Can he still cook on the floor?

Cook? You mean, can he get some buckets? He can still get some buckets. When you have that IQ, and you have a tiny bit of skill left [you can score]. He can’t move like he used to, but he has skill and he has a tiny bit of mobility left. (Laughing) That’s all I have to say. But when you have that, you can score. He definitely still scores. He’s definitely not moving like he used to, for sure.

Speaking of that, what’s it like for you now? What’s the difference when it comes to managing your body at age 24, compared to now at 34?

It just takes more of a focus, more of a pregame, pre-practice routine as far as knowing what you have to do to get your body ready, knowing that it takes more time. I wouldn’t say it’s a bad thing. I think it actually helps you be more proactive about injuries and things like that. My biggest thing I’ve learned is just putting time into getting ready. When we’re young, you just go on the court and just hoop. But I think as you get older, it’s more about, making sure everything is firing and making sure everything is ready to go and warmed up. For me, I’ve put together a little pre-game routine to get warm, to get my body going. I do that every game. It’s about lifting more. As you know, post-game, I try to always lift so I can keep everything strong and activated. So, it’s more about just putting more time in and learning what your body needs, and just going with it.

LaMarcus Aldridge says he's still learning plenty from teammate-turned-Spurs assistant coach Tim Duncan.

Yeah, you take forever to come out to talk to the media postgame. You sure you’re not trying to wait out the media, because as you know, I can wait all night?

(Laughing) So, what I do is if I find something I tweaked or something that’s sore, I get treatment, and then I lift. If I’m not tweaked, I lift, do hot tub [treatment], cold tub, back and forth, and then I come out and see y’all. But what I’ve learned and what works for me is getting that lift in after the game just keeps everything strong, keeps everything going, and I don’t have to worry so much about nagging injuries. If I can keep everything firing, then I’ll be good to go. I’m not waiting 30 or 35 minutes behind to [keep from] seeing y’all. It’s me in there lifting weights, trying to make sure I’m getting things back firing and working. I’m not just sitting around. Man, I’m pretty spoiled in San Antonio. I don’t do media every day. So, I don’t really complain about it. It’s just me trying to be more proactive with my body because when you stop and sit down, then it’s hard to just get up and go lift again. So, I just try to do it right after the game so I can just get it done while my body is ready.

Ever since you’ve been in San Antonio, your commitment to being in this city has always been in question for whatever reason. Why is that?

I don’t know why. I have no clue. I’ve done nothing but try to give what I can and try to do everything I can to help us win, try to do what I can for the team to help the team grow. I’ve tried to change my game to make the team better. I started really shooting 3’s this year to try to make us better and open up the floor for DeMar [DeRozan]. So, it’s like I don’t know why it happens that way. But I’ve been just fully committed. I think it was just that one thing that Pop and I talked about (Aldridge met with Popovich in the summer of 2017 to request a trade). Ever since, I feel like people just won’t let that go. But we talked that out, and that’s been done, been gone. So, I don’t know why people are still thinking about that. But ever since then, I’ve been locked in. I’ve been all-in. I’m just really looking forward for if we get a chance to try to get back in that eighth spot. If not, then I’m still looking forward to next season and seeing what we can do with the young fellas getting better.

Speaking of Pop, you talked to him lately?

Yeah, I think last week.

He doing OK?

He seemed like he was fine. But I can’t speak for him.

Man, you know he probably wants to be on the floor as much as the players.

Yeah, he’s definitely missing it, I would say. We all want to go back out there for sure.

What are your thoughts about some of the things the league has been doing with players such as the NBA 2K20 tournament and the NBA HORSE Challenge?

I’ve been watching it. It’s fun. It’s giving guys a way to be competitive, for one. Then two, you’re trying to give the fans something to do as far as watching basketball in whatever capacity they can. I feel like it’s been good for both sides. The fans are stuck at home, so why not watch it? We’re stuck at home, and this gives us something to do, too. So, it’s been good. I can’t do video games because I don’t do them. But the HORSE Challenge, maybe one day I can get into that one.

But you can’t do any dunks.

That’s fine. I’m a shooter. What you mean? I ain’t gotta dunk.

If you’re really practicing social distancing, what does your hairline look like right now?

(Laughing) Man, everybody’s hair is torn up right now.

You don’t know how to cut your own hair?

Man, I wouldn’t even try that. I’d come back from this break looking like I’ve messed myself up. Nah, I’m good.

But isn’t this the time to learn? You don’t have to be out in public now with a bad haircut.

As soon as I do it, they’d be like, ‘back to practice tomorrow.’ (Laughing).

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Michael C. Wright is a senior writer for NBA.com. You can e-mail him here , find his archive here and follow him on Twitter .

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