Four days after the NBA board of governors voted to restart the 2019-20 season on July 31 in Orlando with 22 teams, including the Spurs, Shams Charania, NBA reporter for The Atlantic, reported that the Silver and Black would have to do it without their starting power forward LaMarcus Aldridge.
The all-star, who joined the Spurs in 2015 after nine seasons with the Portland Trailblazers, “underwent arthroscopic procedure and rotator cuff debridement on his right shoulder and will miss the remainder of the 2019-20 season.”Spurs star LaMarcus Aldridge underwent arthroscopic procedure and rotator cuff debridement on his right shoulder and will miss the remainder of the 2019-20 season.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 8, 2020
The Spurs organization confirmed the news with a statement from Aldridge.
“Disappointed I won’t get to finish the season with my teammates, but excited that I’ll be fully ready to go next season and beyond,” he said.
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon also reported that the season-ending medical procedure was performed two weeks ago.The Spurs today announced that LaMarcus Aldridge had a surgical procedure performed on his right shoulder, which will cause him to miss the remainder of the 2019-20 NBA season.
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) June 8, 2020
MORE: https://t.co/wFM31GwLjq pic.twitter.com/kwfI6hVdXU
“The procedure was performed April 24, per the Spurs,” MacMahon tweeted. “So, they’ve known for weeks that they wouldn’t have LaMarcus Aldridge when the season resumed.”
When the season ended last March because of the COVID-19 outbreak, Aldridge was averaging 18.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per contest. The Spurs had a 27-36 record.The procedure was performed April 24, per the Spurs, so they’ve known for weeks that they wouldn’t have LaMarcus Aldridge when the season resumed. https://t.co/uOxSoIvQDp
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) June 8, 2020
With Aldridge out, the scoring responsibility will fall even more on the shoulders of small forward DeMar DeRozen, who was leading the team in scoring with 22.2 points per game.
If the Spurs want to make the playoffs for the 23rd straight time this year, they are going to have to get some serious help on the offensive end from a combination of different players. Maybe it’s time to #LetLonnieLoose.
Get our top picks for the best (online!) events in San Antonio every Thursday morning. Sign up for our Events Newsletter.