NEW YORK — On the rosters at Madison Square Garden, LaMarcus Aldridge had an asterisk next to his name to denote that he was the first Trail Blazer to start in the NBA All-Star Game since Clyde Drexler in 1994.
And a few hours later he was announced as a starter alongside, New York’s Carmelo Anthony, the weekend’s hometown star.
“It was fun,” Aldridge said. “It was kind of surreal. I know I will never be voted in as a starter by the fans. It was cool to have that moment. That was big time.”
The Western Conference won 163-158 and Russell Westbrook was named the game’s MVP with 41 points.
Aldridge scored as many points in his first seven minutes of action than he had in all his other three All-Star appearances combined. He finished with 18 points and was the first Blazer to score in double-digits since Brandon Roy (14) in 2009.
His four 3-pointers were the most for any Blazer in an All-Star Game in franchise history.
Saturday there were reports that Western Conference head coach Steve Kerr had pegged Kevin Durant to start.
“At that point I heard that KD was going to start,” Aldridge said. “I knew I was not going to start. Then he announced it and he changed it.”
Then ESPN reported that Kerr had changed his mind. Aldridge found out when Kerr called him on Saturday.
“He just told me I was going to start. That was it,” Aldridge said. “I wasn’t going to argue about it. That’s OK.”
“I mean, I would like to start,” Aldridge said before departing Portland. “I’m not going to sit here and say that I wouldn’t. I think I’d be lying if I did. Luck hasn’t always went our way up here in the Northwest, so we’ll see what happens.”
Aldridge mentioned multiple times in the lead-up to the game how few minutes he normally plays in the All-Star game and that he is rarely involved.
“I think this is my best game,” Aldridge said. “Normally, I’m always in and out. No rhythm. But tonight, I was in the game longer. And starting, it’s always better starting.”
His teammate Damian Lillard, who was added to the roster, also scored in double digits with 11 points off the bench.
“He played great,”Lillard said of Aldridge. “Last year he passed up some shots and didn’t play as many minutes. And he took the shots that I see him take every single day and made them.”
Lillard and Aldridge started the second quarter together.
But that was also when Westbrook started to steal the show and game MVP honors. He finished one point shy of Wilt Chamberlain’s All-Star Game record.
For the East, LeBron James came out firing from the get-go, looking to dazzle the crowd. From the perimeter, Atlanta’s Kyle Korver lit it up from 3 as his three other Atlanta Hawks teammates set him up with shots.
Of course, there was very little defense to speak of except in brief moments when the four Hawks were on the court together or when Carmelo Anthony blocked Lillard’s dunk attempt.
“Kyle (Korver) moved to the side,” Lillard said. “I didn’t think Melo was going to jump, and I think he kind of surprised me.”
And then things turned up in the last five minutes with the money on the line.
As for the Blazers, they will return to practice on Wednesday before heading to Utah to play the Jazz on Friday.
Lillard does not have any more plans for the rest of the extended break but said he feels like he can take this experience back with him to Portland.
“You feel a little bit more confident looking to your team with your normal role,” Lillard said. “Just from being around these guys and you know who they are to their team. And it makes you realize who you are to your team.”
