Gregg Popovich, on why LaMarcus Aldridge sat out practice: ‘Welcome to the Spurs’

LaMarcus Aldridge played 35.4 minutes a game in 2014-15, right in line with his career marks. He’s averaged as much as 39.6 minutes a contest, back in the 2010-11 regular season, and during his postseason career he’s averaged a whopping 40.4 minutes a contest spread out over 34 playoff games.

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He’s on the Spurs, now, and as has been the case since the fin de siècle the San Antonio Spurs plan on playing deep into June. This is why Aldridge, in a year that will be just about entirely spent learning about The San Antonio Way, got an early lesson during practice on Tuesday with Aldridge suffering from leg tightness:

“We sat him out,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “He didn’t want to do it. I said, ‘Welcome to the Spurs. Go sit.’ ”

Whether Popovich is being facetious or not isn’t the issue. Aldridge is 30 now, and by that time in his career Tim Duncan was in his third season in a row of playing decreased minutes per game. Missed practices and a “DNP-OLD” or two would follow in the years to come, a big part of the reason that Duncan (who will turn 40 this postseason) figures to be just as potent as ever in 2015-16, his 19th season.

Aldridge gutted through a torn wrist ligament last season that required surgery, so he’s hardly one to back away from a little pain. He’s just going to have to learn how the San Antonio Spurs run things.

Those lazy sods.

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Kelly Dwyer is an editor for Ball Don’t Lie on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @KDonhoops