Kobe Bryant has inspired a whole generation of NBA athletes. While many are grateful for getting the chance to witness the Los Angeles Lakers legend in action, a former NBA player is happy for the unique experience he received when he went to play against Kobe Bryant at the Staples Center.

Having lived in the same area as Kobe Bryant for 5 years, LaMarcus Aldridge and Kobe became pretty close. So, when asked what Kobe meant to him, Aldridge could not hold back his emotions as he started recounting tales from his past.

“This is the coldest s**t I have ever experienced. I don’t know if he had anything to do with it… I ain’t never seen this, but you can tell me if ya’ll have. So we playing the Lakers, and I just got announced… Pre-game. They get to my name, and they say, ‘First-time All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge’. On the road, bro. I ain’t never seen that. So it had to be him, bro,” said the 7x All-Star.

Aldridge did not become an All-Star in 2011 because his spot was taken by Kevin Love. Love had a crazy statistical year that season. So Kobe had asked Aldridge to just stick with his hard work and continue improving. The next year, Aldridge made his first All-Star team. A few days later, while he was gearing up to face the Lakers, he was surprised when the Lakers announced an opposition player as a first-time All-Star when introducing the line-up.

So Aldridge believes that it was Kobe Bryant who made it possible, as no other team in the NBA would have done that. He was seen rubbing off a tear on his face while telling this story. Although Aldridge was an opponent on the court, Kobe believed in Aldridge’s talent and work ethic. This made him show the ultimate gesture from the Lakers.

LaMarcus Aldridge had an incredible NBA career

Having a similar game to that of Tim Duncan, Aldridge was a highly sought-after prospect when he came to the NBA. His fundamental skills and ability to knock down shots from the mid-range with ease made him a deadly scoring threat to leave open on the floor.

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Although he was not able to win a championship in the NBA, Aldridge was great at his role. After an illustrious 16-year NBA career, LaMarcus Aldridge announced his retirement from the NBA in 2023. During his time in the NBA, he was a 7x All-Star and even made the All-NBA team five times in his career.

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What do you think of LaMarcus Aldridge’s time in the NBA? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!