By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
LaMarcus Aldridge has been medically cleared to once again play in the NBA and the Brooklyn Nets are leaders in securing his services for the next season, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Aldridge, 36, announced his retirement from competitive basketball last April, citing health concerns from an irregular heartbeat. He was recently reported to be progressing towards a comeback and was indeed expected to talk with teams in the near future. Being eventually cleared to resume his NBA career was the next step and confirmed by his latest status update.
After nine years at the Portland Trail Blazers developing to the team leader, he made his way to the San Antonio Spurs in 2015. He then inked a four-year contract and in 2017 re-upped his contract adding three more years but agreed to a buyout last March. Merely a few weeks into his initial stint with the Nets, he abruptly retired.
In his brief stay at Brooklyn, he started in all of his five appearances averaging 12.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.2 blocks per 2020-21 NBA Regular Season contest.
The Nets, aiming to contend for the NBA championship, potentially bringing back Aldridge would surely add on a stacked roster featuring Kevin Durant, James Harden, Kyrie Irving, Patty Mills, and incoming Paul Millsap, among the main highlights of the squad led by head coach Steve Nash.