Written by Elle Uecker at Oregon Sports News
In the first Portland Trail Blazers game I ever had the privilege of attending live, I saw LaMarcus Aldridge score 38 points and snag 13 rebounds. The team had been trailing at the half but sparked by Aldridge’s spectacular performance, went on to win dramatically against the Oklahoma City Thunder. It was the greatest athletic performance I’ve ever witnessed. I own two Blazers jerseys, and they both say Aldridge across the back.
To say I was devastated when he went to the San Antonio Spurs during the offseason would be putting it lightly. It’s difficult for me to remember a Blazers team without Aldridge as I fell in love with basketball during his time with the team, and from the moment I heard the news, I was worried I would somehow feel differently about the Blazers this season. On Wednesday, he will return to the Moda Center, wearing a different jersey, and it took me a while to figure out how I should feel about that.
In a July 20 interview with ESPN radio, Aldridge spoke about how he expected to be treated upon returning to Portland as a member of the Spurs. He said, “I think going back my first time might be boos because I think people are really hurt by my decision because they don’t understand why I left. I think my first time back I probably will be booed.”
I loved LaMarcus Aldridge, but I loved him as part of a Portland team that was finally figuring out how to play together, a Portland team that people wanted to cheer for again. I am first and foremost a Blazers fan, and as such, I am no stranger to booing the Spurs. I was on the front lines of booing in the 2014 playoffs. But when they Spurs take the court Wednesday, you’ll hear no boos from me.
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