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A22 sports
Tuesday 17 OcTOber 2017
AP Source: Spurs, Aldridge agree on extension

By JON KRAWCZYNSKI in free agency to try to ex-
AP Basketball Writer tend the team’s window for
LaMarcus Aldridge and the competing in the Western
San Antonio Spurs have at Conference.
times seemed an ill-fitting He came from Portland,
pair, with a player who where he had spent years
spent nine years in another as the No. 1 option for the
franchise before landing Trail Blazers, a formidable
with Gregg Popovich not low-post presence with a
always looking comfort- strong mid-range game. Al-
able in the NBA’s most well- dridge was an All-Star in his
established system. first season in San Antonio,
The kinks the two sides but his individual numbers
have been trying to work declined significantly. That
through had league ob- was to be expected in San
servers believing Aldridge Antonio’s system, which
might not be long for San emphasizes ball movement
Antonio. Just as they have and tries to limit minutes to
for more than 20 years, the keep veterans fresh for the
Spurs care little about what postseason.
others think. Last year, Aldridge aver-
Aldridge and the Spurs aged 17.3 points and 7.3
reached agreement on rebounds per game, both
a three-year extension on career lows. But the Spurs
Monday that ensures the won 61 games and ad-
five-time All-Star will be un- This Oct. 13, 2017, file photo shows San Antonio Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) looking to vanced to the Western
der contract through the drive around Houston Rockets forward PJ Tucker (4) in the first half of an NBA preseason basketball Conference finals, where
2020-21 season. The agree- game in Houston. they were swept by the
ment involves Aldridge ex- Golden State Warriors after
ercising the 2018-19 player tacked on to the deal, a When the Spurs beat out ing and developing its stars. Leonard injured his ankle in
option on the original four- person with knowledge of the Suns, Lakers and sever- With Tim Duncan near- Game 1. The 32-year-old Al-
year max deal he signed the agreement told The As- al other suitors for Aldridge ing retirement and Kawhi dridge and Popovich met
with the Spurs in 2015. sociated Press. two summers ago, it was Leonard emerging as the this fall to try to find ways to
He then will get another ESPN first reported the a departure from the fran- team’s next focal point, the make him feel more com-
two years and $50 million agreement. chise’s long history of draft- Spurs splurged for Aldridge fortable and effective. q
Welcome Rock odds are stacked even

higher against the guards.
The last rookie guard to
Continued from Page 17 be a big part of a Boston make the game was Mi-
team that believes it can chael Jordan in 1985, and
But I’m going in there with compete for a title, and the last rookie point guard
an open mind, ready to No. 9 pick Dennis Smith Jr. was Isiah Thomas in 1982.
learn, ready to get better — an absolute freak of an SCORING COMES LATER
and I’m looking forward to athlete, even by NBA stan- Since 2000, only seven
the challenge.” His father, dards — is already being rookies have averaged
LaVar Ball, has generated mentioned as a star of the 20 points per game. They
plenty of headlines with his future in Dallas and a le- were Blake Griffin (22.5),
sometimes over-the-top gitimate rookie of the year Carmelo Anthony (21.0),
remarks, plus has faced candidate this season. LeBron James (20.9), Kevin
tons of criticism for things They won’t be asked to be Durant (20.3), Joel Embiid
like slapping a $495 price great right away. But this (20.2 last year, after he
tag on the infamous Big rookie class might have missed his first two sea-
Baller Brand shoe that was as much potential as any sons), Elton Brand (20.1)
released months before in years. Here’s some of and Tyreke Evans (20.1).
his son made his NBA de- what to know from the The learning curve can be
but. But Lonzo Ball speaks rookie perspective going steep, when considering
with humility, a calmness into the season: that stars of now like Isa-
that helped convince ALL-STAR CHANCES iah Thomas, Kevin Love,
the Lakers that he indeed Don’t expect to see many Marc Gasol and Al Horford
was the right pick to be freshmen on the floor in all averaged less than 12
the rebuilding team’s Los Angeles for the All-Star points as rookies. James
point guard of the present Game in February. Harden averaged 9.9, Mike
and future. “I’d like to just Here’s the last three rook- Conley 9.4, Kawhi Leonard
play,” Lonzo Ball said. ies to make an All-Star and Paul George were just
No. 1 pick Markelle Fultz team — Blake Griffin in under 8 points per game,
will be part of Philadel- 2011 (which was his sec- Giannis Antetokounmpo
phia’s young core that ond year in the NBA), Yao was at 6.8, Kyle Lowry and
the 76ers hope get them Ming in 2002 (after he was In this Sept. 30, 2017, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers guard Gordon Hayward didn’t
back in the Eastern Con- a pro in China before Lonzo Ball (2) drives during an NBA preseason basketball game even average 6 points and
against the Minnesota Timberwolves, in Anaheim, Calif.
ference playoff mix, No. 3 coming to the NBA) and Associated Press CJ McCollum barely aver-
pick Jayson Tatum should Tim Duncan in 1998. The aged 5.q