Haynes: LaMarcus Aldridge Says Old Blazers Didn't Listen In 2011-12

Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com reports that Portland Trail Blazers All-Star forward LaMarcus Aldridge has reflected a bit on his team's tough 2011-12 season. Aldridge defends his leadership of that squad and asserts that it can be difficult to lead older players.

"I talked last year too," he explained. "It's just when you have older vets, they don't listen as well as young guys. I think people really don't know that I was leading that team last year, too. I was talking to guys, I was getting on guys, but when you have older guys, they're going to choose to listen or not to listen.

"When you have a bunch a young guys trying to learn the game, and trying to get their feet wet, they have a tendency to want to listen more. So this year, since day one, I've already been talking, been pulling guys to the side and telling them about the offense and defense and these guys want to learn."

He also offered this quote on his future in Portland.

"It's always going to be articles about me trying to leave, that's what [sells] papers. I'm not worried about that. This is a good challenge for me to try to get better and try to lead this team. I've always wanted my own team and I have it."

Aldridge, who will be a free agent in 2015, said that he was "fine with" his team's summer youth movement on Media Day.

Thanks to BlazerFanSince1970 in the FanShots.

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