MILESTONE WATCH: LaMarcus Aldridge joins the 20,000 point club

LaMarcus Aldridge became the 48th player in NBA history to score 20,000 points Friday night.

Aldridge, who needed 10 points heading into Friday’s game against the Pacers, crushed the historic scoring mark with a series of his signature mid-range jumpers in the third quarter. The 36-year-old said he never paid much attention to the 24,000 point mark because he didn’t want it to play a negative mental role in his play.

“Last year I was told I’m like 49 points from 20,000 so I don’t know where I’m at now,” said Aldridge after the Nets victory over the Sixers. “You don’t want to count those things [because] you’ll have a long night. I’m gonna go play, and when I hit it, I’ll hit it.”

The Nets veteran big, who is playing in his 16th season in the NBA, has built his prolific career around the mid-range both in the high and low post.

“In this day and age, the mid-range is considered a bad shot, I guess. But I got 19,000 some-odd points off the mid-range so you tell me it’s a bad shot, I don’t believe you,” said Aldridge on his specialty and referencing the demand for three-point shooting.

Aldridge of course retired in April after he suffered an in-game cardiac event, 49 points short of the mark. He rejoined the Nets this season after being cleared by the league and the team’s medical staffs.