Soon, though, he moved to another spot, where he and Lakers center Dwight Howard engaged in a three-point shooting contest with a young ballboy.
?We were playing first to five, and I won,? said Aldridge, who with a laugh, ?but I didn?t make any shots in the game.?
It?s true. Aldridge went scoreless Sunday in his second All-Star Game as he played 11 minutes, 27 seconds. That was only slightly longer then the 9:48 he got in his All-Star debut in Orlando last season.
But he was more than happy to shrug off the short minutes this time, and instead take away the fun moments as his reward for being one of the top basketball players in the world.
?This time, I can?t complain,? he said. ?I think I played like eight or 10 minutes tonight. That was fine for me. I enjoyed it, just talking to the guys, just being around them was good for me.?
Aldridge missed both of his field goal attempts, and collected four rebounds, blocked two shots and had an assist on a Kevin Durant three-pointer. His Western Conference team, behind 20 points and 15 rebounds from game MVP Chris Paul of the Clippers, won 143-138.
More than anything, Aldridge decided to embrace the All-Star experience. Last year in Orlando, he was surprised by just how many duties were required of him, from media obligations, charitable appearances, meetings and practices. Combined with the rigors of a compacted schedule because of the lockout, it led to a mentally draining weekend.
This time, he was ready.
?This is my second time around,? he said. ?I knew the schedule, I knew the hoops. I wasn?t as anxious this time. I thought I knew everybody here, and I thought I was more comfortable this time.?
He also decided to make the experience more fun. It might not have seemed like it when he was introduced and didn?t smile at all, which quickly lit up Twitter. What was up -- why didn?t he smile?
?I didn?t?? he said. ?I couldn?t see. Those lights were kind of bright, so I was trying to look out. Next year. I?ll smile next year.?
Aldridge smiled plenty when he warmed up halftime. After his three-point contest against Howard, he engaged the ballboy in a one-on-one contest. As the kid attempted to guard him, Aldridge dribbled between his legs like Paul and made a move as the kid put his arm up to contest the shot despite their seeming three-foot height difference.
Then the kid went on offense and Aldridge guarded him, always pulling his arm back slightly so as not to block the shot. They went back and forth, again and again, and at one point, Clippers forward Blake Griffin snuck over and gently set a screen on the kid, who will surely never forget the experience.
?He said he could beat me, so I was playing him one-on-one for fun,? Aldridge said. ?I knew I wasn?t going in (the game) that early, so I was having fun with it.?
Aldridge knew the serious stuff would come soon enough ? today, in fact. Aldridge left the Toyota Center quickly as he has a 5 p.m. practice with the Blazers back at their Tualatin practice facility today. The Blazers (25-28) begin their final 29 games three games behind the eighth-place Rockets and know they have little time to waste if they are going to make the playoffs.
With the All-Star Game in Houston, Aldridge fielded plenty of questions about the Rockets and Portland?s chances of catching them. Houston?s star player, James Harden, made his All-Star debut and scored 15 points in 26 minutes, but there was plenty of local concern about his right ankle, which he injured last week.
?It was good, real good,? Harden said.
With a healthy Harden, the Rockets could be tough to catch, and so too could the other teams above Portland. The Blazers return to action Tuesday at the Rose Garden against Phoenix looking to end a five-game losing streak. After that, they?ll have to sweat out Thursday?s trade deadline, although Aldridge does not believe the Blazers will make a deal.
?I think we have a young team, so I don?t see it really helping to make moves,? he said. ?But we?ll see.?
If the Blazers do finish the season with their current roster, Aldridge believes they can still get into the postseason.
?Just taking care of business,? Aldridge said. ?I think we definitely have to pick up our defense, be more determined to win games. If we can win some games early after the break, we can get in the eighth spot.?
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