LaMarcus Aldridge’s stats as a rookie went from nine points per game, five rebounds, 72% free throw percentage, and 22.1 mins per, to 17.8 points per, 7.6 boards, a 76% free throw percentage, and 34.9 minutes per contest in his second season.

LaMarcus Aldridge has received high praise for his short and deep jumpers.

It’s funny how NBA fans and league analysts clamor about the potential of center Greg Oden and overlook the marked improvement and all star potential of center/forward LaMarcus Aldridge. Oden has yet to set foot on an NBA court in a regular season game, while Aldridge has played in a total 139 games and has enhanced his play in almost every phase thus far.

This is the kind of year-to-year improvement that would suggest a player can become an All-Star if not All-Star caliber. If Aldridge continues to grow and Oden becomes the superstar that everyone is expecting, then the two may very well become one of the more potent power forward and center combos in the NBA today.

However, if Greg Oden falters, then at least the Trail Blazers know that they have a more than capable insurance policy in LaMarcus Aldridge.

Greg Oden has shown potential in practice. But how will he fare in actual game play?