Udoka Was Key to Help Land Aldridge for Spurs

It’s not (San Antonio Spurs Coach) Gregg Popovich, or Tim Duncan, or any of the usual suspects from their storied group. It’s Ime Udoka, a 38-year-old Spurs assistant and former Spurs player who was the unsung hero in their pursuit of the former Portland Trail Blazers big man.On the surface, this was the case of a four-time All-Star who has never been past the second round of the playoffs making the wise decision to join the organization that has a habit of hogging the Larry O’Brien trophy. But in those crucial early July days that led up to his decision, when his list of eight teams had been whittled down to two and questions lingered in his mind about how he would fit in San Antonio, no voice mattered more than that of Udoka’s.

There was mutual respect, their relationship having began as teammates in 2006 when Aldridge was a rookie in Portland and Udoka was the wise, older veteran. They had kept in touch long after Udoka was gone, too, through his time in San Antonio, Sacramento, and Spain and later when he left his playing days behind in order to join Popovich’s staff in the summer of 2012. The trust that would prove pivotal to Aldridge’s decision was built over time.

Source: Sam Amick of USA TODAY Sports