Last Updated on July 28, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Cole Aldrich was a traditional NBA center who provided rim protection, rebounding, and interior size for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Sacramento Kings, New York Knicks, Los Angeles Clippers, and Minnesota Timberwolves. His screen setting, defensive positioning, and low-usage paint presence made him a dependable reserve big man.

Here is the detailed information about Cole Aldrich:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Cole David Aldrich
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born October 31, 1988
  • Hometown: Bloomington, Minnesota, USA
  • Height: 6 feet 11 inches (211 cm)
  • Weight: 250 pounds (113 kg)
  • Wingspan: 7 feet 4 inches (224 cm)
  • Shoe Size: 18 (US)
  • Jersey Number: 45, 31, 11, 41 (varied by team)
  • Position: Center
  • High School: Bloomington Jefferson High School, Bloomington, Minnesota
  • College: University of Kansas (2007–2010)
  • NBA Draft: 2010, 1st round, 11th overall pick by the New Orleans Hornets (rights traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder)
  • Teams Played For:
    1. Oklahoma City Thunder (2010–2012)
    2. Houston Rockets (2012)
    3. Sacramento Kings (2012–2013)
    4. New York Knicks (2013–2014)
    5. Los Angeles Clippers (2014–2016)
    6. Minnesota Timberwolves (2016–2017)
    7. Atlanta Hawks (2017–2018)
  • Championship Rings: None
  • Kids: Cole Aldrich is married but there is limited public information about his children.
  • Siblings: He has two siblings: Kathleen Aldrich (sister) and Grant Aldrich (brother).

Player Archetype / Play Style

Cole Aldrich’s player archetype was that of a traditional rim-protecting center: a paint anchor who made his living with interior defense, rebounding, screen setting, and low-maintenance finishing around the basket. At 6-foot-11 with a long wingspan and a strong frame, he projected as a back-line defender who used positioning, timing, and size more than speed, giving teams a true shot-blocking presence around the rim. Offensively, his role was limited but useful, mostly revolving around post finishes, put-backs, rolls to the basket, and doing the dirty work that kept possessions alive. His overall play style was rugged and functional rather than flashy, built on effort, physicality, and awareness in the paint. (NBA)

Scouting Report

Cole Aldrich always struck me as a centre who understood that controlling the paint begins before the shot goes up. He wasn’t trying to erase every attempt with spectacular blocks. Instead, he’d establish position early, meet drivers outside the restricted area and force them into awkward floaters or kick-outs simply by occupying the right space. That’s easy to overlook because the possession often ends with someone else collecting the rebound, but the initial work belongs to him. In drop coverage he stayed patient, resisting the temptation to chase guards too far from the rim, and he consistently recovered back to the roller instead of getting caught in no-man’s-land. Offensively, his role was refreshingly uncomplicated. He set wide, sturdy screens that created genuine separation for ball handlers, rolled directly to the front of the rim and finished efficiently when the pass arrived on time. There wasn’t much interest in face-up scoring or stretching the floor, and that’s where the limitations appeared. If the defence forced him to make decisions on the move or create from a short roll, the offence could bog down because his passing windows were usually the obvious ones rather than the subtle reads that punish rotating defences. The trade-off was also apparent against lineups that dragged him away from the basket. Mobile bigs who could pop after ball screens or five-out offences asked him to defend in areas where his foot speed became a concern, reducing the impact of his size. Put him with guards who thrive using traditional pick-and-rolls and wings capable of containing dribble penetration at the point of attack, though, and his strengths become much clearer. To me, his game resembled Jeff Foster in the commitment to screening, rebounding and positional defence, while there were stretches that echoed Joel Przybilla in the way he prioritised verticality and interior discipline over chasing highlight plays. Watch enough of Aldrich and you realise his influence wasn’t built around spectacular moments; it came from repeatedly steering possessions toward the shots his team actually wanted opponents to take.

Fun Facts

  • Cole Aldrich was known for his defensive presence, rebounding, and shot-blocking abilities.
  • He won the 2008 NCAA Championship with the Kansas Jayhawks, where he played a key role during his college career.
  • After leaving the NBA, he pursued opportunities internationally and has focused on family and other ventures post-retirement.

Sources:

NBA.com — Draft 2010 | Cole Aldrich | Minnesota Timberwolves
Bullets Forever — 2010 NBA Draft Prospect Profile: Cole Aldrich
Tankathon — Cole Aldrich 2010 Draft Profile
SLAM — Cole Aldrich Predraft Diary – SLAM Magazine