The San Antonio Spurs managed to snatch LaMarcus Aldridge this summer, allowing them to add another talented player into their already strong roster. The move will also let Aldridge play alongside Tim Duncan and form one of the best frontcourts in the upcoming season.
Signing the 30-year-old power forward was the easy part. What comes after is harder; it will be interesting to see if Aldridge will integrate well into the Spurs' efficient strategy and gameplay while maintaining their success. Tim Duncan, who has been part of the San Antonio Spurs since 1998, is a crucial part of that integration.
There were questions about how Aldridge and Duncan will work together. Sports enthusiasts noticed that both power forwards favor operating from the left block. The younger player is observed as a high-volume scorer who typically works from the high elbow down to the low block, which might overlap with Duncan's usual game.
At the age of 39, five-time NBA champion Tim Duncan has recognized that he is a bit too old to carry the team like he once did. He said he will do everything not to step onto the toes of his fellow players. In fact, Duncan mentioned that he will allow Aldridge to play his own game.
While speaking to Jared Zwerling of Bleacher Report, Duncan had this to say about how he will mesh with Aldridge once they meet on the court, "I'm not worried about him benefiting my game; I'm going to worry about me benefiting his. I'm going to let him do his thing and just see where I can fit in and help. I'm going to ride his coattails and I'm going to push him."
NBA fans have come to realize that trust is a significant part of any burgeoning team relationship. The stronger the trust and cooperation, the greater the success. That trust is evident in the long-time relationship between Duncan and coach Gregg Popovich, and it is widely credited to be the reason why they have been successful for so long.
The veteran Spurs power forward reflects on his legacy as he turns 40 next year. He mentioned that timing could mean everything. "I'm going to avoid thinking about [my age]. I've been getting slower, but I still think I'm getting a little better. I've been blessed that I've been playing for this long and have been healthy and part of winning teams. There's not really much more to ask for," Duncan further told Zwerling.
