Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge was interviewed on a Grantland.com podcast from Houston at 2013 All-Star Weekend by Zach Lowe. Here's the audio link. The interview begins at the 9-minute mark. He discusses Damian Lillard, Nicolas Batum, this season compared to expectations, and more.

Aldridge is appearing in his second consecutive All-Star Game on Sunday.

He arrived in Houston from New Orleans on Thursday. There was a fairly large Blazers contingent in the airport today, including Aldridge, Damian Lillard, at least four team employees and former president Larry Miller, who was in good spirits during a quick chat at the baggage claim as he prepares for the Jordan XX8's release this weekend.

Aldridge and Lillard spent the day taking photos and doing early media interviews before more of the same in the coming days. Coverage from here in Houston could be sporadic but we'll see how it goes.

Update: Here's video of the interview via Grantland on YouTube.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter