SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge will be out
indefinitely due to a minor heart arrhythmia, the latest occurrence of heart
issues for the five-time All-Star.
Aldridge will have further tests before the Spurs can determine just how long he
will be out, the team announced on Saturday. Aldridge has had heart issues in
the past and was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome – an abnormality
that can cause a rapid heartbeat – as a rookie in 2007.
“All parties have concluded that at the current time it is best for Aldridge to
refrain from play until further tests and examinations are completed,” the Spurs
said in a statement.
Aldridge missed the final seven games of his rookie season after doctors used an
ablation – a procedure designed to treat tissue in the heart to make the
heartbeat regular again – to treat him and get him back on the court. He also
needed an ablation during training camp in 2011, but was able to return to the
court in time to play in the preseason and made the All-Star team for Portland
that season.
The Spurs were well aware of Aldridge’s heart issue when they signed him to a
max contract as a free agent in 2015. It has always been considered a minor
situation and he has been able to return to playing relatively quickly after
each episode, but they still weren’t taking any chances.
“Unexpected, but it’s a sensitive issue, so we want to make sure that he’s
fine,” Spurs guard Manu Ginobili told reporters at the team’s shootaround on
Saturday morning. “The most important thing is to have him healthy. We’ll wait
as long as is necessary for him to feel secure and sure, and the team, too.”
The news for Aldridge comes on the heels of star forward Kawhi Leonard being
placed in the league’s concussion protocol. That means that the second-seeded
Spurs will play the top-seeded Golden State Warriors on Saturday night without
their two best players. It remains unclear how long Leonard will be out.
“This is tough when you lose your two best scorers in a single day,” Ginobili
said. “This is tough to face.”
But the Warriors will be short-handed as well. Coach Steve Kerr is resting
Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala at the end of a
grueling 13-day stretch of the schedule.
The 6-foot-11 Aldridge is averaging 17.3 points and 7.4 rebounds for the Spurs
(50-14), who have the second best record in the league and trail the Warriors by
1+ games in the West.
The Spurs are also missing point guards Tony Parker (back) and Dejounte Murray
(groin).
It remains unclear how coach Gregg Popovich will juggle the roster to account
for Aldridge’s absence. He does have veteran David Lee and rookie Davis Bertans
as other power forwards on the roster. Depending on matchups, he also may be
able to slide Pau Gasol from center to power forward.
