Dick Aldridge
Key Career Moment of Dick Aldridge
Dick Aldridge made his mark in the NBA during the 1974-75 season with the Chicago Bulls.
Aldridge played regular season games during a career in Toronto that spanned from to Dick Thornton and Joe Theismann. The Argos reached the Grey Cup, losing to.
His defining moment came in a playoff game against the Golden State Warriors, where he scored a career-high 28 points while locking down Hall of Famer Rick Barry on defense.
Aldridge was relentless-he played like a man possessed, said Bulls coach Dick Motta after the game.This performance solidified Dick Aldridge as a key two-way player in an era dominated by physical, hard-nosed basketball.
Unique Skill of Dick Aldridge
Dick Aldridge's signature skill was his suffocating perimeter defense.
A star football and basketball player at Runnymede Collegiate Institute in Toronto, [citation needed] Dick Aldridge attended the University of Waterloo from to , where he captained the basketball and football teams and was a three-time OUAA all-star half back.
Standing at 6'5, he had the lateral quickness to stay with guards and the strength to battle forwards. His ability to read passing lanes and disrupt offenses made him one of the most underrated stoppers of the 1970s.
Dick Aldridge's Stats
- 8.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.8 SPG over 7 NBA seasons
- Ranked top 10 in steals per game in 1976
- Played for 3 NBA teams (Bulls, Nets, Pistons)
Dick Aldridge's Legacy in the NBA
Though not a household name, Dick Aldridge's career embodied the blue-collar ethos of 1970s basketball.
A unique fact: He once played 42 minutes in a game despite a fractured finger, wrapping it in tape at halftime.
His defensive tenacity paved the way for future role players, proving that impact isn't always measured in points. Today, Aldridge is remembered as a gritty competitor who maximized every minute on the court.