LaMarcus Aldridge retires as one of the best offensive bigs in NBA history

LaMarcus Aldridge retires as one of the best offensive bigs in modern NBA history

HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 23: LaMarcus Aldridge #12 of the Portland Trail Blazers celebrates a play on the court in the second half of the game against the Houston Rockets in Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Toyota Center on April 23, 2014 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /

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LaMarcus Aldridge (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /

The soundtracks to the greatest moments in sports history don’t typically — maybe ever — mention LaMarcus Aldridge. Mike Breen’s “BANG!” Al Michaels’ “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” Jack Buck’s “We’ll see you tomorrow night,” which would eventually get passed down to Joe. Those are all much more common, more memorable.

And, of course, Mike Tirico’s “It’s Lillard. He got the shot off! Lillard got it! Good! And the Blazers win the series, for the first time in 14 years.”

Classics only. An impenetrable group, sitting alone in sports broadcasting history and therefore sports history, of the calls you just know. They’re attached so indelibly to specific moments – or at least a specific kind of moment – that they’re impossible to forget. For whatever reason, while it doesn’t feel at all close to the others in terms of significance or historical weight, the Tirico one is the one that I haven’t been able to get out of my head for seven years.

LaMarcus Aldridge’s essence is encapsulated by his existence in the background, though his talent commanded more attention.

Game 6 of a first-round Western Conference series in the 2014 NBA Playoffs. You know the call, you know the player – just in case: “IT’S LILLARD. HE GOT THE SHOT OFF” – you know the shot, and you know the all-assuming giant-feeling team it killed. And you know that Aldridge was there, next to Lillard, near-tackling him after the shot fell.

But do you know who Portland’s leading scorer that night was?