If you are a fan of the NBA, you might have wondered if David Aldridge, the sports journalist who works for The Athletic, is related to LaMarcus Aldridge, the former basketball player who played for the Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs and Brooklyn Nets. The answer is yes, they are cousins.
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Who is David Aldridge?
David Aldridge is a veteran sports journalist who has covered the NBA for various outlets, including ESPN, TNT, NBA TV, NBA.com, The Washington Post and The Philadelphia Inquirer. He is currently a writer for The Athletic, where he covers the NBA and other sports stories. He also hosts a podcast called “Hoops Adjacent” with Wosny Lambre.
David Aldridge was born in Washington, D.C. in 1964 or 1965. He graduated from DeMatha Catholic High School and American University. He started his career as a writer for The Washington Post, where he spent nine years covering Georgetown University basketball, the Washington Bullets (now Wizards), the Washington Redskins and other sports events. He joined ESPN in 1996 and worked there for eight years as a reporter and columnist. He also appeared on SportsCenter and other shows.
In 2004, he moved to The Philadelphia Inquirer, where he covered the NFL and NBA as a reporter and columnist. He also joined TNT as an “Insider” for Inside the NBA and a sideline reporter for NBA games. He left The Inquirer in 2008 and became a full-time employee of Turner Sports. He also worked for NBA TV and NBA.com as a co-host of The Beat and a commentator.
In 2018, he left Turner Sports and joined The Athletic as a senior writer. He also received the Curt Gowdy Media Award by the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016 for his contributions to basketball journalism.
Who is LaMarcus Aldridge?
LaMarcus Aldridge is a former professional basketball player who played in the NBA for 15 seasons. He played college basketball for two seasons with the Texas Longhorns and was selected second overall in the 2006 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls, who traded his rights to the Portland Trail Blazers.
He spent nine seasons with the Trail Blazers, where he became a seven-time NBA All-Star and a five-time All-NBA selection. He also holds several franchise records, including most points scored in a game (56) and most rebounds in a game (25). He signed with the San Antonio Spurs in 2015 and played there for six seasons. He helped the Spurs reach the Western Conference Finals in 2017.
In March 2021, he signed with the Brooklyn Nets after the Spurs bought out his contract. However, he retired after two weeks due to an irregular heartbeat, which he had been dealing with throughout his career. He returned to the Nets in October 2021 after receiving medical clearance.
LaMarcus Aldridge was born in Dallas, Texas on July 19, 1985. He attended Seagoville High School, where he became a second-team Parade All-American and Texas Association of Basketball Coaches Class 4A Player of the Year. He inherited his affinity for basketball from his father who was a high school basketball hoops as well as his elder brother LaVontae.
David Aldridge and LaMarcus Aldridge are cousins through their fathers’ side of the family. They share the same last name and have similar facial features. They also have a mutual respect and admiration for each other’s careers.
According to David Aldridge, he first met LaMarcus when he was about 10 years old at a family reunion in Dallas. He said that he was impressed by LaMarcus’ height and talent even at that young age. He also said that he has been following LaMarcus’ career since then and has interviewed him several times.
According to LaMarcus Aldridge, he looks up to David as a role model and appreciates his support and advice. He said that David has always been there for him through his highs and lows in the NBA. He also said that David is one of his favorite journalists because he is fair and honest.
The two cousins have also exchanged some friendly banter on social media and on TV. For example, in 2013, after LaMarcus scored 31 points against the Houston Rockets, David asked him on TNT how he felt about Charles Barkley’s criticism of his game. LaMarcus replied that Barkley “talks trash about everybody” and that he doesn’t listen to him.
Conclusion
David Aldridge and LaMarcus Aldridge are cousins who have both achieved success in their respective fields of sports journalism and basketball. They have a close and supportive relationship that goes beyond their shared last name. They are both proud of their family ties and their accomplishments in the NBA.
