After it was announced that the NBA 2019/20 season will restart in late July, it looks like the San Antonio Spurs will have to resume without their All-Star center LaMarcus Aldridge. On Monday, the team announced that Aldridge underwent shoulder surgery and will be out for the rest of the season.
Aldridge suffered from the injury in late February and missed six games before returning to the court on March 10 for the game against the Dallas Mavericks. He scored 24 points in a 119-109 win for the Spurs.
The team’s official statement says that he’s expected to make a full recovery and return to start the 2020/21 season.
During his 53 games with the Spurs, Aldridge averaged 18.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.6 rebounds per game.
Aldridge missing the rest of the season is sure to impact the Spurs who hope to keep their impressive streak of postseason appearances alive. Since 1988 Spurs have made it to the playoffs, but this year their place isn’t certain. Prior to the season being suspended due to the coronavirus, Spurs were 12th in the West with a 27-36 record and were four games behind the last playoff spot. To make it the playoffs, they’ll have to catch up with eight-seeded Memphis Grizzlies and they have only eight-regular season games to do it. Three other teams including the Portland Trail Blazers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Phoenix Suns, are hoping for that spot as well.
