Udoka was unsung hero in Spurs' pursuit of Aldridge
If it weren't for San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Ime Udoka, there's a very good chance LaMarcus Aldridge would be starting at power forward for the Phoenix Suns next season.
Udoka, who was Aldridge's teammate back in 2006, convinced the four-time All-Star that he could fit into San Antonio's selfless system; that the Spurs are a winning environment that would only get better if he wore their jersey.
According to USA Today's Sam Amick, here's Aldridge's take on how Udoka sealed the deal:
“It (the meeting process) was done. I was down to two teams, Phoenix and the Spurs. I thought (Udoka) was staying in San Antonio for the summer, so I was like, ‘Hey, I’ve got a jet going to Dallas. You could get a flight from Dallas to San Antonio (to head home).’ So he was like, ‘Cool.’ So he gets on the jet, and I’m like, ‘We’re leaving. You should buy your flight (to San Antonio from Dallas) on the plane. Go buy your flight.’ He was like, ‘I ain’t buying no flight.’ I was like, ‘What do you mean?’ He’s like, ‘I live here (in Los Angeles) right now. I’m flying just to answer any questions that you have.’ I was like, ‘Man, you’re crazy.’ I said, ‘Get off the plane.’ He said, ‘No, I’m going to answer any question that you have.’ So I’m like, ‘You don’t have to do this. Don’t do this.’ He’s like, ‘Nah, I’m not getting off.’ So we rode – and I had my kids with me and my mom – so they sat in the front of the plane and him and I went to the back of the plane and talked the whole flight. It was just conversation, about the system, about me. It wasn’t really a lot of questions. It was just him telling me how I’m going to fit in."
It's unclear who will definitely replace Gregg Popovich once the legendary head coach retires, but Udoka might be as good a candidate as anyone. He's a player's coach who knows how to assuage egos and manage different personalities, and he clearly has complete understanding of the best system in basketball.
His service to Popovich and the Spurs has been invaluable since joining them on the sidelines in 2012, and the dedication he showed pursuing Aldridge, a franchise-altering talent, was pure awesomeness.
(h/t: USA Today)
