Spurs Ex LaMarcus Aldridge Reveals Why He 'Butted Heads' with Gregg Popovich

LaMarcus Aldridge played with the San Antonio Spurs from 2015-21.

SAN ANTONIO - It's been about 2.5 years since LaMarcus Aldridge last played for the San Antonio Spurs.

Aldridge tells "The Oddball Hoops Show" that he wouldn't want to coach in the NBA now that he's retired on account of how difficult dealing with players can be. He should know because Aldridge himself was not the easiest to coach. He admits he would often clash with Gregg Popovich over playing time ... even when the Spurs had a huge lead. 

Aldridge says as he got older he never wanted to leave games regardless of the circumstance. Especially when he arrived in San Antonio.

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"That's when I got to San Antonio and we were winning 60 games that first year," Aldridge said. "And we were up 30 (points) at halftime every time and I wanted to play the fourth (period). Pop would fight me and be like 'No, you can't play the fourth.'

"I'm just like, 'I need my rhythm,' so like I want to go back in the game in the fourth."

There are more than a few folks in San Antonio who would argue that Aldridge was also interested in padding his stats, not just staying in rhythm. Aldridge's time in South Texas will be remembered mostly for what they were not able to accomplish. It's not Aldridge's fault that former Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard wanted out and was eventually traded. But Aldridge never seemed to fit quite all the way in with how the Spurs do things. Questions about off season work ethic, concerns about getting it done when the game wasn't a blowout, especially in playoff games and his overall players first attitude left many in San Antonio relieved when he was gone.

Wherever the truth lies, it's all history now and water under the Alamo. Aldridge now admits that Pop had his best interest at heart during those arguments over playing time and he should have been more understanding.

"You know that was the right way. To risk injury wouldn't have been smart but I would be so frustrated," he said. "We would kind of butt heads a little bit about wanting to go in for like two more minutes but you know it would never happen.

"I understand the big picture now." 

Perhaps had Aldridge understood back then his legacy in San Antonio wouldn't be as murky as it is.