No. 42 LaMarcus Aldridge
There aren’t too many players who have the size and skill-set LA has, but out in Portland, OR the Trail Blazers have about as versatile a player at the power forward position that you could ask for. With a back to the basket game that seems to be improving year-in-and-year out, a solid mid-range game, and a great touch around the rim with either hand, Aldridge is in prime position to take his game to the next level.
After attending the University of Texas and proving that he had the necessary skills and ceiling that was worthy of being selected as the second overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft (by Chicago traded for Tyrus Thomas), Aldridge is now entering his fifth season in the League. While LA has shown flashes of dominance and has been expected to up his game constantly, he just turned 25 years old and should be entering the prime portion of his career. As a generally accepted rule of thumb, big men tend to advance/hone their repertoires at a slower rate than the way that guards advance their skills. Aldridge is a guy who is extremely skilled but the hardest part is putting it all together—figuring out how to show up with a consistent effort on both ends night in and night out.
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