite right....

No one better wear 21 after Timmy!:ihit

[baseline bum]

Surely that would be the first time there's ever been two different player's jerseys retired with the name # on then, no?

The Yankees retired #8 twice, for Bill Dickey and Yogi Berra.

[manufan10]

619193534223118336

[BatManu20]

Y
The Yankees retired #8 twice, for Bill Dickey and Yogi Berra.

Good call. I don't have a problem with it anyways. Glad Bruce is being cool about it.

[BatManu20]

619193534223118336

GOAT franchise.

[DPG21920]

Never understood retiring a number. Hang the name - same honor IMO. Cool of Bruce though

[024]

Never understood retiring a number. Hang the name - same honor IMO. Cool of Bruce though
Probably because it would just be weird watching another player wear #21 on the Spurs or #23 on the Bulls.

I don't know why Aldridge can't just switch numbers. It's just a number... until it's retired. Either way, I won't think too much about it.

[NASpurs]

619193534223118336

I forgot AD even existed. I miss the Statue of Liberty dunk of his :lol

[cutewizard]

619193534223118336


:lobt2:

[Obstructed_View]

The Heat retired the number of a player who never played for them, forcing Lebron to change his number when he went there. That's pretty embarrassing.

[BillMc]

People who deserve standing ovations at the beginning of first home game for making this possible:

Tim Duncan, David West, Bruce Bowen...

[timtonymanu]

My nigga Bruce Bowen.

[cantthinkofanything]

Man, I wish Parker had #12.

[szkorhetz]

Pure fucking class.

[Spurminator]

The Heat retired the number of a player who never played for them, forcing Lebron to change his number when he went there. That's pretty embarrassing.

Eh, Lebron should've picked a different number to begin with. But yeah the Heat retiring Jordan's number was baffling. Now it's forever a reminder of the fact that their franchise got so shitty they had to do a Jordan jersey retirement stunt to fill seats for a night.

[SupremeGuy]

That's pretty boss, tbh. Thanks Bowen. :toast

:flag:

So much class. :cry

[jag]

Eh, Lebron should've picked a different number to begin with. But yeah the Heat retiring Jordan's number was baffling. Now it's forever a reminder of the fact that their franchise got so shitty they had to do a Jordan jersey retirement stunt to fill seats for a night.

The Suns should retire Duncan's number.

[Robz4000]

:cry so much class :cry

[Spurminator]

The Suns should retire Duncan's number.

I'd prefer a reverse-retirement for them... Force all of their players to wear #12.

[crc21209]

Damn....thats awesome of Bruce....:tu

[Richie]

I don't like it. Even if Bowen offered I'd have liked to have seen the Spurs refuse, feels wrong somehow.

I'd feel even worse if it was Aldridge or the Front Office who proposed the idea to Bowen. At least if it came from Bruce I can understand it

[Shipupi]

I don't like it. Even if Bowen offered I'd have liked to have seen the Spurs refuse, feels wrong somehow.

I'd feel even worse if it was Aldridge or the Front Office who proposed the idea to Bowen. At least if it came from Bruce I can understand it

According to the article it was actually the FO idea to call Bruce and ask him first. Maybe LMA can still refuse it? Now that would be class

[ace3g]

This is either the greatest news ever or worst, depending on which graphic designer you speak to...

[DrunkTXLabrat]

LaMarcus not counting on retiring his number with the Spurs :lol

[z0sa]

We can just retire two numbers twelves.

[JR3]

Our franchise does whatever the hell they want to do! Like a boss!

[urunobili]

Too bad AJ wasnt such a good sport when they gave his #6 to Manu back in the day.

[el contusione]

Class act by a classy spur.:bobo

[Spur|n|Austin]

Pretty cool to see that notification on my phone - so #classy :cry

[Wu36]

Didn't Jordan get fined for switching back to 23 after it was retired?

[SpursBig3s]

Have they already done the press conference announcing Aldridge and West? If not, where can I watch it?

[Gervin44Silas13]

With Bowen’s blessing, Spurs to give No. 12 to AldridgePosted on July 9, 2015 | By Jeff McDonald (http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursnation/author/jmcdonald/)



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Break out those mothballed No. 12 jerseys, Spurs fans.
LaMarcus Aldridge is coming to town – and he’s getting to keep his old number.
With the blessing of its previous owner, Bruce Bowen’s No. 12 is coming out of retirement so that the Spurs’ latest All-Star addition can don his preferred digits.
“You want LaMarcus to feel part of the family,” Bowen told the Express-News. “If I can have a hand in that, shoot, why not? I don’t play anymore.”
Consider it a “Welcome to San Antonio” gift for Aldridge.
Save for two years at the University of Texas spent in No. 23, Aldridge has worn No. 12 every season of his basketball life. That includes all nine of his NBA seasons in Portland.
Though it wasn’t exactly a sticking point in free agency negotiations, Aldridge – a four-time All-Star — wondered if he might be able to keep his old number in San Antonio.
There was one problem. The Spurs retired the No. 12 three years ago to honor Bowen, the starting small forward on NBA championship teams in 2003, 2005 and 2007.
Not long after Aldridge agreed to a four-year deal worth more than $80 million to join the Spurs last week, general manager R.C. Buford phoned Bowen to ask about bequeathing the number to the team’s new prize.
The 44-year-old Bowen, who last played in 2009, agreed immediately.
“I hope it helps (Aldridge) feel comfortable,” Bowen said. “If he’s comfortable, the sky’s the limit for him here. It’s one less thing he has to worry about.”

[DJR210]

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=250732&page=2&p=8107479#post8107479

[RD2191]

You're just asking for it today, tbh.

[Gervin44Silas13]

lol fuck it!!!

[mudyez]

I love it, but what if LMA's number 12 gets retired too?

[Mikeanaro]

Great, now LMA can focus on winning.

[spursistan]

With all due respect to both, Bowen and Avery Johnson jerzeys should have never been retired to begin with..Spurs have overdone it in that part..

[RD2191]

With all due respect to both, Bowen and Avery Johnson jerzeys should have never been retired to begin with..Spurs have overdone it in that part..
I agree, way too many retired numbers imo.

[Cowboys_Wear_Spurs]

People who deserve standing ovations at the beginning of first home game for making this possible:

Tim Duncan, David West, Bruce Bowen...

You forgot Kawhi for foregoing a year without having a long-term contract in place when he could have force the Spurs to sign him to a Max deal last year.

[szkorhetz]

Have they already done the press conference announcing Aldridge and West? If not, where can I watch it?

Mark your ��
We’ll be LIVE-STREAMING tomorrow's press conference with LaMarcus Aldridge on spurs.com (http://spurs.com/)! Coverage starts at 11:45/c

[BillMc]

You forgot Kawhi for foregoing a year without having a long-term contract in place when he could have force the Spurs to sign him to a Max deal last year.

Good point.

[callo1]

I mean that's cool, but it sort of devalues the retired jersey concept a bit, no?

Actually, I think it speaks volumes to the reason the jersey is in the rafters in the first place tbqh. Fans in SA have learned over the years to appreciate the selflessness of actions such as TD and Manu this year, as well as the Admiral in the past. Pop always speaks about the Spurs culture being in part about adding players to the roster who have "gotten over themselves".

Bruce allowing LaMarcus to use his number epitomizes the Spurs way.

DWest, as some have already mentioned, will be in instant fan favorite because he fits in with the Spurs mantra perfectly.

[Dex]

With all due respect to both, Bowen and Avery Johnson jerzeys should have never been retired to begin with..Spurs have overdone it in that part..

Bruce was an integral part to 3 titles and was a true Spur through and through. If anything, he deserved it more than Elliott.

AJ on the other hand...well, he hit that one shot that one time.

[Rev Hill]

Nice of Bruce but it shouldn't be done. If a number is retired it's retired. Can you imagine someone wearing #44 out there this year? Not that Bruce is close to Ice, but the significance of a retired jersey is reduced. Hoping LaMarcus didn't cry for this, but also can't imagine the Spurs asking Bruce without a request first. Weird. Whatever.

[callo1]

While that may be easily argued about Avery, with Bruce, I totally disagree. Each night Bruce laced them up, he had to take on the other teams best offensive perimeter player, and he did a marvelous job. Bruce was robbed of a defensive player of the year arguably twice...once to a player who gained fame with the "fear the fro" campaign, and once to a knucklehead playing in Indiana that always brought attention to himself and later changed his last name.

[Avitus1]

Class act. Good to see Bowen ushering in the new era.

[spursistan]

Bruce was an integral part to 3 titles and was a true Spur through and through. If anything, he deserved it more than Elliott.

AJ on the other hand...well, he hit that one shot that one time.
So are you going to be ok with retiring Danny Green jersey too if he wins second chip with us as it is looking like he will be a long term Spur? IMO, i wouldn't open it up for role players, even extraordinaire ones, it would get ridiculous ..As of now the only who is looking one like he will rightfully join TD/Manu/Parker in getting they number retired is Kawhi ..

[K...]

They really need a two tier system for role players like Bruce, Avery, Horry. And another tier for primaries like the big three and Gervin. First tier gets numbers retired, second doesn't

[K...]

So are you going to be ok with retiring Danny Green jersey too if he wins second chip with us as it is looking like he will be a long term Spur? IMO, i wouldn't open it up for role players, even extraordinaire ones, it would get ridiculous ..As of now the only who is looking one like he will rightfully join TD/Manu/Parker in getting they number retired is Kawhi ..

I got no problem with retiring green after he signed that sweet contract.

[davidbowie]

LMA should decline and get a new one

[Darkwaters]

Wait....you can do that?

I thought once a number got retired, it was...well...retired.

That never stopped the Jordan's and Favre's of the world!

[Dex]

So are you going to be ok with retiring Danny Green jersey too if he wins second chip with us as it is looking like he will be a long term Spur? IMO, i wouldn't open it up for role players, even extraordinaire ones, it would get ridiculous ..As of now the only who is looking one like he will rightfully join TD/Manu/Parker in getting they number retired is Kawhi ..

Built by the Spurs....NBA Finals three-point record....took huge discount deal to allow Spurs to bring in LMA...

Yeah, if he starts on another title team and stays a Spur for life, I say throw Verde up there.

[timvp]

Bowen still chipping in :tu

If I was Aldridge, I'd probably want a different number. Then again, if he has a lot of custom items with the number 12 on it, this is a way to save a few bucks. All good.

[BillMc]

And our front line now looks like "21 12" which is good for all Rush fans (like Kawhi apparently).

[BatManu20]

With all due respect to both, Bowen and Avery Johnson jerzeys should have never been retired to begin with..Spurs have overdone it in that part..


http://i57.tinypic.com/51yedu.jpg

[Obi Juan Kenobi]

And our front line now looks like "21 12" which is good for all Rush fans (like Kawhi apparently).

Pure gold... :clap

[callo1]

LMA should decline and get a new one

Naw, wearing #12 will help LaMarcus to channel his inner Bruce and play the defense the Spurs need him to play to help bring another title to SA.

[hooperflash]

We just need a Ring of Honor, ala Dallas Cowboys. The difference is that the ring of honor should be for role players and the retired jerseys are hung in the rafters for the best players.

#88 has been worn by a couple of greats and now Dez Bryant , who I would hope joins them eventually as a great in Cowboys / NFL history.

[ceperez]

LMA should decline and get a new one

I agree.... so far I really don't like his prima dona attitude.

[lefty]

The Heat retired the number of a player who never played for them, forcing Lebron to change his number when he went there. That's pretty embarrassing.

Not to mention that MJ raped them every single time

[Richie]

So are you going to be ok with retiring Danny Green jersey too if he wins second chip with us as it is looking like he will be a long term Spur? IMO, i wouldn't open it up for role players, even extraordinaire ones, it would get ridiculous ..As of now the only who is looking one like he will rightfully join TD/Manu/Parker in getting they number retired is Kawhi ..

If we win 2 more 'chips with Danny I have no problem with the idea of retiring his number.

[clubalien]

why is bowens number retired but not manus is it because manu came out of retirement to play this year.

[manufan10]

I agree.... so far I really don't like his prima dona attitude.

:rolleyes

[Richie]

Also lets be honest, we could go through a championship drought and not retire a players number for decades. Look at the bucks, retired a bunch of players from their '71 championship team and others from the 70s, haven't had a retired number since Moncrief in '89.

[Despot]

You all are gonna be pissed when Pop retires Bonners jersey...

[Spursone]

[QUOTE=Dex;8108284]Bruce was an integral part to 3 titles and was a true Spur through and through.

That lockdown defense the Spurs were known for was the core of Bowens role. Remember those boring low scoring games. Defense wins!

[TXstbobcat]

Classy move Bruce!!!!!! :toast

[YGWHI]

LMA should decline and get a new one
Agreed. He signs with a new team and doesn't respect the players who helped to win titles and build a winning franchise? Bruce won 3 rings playing for the Spurs, LMA just can dream with that.
That was unclassy for him.

[Spur|n|Austin]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CJfzn4KWgAA5Bt9.jpg:large

[DMX7]

I love Bruce! Love him! but I don't agree with his jersey being retired to begin with.

[Spur|n|Austin]

I love Bruce! Love him! but I don't agree with his jersey being retired to begin with.

Love him too, and agree with it being retired.

He was a vital part of 3 of those banners we have hanging @ the ATTC, more so than Avery was a vital part of 99.

[DMX7]

Love him too, and agree with it being retired.

He was a vital part of 3 of those banners we have hanging @ the ATTC, more so than Avery was a vital part of 99.

AJ played longer for the Spurs, was a real face of the franchise along side D-Rob, and was the all-time assist leader when he retired. I think AJ's jersey number was more justified.

[Spur|n|Austin]

AJ played longer for the Spurs, was a real face of the franchise along side D-Rob, and was the all-time assist leader when he retired. I think AJ's jersey number was more justified.

I think both should be up there - I just feel like Bruce's D, and the defensive mindset it brought to the team all those years, brings true justification to have his jersey retired.

[Duncanforthree]

No problem with this.

Classy move by Bruce,to be honest.

[Das Texan]

AJ played longer for the Spurs, was a real face of the franchise along side D-Rob, and was the all-time assist leader when he retired. I think AJ's jersey number was more justified.

AJ was only the face of the franchise becuase all the other jokers McCombs brought in alongside D-Rob were total trash by and large.

Notice that AJ is so far removed from this franchise now and thats not coincidence.

[hyhy]

For a basketball player, alot of his confidence comes with whether he is feeling lucky. Thats why there is the concept of the "hot hand", and being on fire. And to many players, their jersey number is their lucky number. This is especially so for a mid-range shooter like LMA, where if he feels comfortable and "lucky" with his number 12, he plays better. Mostly this is mental, but at a stage like the NBA, basketball is all about mental confidence. If unretiring a number can boost his confidence and make him feel more comfortable and at home, why not?

[Kawhitstorm]

When Kawhi is standing in the middle w/ LMA to his right & Tim to his left their jersey numbers read 1-2-2-2-1 from both sides! Riddle solved: CIA Pop sending Kawhi subliminal messages that he has to lead the troops & that Tim/LMA are his wingmen! :pop:

[sandman]

AJ played longer for the Spurs, was a real face of the franchise along side D-Rob, and was the all-time assist leader when he retired. I think AJ's jersey number was more justified.

AJ's "legacy" is so romanticized. He was cut twice by the Spurs and bounced around the NBA before being the starter for 7 seasons. He was not all-anything during that time, unless you count coat-tailing and loud-mouthing. I hate the fact that the Spurs caved into whatever pressures were out there to retire his number. The ONE thing he is known for is hitting a game-winning shot in the Final where the Spurs were already up 3-1. But AJ "won the Championships for the Spurs". Christ...

[DMX7]

But AJ "won the Championships for the Spurs". Christ...

Strawman... Christ.

[Chillen]

So there could be two number "12" jerseys in the rafters one day, no big deal. Bowen allowed it, the one number that isn't ever being unretired is "21" when that time comes unfortunately. Aldridge likes his "12" jersey number, let him have it.

[Chillen]

No problem with this.

Classy move by Bruce,to be honest.

yes, absolutely. Some players are just to attached to their numbers to change it.

[K...]

AJ's "legacy" is so romanticized. He was cut twice by the Spurs and bounced around the NBA before being the starter for 7 seasons. He was not all-anything during that time, unless you count coat-tailing and loud-mouthing. I hate the fact that the Spurs caved into whatever pressures were out there to retire his number. The ONE thing he is known for is hitting a game-winning shot in the Final where the Spurs were already up 3-1. But AJ "won the Championships for the Spurs". Christ...

We'll move all his stuff to Alabama in a bit. Nbd

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Bruce is gracious, but I think his number should be in the rafters. It was a Big 4 through the 3 in 5 years championships.

[Skull-1]

Too bad AJ wasnt such a good sport when they gave his #6 to Manu back in the day.

No way. Manu wouldn't be Manu without #20. Frankly, I can't think of any other favour #20 in the NBA.

Bruce is classy to give his okay but I don't like it.

[Skull-1]

Bruce is gracious, but I think his number should be in the rafters. It was a Big 4 through the 3 in 5 years championships.


You can say that again. Without Bruce we do NOT win those three titles.

[Doc_Holiday]

It's just a number. Doesn't taint Bowen at all....

[spurs1990]

44 Gervin
00 Moore
13 Silas
50 Robinson
32 Elliott
6 Johnson
12 Bowen
21 Duncan
20 Ginobili
9 Parker

Yeah that's way too many jerseys. Only three truly great players on that list.

[exstatic]

44 Gervin
00 Moore
13 Silas
50 Robinson
32 Elliott
6 Johnson
12 Bowen
21 Duncan
20 Ginobili
9 Parker

Yeah that's way too many jerseys. Only three truly great players on that list.


Good thing it's not up to you.