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LaMarcus Nurae Aldridge is an American former professional basketball player. He was selected second overall in the 2006 NBA draft and played for Portland, San Antonio, and Brooklyn. Aldridge retired from basketball for the second time in March 2023, citing health concerns and a desire to focus on his family. He previously retired briefly in 2021 due to an irregular heartbeat but returned to the Brooklyn Nets after receiving medical clearance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Retirement Date | March 31, 2023 |
| Reason for Retirement | Health concerns, specifically an irregular heartbeat |
| Teams | Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, Brooklyn Nets |
| Achievements | 7-time NBA All-Star, 5-time All-NBA, 20,000 career points |
| First Retirement | April 2021 due to Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome |
| Comeback | September 2021 with the Brooklyn Nets |
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What You'll Learn
LaMarcus Aldridge's career
LaMarcus Nurae Aldridge, born on July 19, 1985, is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for two seasons with the Texas Longhorns before declaring for the 2004 NBA draft. However, he later withdrew his name and continued playing for the Longhorns.
In 2006, after his second year with the Longhorns, Aldridge announced he would enter the NBA draft. He was selected second overall in the 2006 NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls but was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. Aldridge spent nine seasons with the Trail Blazers, becoming one of the NBA's top double-double threats and helping the team reach perennial postseason contention. During his time with the Trail Blazers, he was named an All-Star for the second time in his career and averaged impressive statistics, including 21.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game.
In 2015, Aldridge signed a four-year, $80 million contract with the San Antonio Spurs as a free agent. He spent five seasons with the Spurs, making three more All-Star appearances and helping the team to two 60-win seasons and a Western Conference finals berth in 2016-17. In March 2021, he signed with the Brooklyn Nets after reaching a buyout agreement with the Spurs. However, he retired shortly after due to health concerns arising from an irregular heartbeat.
After receiving medical clearance, Aldridge returned to the Nets for the 2021-22 season. During this time, he reached 20,000 career points and continued to be a valuable contributor to the team. On March 31, 2023, Aldridge announced his retirement for the second time, bringing an end to his 16-season career in the NBA. Despite not winning a championship ring, Aldridge's career is considered Hall of Fame calibre, and he will be remembered as one of the Trail Blazers' all-time greats.
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Health concerns
LaMarcus Aldridge, a seven-time NBA All-Star, retired from basketball in March 2023 after 16 seasons. Aldridge's first retirement came in April 2021 when he was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat, which was later revealed to be Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a heart condition that can cause a rapid heartbeat.
Aldridge was medically cleared to return to the NBA in September 2021, signing a one-year, $2.6 million contract with the Brooklyn Nets. He had previously signed with the Nets in March 2021 after a buyout from the San Antonio Spurs, for whom he played from 2015.
In his second stint with the Nets, Aldridge averaged 12.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and a block per game. Despite his contributions, the Nets did not bring him back for the 2022-23 season, and no other offers came in.
Upon announcing his second retirement, Aldridge again cited health and family as his reasons for stepping away from the game: "For 15 years I’ve put basketball first, and now, it is time to put my health and my family first."
Aldridge's irregular heartbeat diagnosis in 2021 was not the first time he had experienced heart issues. He was first diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome as a rookie in 2007. At the time, this condition was considered a potential risk for his career, but Aldridge went on to have a successful NBA career, becoming one of the best players in his position.
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Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
LaMarcus Aldridge, a former professional basketball player, retired from the sport for the second time in March 2023, citing health concerns and a desire to prioritise his family. Aldridge's first retirement was in 2021, when he briefly stepped away from the game due to an irregular heartbeat. He returned to the sport after receiving medical clearance.
Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome is a condition that causes an abnormal, rapid heart rate due to an extra electrical connection in the heart. This extra pathway allows electrical signals to bypass the heart's usual route, forming a short circuit and causing the heart to beat very fast. WPW syndrome is typically congenital, but symptoms may not develop until later in life. While some individuals experience mild episodes of their heart racing, others may be asymptomatic. WPW syndrome is often diagnosed through an electrocardiogram (ECG) test, which records the heart's rhythm and electrical activity. Further tests, such as ambulatory ECG monitoring or an electrophysiologic study (EPS), may be conducted for confirmation.
WPW syndrome is one of the most common causes of rapid heart rate issues in infants and children, and it can sometimes be life-threatening, particularly when occurring alongside atrial fibrillation. However, treatment can eliminate this risk, and the condition is usually curable. The long-term treatment for WPW syndrome is catheter ablation, which involves inserting a catheter into the heart area to destroy the tissue causing the rapid heart rate. Open-heart surgery may also be an option, although it is typically only performed if the patient requires heart surgery for other reasons.
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NBA teams
LaMarcus Aldridge, the American former professional basketball player, retired from basketball in March 2023. Aldridge was selected second overall in the 2006 NBA draft, and played for several NBA teams during his 16-year career.
Portland Trail Blazers (2006-2015)
After being drafted by the Chicago Bulls, Aldridge's rights were traded to the Portland Trail Blazers. He spent nine seasons with the Trail Blazers, emerging as one of the NBA's top double-threats and helping the team reach perennial postseason contention in the West. During his time with the Trail Blazers, Aldridge earned four All-Star appearances and was named an All-NBA Third Team member in 2015.
San Antonio Spurs (2015-2021)
In 2015, Aldridge signed a four-year, $80 million contract with the San Antonio Spurs as a free agent. He spent five seasons with the Spurs, helping them achieve two 60-win seasons and a Western Conference finals berth in 2016-2017. During his time with the Spurs, Aldridge garnered three more All-Star nods.
Brooklyn Nets (2021, 2021-2022)
In March 2021, Aldridge signed with the Brooklyn Nets after reaching a buyout agreement with the Spurs. However, he retired after just two weeks with the team due to health concerns arising from an irregular heartbeat. Aldridge received medical clearance to return to the Nets the following season, playing with them during the 2021-2022 season.
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Legacy
LaMarcus Aldridge, the seven-time NBA All-Star, retired after 16 seasons in the NBA. Aldridge was selected second overall in the 2006 NBA draft and played for Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, and Brooklyn Nets.
Aldridge is widely known for his signature fadeaway jump shot. He has been selected to five All-NBA teams and is a seven-time NBA All-Star. He was also named a reserve on the Western Conference All-Star team in 2012 and was named an All-Star for the second time in his career in 2013. In 2015, Aldridge signed a four-year, $80 million contract with the San Antonio Spurs. He made his debut for the Spurs in the team's season opener on October 28.
Aldridge's legacy is that of a respected veteran and one of the NBA's top double-threats. He is the franchise leader in rebounds for the Trail Blazers and ranks third in scoring. He became the face of the franchise after Brandon Roy's departure and earned four All-Star appearances during his time with the team. Aldridge's numbers dropped off with the Spurs, but he still averaged 19.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game through 1,076 career games.
Aldridge first retired in 2021 due to an irregular heartbeat and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a condition he was diagnosed with as a rookie in 2007. He returned to the Nets the following season after receiving medical clearance. On March 31, 2023, Aldridge announced his retirement for the second time, citing health concerns and the desire to prioritise his family.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, LaMarcus Aldridge retired from basketball on March 31, 2023.
LaMarcus Aldridge retired due to health concerns. He was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a condition that can cause a rapid heartbeat.
No, the first time Aldridge announced his retirement was during the 2020-21 season. However, he returned to playing after receiving medical clearance.
LaMarcus Aldridge played for the Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, and Brooklyn Nets.
LaMarcus Aldridge was a seven-time NBA All-Star and a five-time All-NBA player. He was one of the faces of the Portland Trail Blazers and is considered a Hall of Fame-calibre player.
