LaMarcus Aldridge planning to host an exhibition match in Portland – NBA Update
We are 117 days into the NBA lockout and the differences between the NBA owners and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) have not been settled yet. The first two weeks of the regular season have already been cancelled
and if an understanding is not reached within a few days, the possibility of the whole season getting cancelled might become a reality.
With the players barred from using franchise facilities and arenas, this off-season has seen a host of exhibition games. Kevin Durant, the star of the Oklahoma City Thunder recently organized one such game at the Oklahoma City
and following the trend, Portland Trail Blazers forward, LaMarcus Aldridge recently made an announcement through twitter that he will be hosting an exhibition match to bring some joy to the faces of action deprived fans in Portland.
The Oregonian newspaper tried to contact him and his agent to ask about the particulars of the game, but their calls were not answered however later he tweeted that he will disclose all the details any day this week.
Last Sunday, after playing an exhibition game that was hosted by Durant, Aldridge hinted at the possibility of a Portland exhibition match and said he will try to approach all the dominant players in NBA.
In a tweet he said;
“What do y’all think about me having a basketball game in the city of Portland???’”
After a positive response from the fans, he decided to work on it and according to some reports the selection process of the venue is in its finals stages.
Aldridge, who was selected by the Chicago Bulls in 2006 draft but was later traded to Portland Trail Blazers, had an outstanding last season in which he was awarded NBA player of the week twice in January and February. The Trail
Blazers star, who carried the offensive system of the team in the absence of Brandon Roy and Greg Oden, was a consistent double-double threat throughout the season and finished with an impressive average of 21.8 points and 8.8 rebounds.
In the playoffs as well, he proved to be a monster on the floor and together with Roy and Gerald Wallace, he gave the eventual champions Dallas Mavericks a run for their money in the first round of the post season.
The next NBA season beckons a new beginning for the young forward, but with the prospects of it taking place fading by the day, the exhibition games will provide him a good opportunity to showcase his hoops artistry.
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