Aldridge wearing #12

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Look, I'm ecstatic he's on the team and looking forward to the season but the fact the Spurs even asked Bowen if Aldridge could wear #12 is ridiculous.

Bowen will always and forever be #12, and I'm surprised this hasn't rubbed more Spur fans the wrong way.


Bizarre to retire a jersey only to let someone else wear it a few years later.

[baseline bum]

Remember the reaction when Manu wanted to wear #6?

http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/teamsites/images/legacy/spurs/ginobili_jersey.jpg

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Oh man, almost forgot about that good call :lol

[Mr. Body]

They should cut him.

[timtonymanu]

Well yeah, I had to change my Bowen avatar because of it.

[Richie]

If Bowen had offered first it would be fine, but the fact that the Spurs asked Bowen doesn't sit well.

[100%duncan]

The man himself doesnt give a shit

[PrimeMinister]

It's just gonna make LMA's jersey retirement a little odd

[spursistan]

Tbh, i didn't like Bowen jersey retired in the first place; and i don't like it now being unretired for another player to put on..Should have come from LMA himself to refuse wearing it and opt for different # .Then again Aldridge is still long way from being a "total Spur" when it comes to these type of gestures..

[Obstructed_View]

Just makes me love Bowen that much more. I'm a bit surprised the Spurs didn't just unretire his jersey instead of asking his permission.

[timtonymanu]

Did Bruce really care though? He seemed alright with it.

[Spur|n|Austin]

He'll be fine, and it will get re-retired once Aldridge's days as a Spur are done.

[Spurtacular]

If Bowen had offered first it would be fine, but the fact that the Spurs asked Bowen doesn't sit well.

[SPURt]

It'd be hilarious if Aldridge is so awful Bruce rescinds his offer! Well, that would only be funny if the Spurs still win a chip in spite of him being awful...

[SPURt]

http://www.unsportsmanlike-conduct.com/uploads/3/9/1/5/39153357/7999527_orig.jpg

[Mikeanaro]

Come on OP, what you did in the past hurt lots of players and no one is blaming you :p:

[SPURt]

https://lintvkxan.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/aldridge-introduced.jpg?w=512

[SpursFan86]

If Bruce Bowen is perfectly fine with it, I don't see why any of us should be so up in arms over it.

Besides, it's not like Bowen won't still have his jersey hanging up in the rafters.

[Vic Petro]

I agree and was a little disappointed Aldridge wanted it. That said, it's just a jersey number. It doesn't diminish Bowen.

[jhfenton]

Bowen's jersey is not coming down from the rafters. It doesn't affect the honor or status afforded to Bruce in any way. If, we can only hope, there are someday two #12 jerseys in the rafters, it will be nothing more than an interesting bit of trivia.

[b23]

Not a big deal, really. Bowen, for all he gave us, shouldn't have had his jersey retired in the first place in my opinion. Should be reserved for the franchise's all-time greats.

[timtonymanu]

Not a big deal, really. Bowen, for all he gave us, shouldn't have had his jersey retired in the first place in my opinion. Should be reserved for the franchise's all-time greats.

Fair enough. The standard was set pretty low when they retired Avery's number. :lol

[tp2021]

Not a big deal, really. Bowen, for all he gave us, shouldn't have had his jersey retired in the first place in my opinion. Should be reserved for the franchise's all-time greats.

Well they set the precedent with Avery Johnson as to how high the bar would be to earn a jersey retirement.

EDIT: ^^^ Damn you!!!

[UNT Eagles 2016]

Not a big deal, really. Bowen, for all he gave us, shouldn't have had his jersey retired in the first place in my opinion. Should be reserved for the franchise's all-time greats.
This. Bowen's and Johnson's should be taken down. Jersey retirements are not for role players

<edit> also Moore's. Moore's teams never won a damn thing

[Arcadian]

I'm a bit surprised the Spurs didn't just unretire his jersey instead of asking his permission.

:lol Seriously? That would have been a massive dick move...

[T_L_P]

If Bowen had offered first it would be fine, but the fact that the Spurs asked Bowen doesn't sit well.

Probably asked Tim to take another paycut before he offered to take one himself, too.

[timvp]

Even if Aldridge wanted 21 or 50, I'd take him. Hell, Aldridge could have demanded number 2! from the Coyote and I'd welcome him.

[b23]

Fair enough. The standard was set pretty low when they retired Avery's number. :lol

:lol at this rate, the Spurs will be like the Celtics in 25 years where players have to wear odd #'s because so many are retired.

[spursistan]

Even if Aldridge wanted 21 or 50, I'd take him. Hell, Aldridge could have demanded number 2! from the Coyote and I'd welcome him.
Joke aside, that means you would be taking an unmitigated asshole who is supremely deluded about his self-worth :lol Even Shaq had to go through many 30s number in his various stops so not to unretire the many 32s # in other teams..

[Mnky]

Dude wasn't even a career spur. What's the fuss. I don't know why 6 was retired either tbh.

[Kool Bob Love]

If this doesn't work out he'll be the most hated spur in franchise history.

[b23]

If this doesn't work out he'll be the most hated spur in franchise history.

I can't think of any other hated former Spurs players so he would likely win by default, but that's not saying much. It likely wouldn't have "worked out" without him regardless, so it was a no-brainer move for the Spurs.

[steeledl]

Lmao Bowen or AJ should have never got their numbers retired in the first place.

[spursistan]

I can't think of any other hated former Spurs players so he would likely win by default, but that's not saying much. It likely wouldn't have "worked out" without him regardless, so it was a no-brainer move for the Spurs.
uh,..Richard Jeffferson, hands down..

[phxspurfan]

If it helped us get him, we got him so who cares

[dafonearth]

I agree that it's bull that a player's gonna wear a number that was never supposed to be worn again; however, I'm pretty sure I'm not gonna care or remember this if Aldridge helps get us to championship #6.

[Darius Bieber]

http://www.unsportsmanlike-conduct.com/uploads/3/9/1/5/39153357/7999527_orig.jpg

WTF is Pop doing with a Vikings shirt on? :lol

[100%duncan]

Not a big deal, really. Bowen, for all he gave us, shouldn't have had his jersey retired in the first place in my opinion. Should be reserved for the franchise's all-time greats.

The fuck? Bowen was instrumental in our 3 championship runs.

[b23]

uh,..Richard Jeffferson, hands down..

I suppose, although I personally never hated RJ. I was more disappointed that the spurs gave him that ridiculous contract extension. He never should've received it in the first place. The fact that he was getting paid so much and did so little was the reason the fans resented him, not anything he did to the Spurs personally.

[b23]

The fuck? Bowen was instrumental in our 3 championship runs.

He absolutely was, and I'm not taking anything away from him, but that doesn't make him an all-time great. I'm talking about the Duncans, Robinsons, Gervins, Ginobilis, etc. The elite players that have dawned the black & silver. I think something as special and ceremonious as a retirement of a someone's jersey should be reserved for HOF players like that.

[Vic Petro]

Fuck Charles Smith.

[daledondale]

He absolutely was, and I'm not taking anything away from him, but that doesn't make him an all-time great. I'm talking about the Duncans, Robinsons, Gervins, Ginobilis, etc. The elite players that have dawned the black & silver. I think something as special and ceremonious as a retirement of a someone's jersey should be reserved for HOF players like that.
http://media.giphy.com/media/W9WSk4tEU1aJW/giphy.gif

[Sean Cagney]

I can't think of any other hated former Spurs players so he would likely win by default, but that's not saying much. It likely wouldn't have "worked out" without him regardless, so it was a no-brainer move for the Spurs.

RJ? I would say he is not well loved around here to say the least man.

[Sean Cagney]

He absolutely was, and I'm not taking anything away from him, but that doesn't make him an all-time great. I'm talking about the Duncans, Robinsons, Gervins, Ginobilis, etc. The elite players that have dawned the black & silver. I think something as special and ceremonious as a retirement of a someone's jersey should be reserved for HOF players like that.

Agreed.

[dbreiden83080]

Spurs retire too many jerseys anyway.. Bowen and AJ are nowhere near HOF level players, time was if you were in the rafters you were a HOF level player...

[JakeCuenca]

Not really a big deal, IMO.

But it does say something about Aldridge character. The more human thing would him declining since it's really just a number.

I don't really care about this though in general.

[baseline bum]

Joke aside, that means you would be taking an unmitigated asshole who is supremely deluded about his self-worth :lol Even Shaq had to go through many 30s number in his various stops so not to unretire the many 32s # in other teams..

Shaq's preferred number was actually 33
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/a7/6b/96/a76b969fe1fe500a7eb6538695525dc5.jpg
http://imgix.scout.com/142/1427561.jpg

But he couldn't wear it in most of his NBA stops because:

- Terry Catledge was already wearing it in Orlando
- It was Kareem's retired number in LA
- It was Mourning's old number in Miami, and Riley wasn't giving it away
- It was Alvan Adams' retired number in Phoenix
- It was Larry Bird's retired number in Boston

The only NBA team Shaq played on that had #33 available was Cleveland, and he took it.
http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Shaquille+O+Neal+LeBron+James+Cleveland+Cavaliers+ jbKGQ7qO7-El.jpg

[exstatic]

WTF is Pop doing with a Vikings shirt on? :lol

That was probably Bowen's intro presser in 2001. Former owner Red McCombs owned the Vikings at the time, I believe. He probably had Pop up to observe training camp, or something.

[timtonymanu]

:lol at this rate, the Spurs will be like the Celtics in 25 years where players have to wear odd #'s because so many are retired.

If they retire Bonner's # considering he's been here for 10 seasons now, it wouldn't surprise me at all.

[exstatic]

Shaq's preferred number was actually 33
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/a7/6b/96/a76b969fe1fe500a7eb6538695525dc5.jpg
http://imgix.scout.com/142/1427561.jpg

But he couldn't wear it in most of his NBA stops because:

- Terry Catledge was already wearing it in Orlando
- It was Kareem's retired number in LA
- It was Mourning's old number in Miami, and Riley wasn't giving it away
- It was Alvan Adams' retired number in Phoenix
- It was Larry Bird's retired number in Boston

The only NBA team Shaq played on that had #33 available was Cleveland, and he took it.
http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Shaquille+O+Neal+LeBron+James+Cleveland+Cavaliers+ jbKGQ7qO7-El.jpg

I remember that Terry Catledge offered to sell #33 to the bonus baby for like a million or so. :lol

[baseline bum]

I remember that Terry Catledge offered to sell #33 to the bonus baby for like a million or so. :lol

LOL

[Richie]

Spurs retire too many jerseys anyway.. Bowen and AJ are nowhere near HOF level players, time was if you were in the rafters you were a HOF level player...

I disagree. If a player is instrumental in winning multiple championships here, they deserve their number retired. I'd be happy to see Greens number up there if we win a couple more with him.

In reality once Timmy retires our championship days will be over, perhaps for decades, at which point there won't be many jerseys heading up there. The Bucks are a prime example, they retired a bunch of jerseys from the 70s when they were good but pretty much none in the past 30 years.

[capek]

The man himself doesnt give a shit

Exactly.

Threads like this are a great illustration of the problem with the internet. The fact that it gives people a place to complain about the meaningless shit they happen to care about, confuses them into thinking that that meaningless shit has significance.

[TheGreatYacht]

Even if Aldridge wanted 21 or 50, I'd take him. Hell, Aldridge could have demanded number 2! from the Coyote and I'd welcome him.

[TXstbobcat]

If Bruce is cool with it and it makes the biggest free-agent acquisition and spurs history happy then I'm OK with it

[SpursforSix]

uh,..Richard Jeffferson, hands down..

I don't know about that. Maybe recently. But Strickland would have caught way more hell if the Internet was around.

[Obi Juan Kenobi]

Exactly.

Threads like this are a great illustration of the problem with the internet. The fact that it gives people a place to complain about the meaningless shit they happen to care about, confuses them into thinking that that meaningless shit has significance.

[Obi Juan Kenobi]

Exactly.

Threads like this are a great illustration of the problem with the internet. The fact that it gives people a place to complain about the meaningless shit they happen to care about, confuses them into thinking that that meaningless shit has significance.

[Obstructed_View]

:lol Seriously? That would have been a massive dick move...

I was being sarcastic, but replacing him with Keith Bogans and shipping him out of town was kind of a dick move too.

[manufan10]

Remember the reaction when Manu wanted to wear #6?

http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/teamsites/images/legacy/spurs/ginobili_jersey.jpg

In retrospect, I'm glad that didn't happen. #20 seems to fit much better, imo.

[lmbebo]

Hope they create a sandwhich shop in the ATT center and put his jersey next to that.

[dg7md]

It's kinda weird, but the number means nothing. It was a little odd they retired Bowen's number anyway despite his impact on our team. The fact people haven't really been up in arms about it just suggests to me that Bowen's number shouldn't have been retired in the first place. I'm just glad we got Aldridge nonetheless.

[Dex]

As long as Duncan rings.

[SilverSpur]

Anyone know how Kawai ended up with #2 when his number was #15 at San Deigo St.?

[Brazil]

Remember the reaction when Manu wanted to wear #6?

http://i.cdn.turner.com/nba/nba/teamsites/images/legacy/spurs/ginobili_jersey.jpg

:lol good call tbh...

[timtonymanu]

Anyone know how Kawai ended up with #2 when his number was #15 at San Deigo St.?

There's a redhead player on the Spurs that has had that # for 10 seasons now.

[JakeCuenca]

Meh, bowen's number deserves retirement IMO. He's not among the top tier Spurs players like Manu, TD, Gervin, DROB, Parker and Leonard but he was instrumental in those runs.

Avery Johnson is joke though.

Here's a question for you guys, if the spurs win another ring maybe even multiple rings with Danny on the team..Should his jersey be retired too?

[Sean Cagney]

In retrospect, I'm glad that didn't happen. #20 seems to fit much better, imo.

Yep....

[Mnky]

WTF is Pop doing with a Vikings shirt on? :lol

He was probably trolling Duncan. Arnt they rivals with the bears? Duncan's team. :lol

[b23]

Why is Duncan a Bears fan? Mnky

[look_at_g_shred]

It's just a # .. Relax