LaMarcus Aldridge Quotations

When I came to Texas, my main two goals were to get started on earning my degree and to have the opportunity to play in the NBA. I've accomplished both of those and the opportunity is there for me right now to begin the next stage of my basketball career.

I've always been a workout type guy. So if I'm feeling down or I'm not happy with something, I go to the gym and I get a shot of energy. If things don't go well in any aspect of my life, I'm going to the gym and I'm going to shoot. That's my one type of place that's a safe haven where I go and it's just me, the basketball and the hoop, and I'm just doing something I love to do.

When I was born, the umbilical cord came wrapped around my neck, so when I came out, I wasn't breathing. The cord had cut off my oxygen - not the entire time, just at the end, when my mom was giving birth. When I came out, I wasn't conscious, so they had to work on bringing me back. It was a crazy moment.

I grew up in low-income areas and I've seen people take negative energy and just accept it. They give into and end up living a pretty rough life. At a young age, I just knew I wasn't going to give in because I didn't want to end up being one of those people in the neighborhood that didn't have anything and lived a hard life.

The Spurs really are a family. They have a bunch of good guys that want to win, and the way they play is so unselfish. I’m looking forward to being involved in it. I feel that teams with players who are very close end up winning.

I feel like half the battle is not giving up and staying positive. If you don't have anyone in your corner or anyone in your ear, being positive helps you believe that you can get through it.

I take pride in just knowing how to do things. Whenever a coach tells me to do something, I always try to do it the way he said or do it to my best ability.

I don't really need bulk, just strength. I can get strong without putting on weight.

I'm a very good 15- to 18-foot shooter.

I'm a fighter. So if you're going to doubt me or say that I can't do something, I'm going to prove to you I can do it. And when I do it, hopefully I earn your respect and you'll know it didn't come easy to me.