Was Lamarcus Aldrige ever considered the Best Power Forward in the league at any point his career?

[Rusty]

Because I look at his game and think this dude always had the talent and skill to be the #1 PF in the league but he doesn't seem motivated to be the best sometimes

[Arcadian]

He had pretty stiff competition, so that's really not a big knock against him even if he never was the best at his position. He was definitely top 3 though.

[szkorhetz]

Yes.

[Chinook]

LMA is a borderline HoFer.

[EasyMoney]

Maybe the 14-15 season? He delayed surgery and went MVP mode in the 2nd half of the season

[daslicer]

The only guys you can say was better than LMA at his position from '17-'19 is Anthony Davis and Giannis. I would say in the '18-'19 season that LMA was better than Davis since he lead his team to the playoffs while Davis didn't.

[daslicer]

LMA is a borderline HoFer.

He'll get in. I have always have had a rule that if a player has made it to 6 or more all-star games then they are an HOFER. LMA has already gotten into 7 all-star games.

[R. DeMurre]

2015-'16 could be remembered as his best year, tbh. After being the most sought after free agent on the market he helped lead his new team to a 67 win season, and actually played better in the playoff loss to OKC than Kawhi. His advanced stats in that series were better than Durant and Westbrook too, but unfortunately age had finally caught up to the Big 3, and the Spurs couldn't hang with the younger Thunder.

[phxspurfan]

His best season in Portland (2014?) where he was an all star, he was probably 2nd to Kevin Love (since the previous year guys like Sir Charles were saying he was the best PF in the league. Also, IIRC, the Blazers faced the Spurs in the playoffs and he held his own against TD:

https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2014-nba-western-conference-semifinals-trail-blazers-vs-spurs.html

[cd98]

Yea, there were so many great power forwards during his era. He kind of came in at the tail end, but there were so many great ones that he didn't get noticed during his best years even though he was a dominant player.

[The Truth #6]

Was he ever better than Tim Duncan? That cuts out a lot of years. I’m going to guess no.

[gambit1990]

no.

[gilmor]

Was he ever better than Tim Duncan? That cuts out a lot of years. I’m going to guess no.




Duncan is possibly 3-4 times better than Aldridge

[TDMVPDPOY]

2015-'16 could be remembered as his best year, tbh. After being the most sought after free agent on the market he helped lead his new team to a 67 win season
the year spurs challenge the warriors for best record in the league, spurs gave up their own chase and allowed them that 70win and that 73 win....to reach that record only to lose to the cavs

[exstatic]

Was he ever better than Tim Duncan? That cuts out a lot of years. I’m going to guess no.

There were years later in TDs career when he was. Shit, LMA beasted his first year here playing WITH Tim.

[paperboy77]

Not sure of the year but he looked like the best vs Houston in the playoffs. This is during his Portland years. Hadn’t realized how unstoppable he can be when his jumpers are on.

[Thomas82]

Not sure of the year but he looked like the best vs Houston in the playoffs. This is during his Portland years. Hadn’t realized how unstoppable he can be when his jumpers are on.

Without looking it up, I believe that was the season before he signed with us.

[SpursDynasty85]

between 2012-2015 it was between him, Blake Griffin, and Kevin Love. I don't think anything was a consensus and all had legit arguments. All 3 were really good at this time and in their respective physical primes. Looking back I would probably take Aldridge knowing what I know now. He was just the more consistent offensive and defensive threat while Love and Griffin were ridiculous athletes. Love with the rebounding and Griffin with the alley oops.

[exstatic]

between 2012-2015 it was between him, Blake Griffin, and Kevin Love. I don't think anything was a consensus and all had legit arguments. All 3 were really good at this time and in their respective physical primes. Looking back I would probably take Aldridge knowing what I know now. He was just the more consistent offensive and defensive threat while Love and Griffin were ridiculous athletes. Love with the rebounding and Griffin with the alley oops.

LMA was the only defender in the bunch. Tips the scales to him, IMO.

[RC_Drunkford]

He was Top 5 in MVP voting once when he was on the Blazers.

[Dex]

Spent most of his career in the shadow of Timmy and Dirk.

Was probably Top 3 PF from '16-'18 depending upon who you ask.

[lefty]

Damn I forgot he and Tim were teammates at one point

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I remember him throwing up some big numbers against Timmy and the Spurs. I always likened it a bit to Amar'e Stoudemire with the Suns. He'd put up big numbers only to have Timmy beat him.

I was pretty psyched when he became a Spur. I think his legacy here would be different if he wasn't walking in Duncan's huge shadow.

[lefty]

I remember him throwing up some big numbers against Timmy and the Spurs. I always likened it a bit to Amar'e Stoudemire with the Suns. He'd put up big numbers only to have Timmy beat him.

I was pretty psyched when he became a Spur. I think his legacy here would be different if he wasn't walking in Duncan's huge shadow.
I think the proble is having a PF with another player who can't shoot 3s (DDR)
That's not going to work

LMA and Lillard was a well balanced duo

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I think the proble is having a PF with another player who can't shoot 3s (DDR)
That's not going to work

LMA and Lillard was a well balanced duo

True. It's just a disjointed unit. Murray and his inability to create or run the offense just magnified it this year.

[Dex]

True. It's just a disjointed unit. Murray and his inability to create or run the offense just magnified it this year.

Somehow we have become the opposite of the 2014 team.

Went from having a defensive PF with a PG who could score and run offense and a SG who could create and shoot threes....to an offensive PF with a PG who can't pass or shoot and a SG who is allergic to defense and the threeball. Oh, and our bench which can't defend and, for the most part, can't shoot.

[TD 21]

between 2012-2015 it was between him, Blake Griffin, and Kevin Love. I don't think anything was a consensus and all had legit arguments. All 3 were really good at this time and in their respective physical primes. Looking back I would probably take Aldridge knowing what I know now. He was just the more consistent offensive and defensive threat while Love and Griffin were ridiculous athletes. Love with the rebounding and Griffin with the alley oops.

They were generally regarded as better in terms of consensus rankings, though Aldridge was voted tied for 1st with Griffin, with 25% of the vote, for best PF in the '14-'15 GM survey.

https://www.nbadraft.net/forums/topic/2014-15-nba-gm-survey/

Peak: Love (athletically deficient)
Prime: Griffin
Longevity: Aldridge

He was always going age best though given that he wasn't athletically reliant and possessed measurements that would allow him to transition to C.



LMA was the only defender in the bunch. Tips the scales to him, IMO.

Griffin was probably better in space, but it's always difficult comparing C/hybrid bigs with true PF's. Griffin and Love didn't have the length to be adequate rim protectors and the latter didn't have the lateral quicks to defend in space.

[exstatic]

I remember him throwing up some big numbers against Timmy and the Spurs. I always likened it a bit to Amar'e Stoudemire with the Suns. He'd put up big numbers only to have Timmy beat him.

I was pretty psyched when he became a Spur. I think his legacy here would be different if he wasn't walking in Duncan's huge shadow.
He’s done some of his best work in silver and black. His best two FG% seasons were here, and his best defense was played here, IMO.

[daslicer]

I remember him throwing up some big numbers against Timmy and the Spurs. I always likened it a bit to Amar'e Stoudemire with the Suns. He'd put up big numbers only to have Timmy beat him.

I was pretty psyched when he became a Spur. I think his legacy here would be different if he wasn't walking in Duncan's huge shadow.

He got hated on a lot here when the Spurs were winning back to back 60 plus win seasons. I always thought that was stupid because without him the Spurs don't reach 60 wins like they did. As good as Kawhi is the Spurs are not winning 60 with just having Kawhi and a bunch of role players. I also think Kawhi screwed things up by pulling his shenanigans and bolting. If he stayed the Spurs would have won atleast 1 title with LMA/Kawhi combo. Had the Spurs won a title with that combo I think people here would look at LMA differently.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Somehow we have become the opposite of the 2014 team.

Went from having a defensive PF with a PG who could score and run offense and a SG who could create and shoot threes....to an offensive PF with a PG who can't pass or shoot and a SG who is allergic to defense and the threeball. Oh, and our bench which can't defend and, for the most part, can't shoot.

The Spurs created the blueprint for the modern game back in 2014, and for some reason we threw it in the trash. Even when Kawhi wanted to leave, the Spurs still had some pretty decent pieces to build around had they leveraged his trade for a couple of prospects who met requirements of the modern game, but now they have a group that is incredibly disjointed, and too many holes to fill to be competitive.

[TheCerebral1]

No. I'd say he could be considered one of in the top 3 at any time. But, not the best.

[DMC]

I don't think LMA is a HOFer. If he is then so is Antonio McDyess.

[exstatic]

I don't think LMA is a HOFer. If he is then so is Antonio McDyess.

McDyess had too many injuries to put up the career resume that LMA has. He’ll hit the 20K points mark this season. BBREF has him at about 50/50 in their tracker, but if he plays 3/4 more seasons, and hits maybe 24K points, he’ll probably get in.

[RC_Drunkford]

problem is Aldridge never played here with a good PG. His PGs were over the hill Tony Parker, 50 Mills, Dejounte Murray and Derrick White in his 1st NBA season which was the best PG he ever played with on the Spurs. Meanwhile Love played with Kyrie and LeBron, Blake with prime CP3

[rankingtear]

Him or Blake, Griffin is more reliant on Paul though being a rim rolling big. LA doesn't need a good pick and roll point guard just some sets to get him the ball in the post.

[exstatic]

problem is Aldridge never played here with a good PG. His PGs were over the hill Tony Parker, 50 Mills, Dejounte Murray and Derrick White in his 1st NBA season which was the best PG he ever played with on the Spurs. Meanwhile Love played with Kyrie and LeBron, Blake with prime CP3

I’ll take “who is Damien Lillard?” For 500, Alex...

[lefty]

I’ll take “who is Damien Lillard?” For 500, Alex...

Ok but what about Damian

[Seventyniner]

I’ll take “who is Damien Lillard?” For 500, Alex...

To be fair, the quote said "Aldridge never played here with a good PG." Still, Lillard is definitely on the level of Kyrie and CP3 so if that's your point then it is valid.

[ZeusWillJudge]

Shit, LMA beasted his first year here playing WITH Tim.


He was also better playing beside Damian Lillard. It's almost like he needs... nah.

Aldridge was never first team All-NBA. That selection is made real-time, and not in retrospect (like this thread), and it's not made solely by fans like the All Star selections were until recently. It's not infallible, but it's kind of hard making the case for him ever being the best in the league at his position when the All NBA selection panel put him on the third team three times, and second team two times. By comparison, TD was first team All-NBA something like 10 times.