Spanish forward Santi Aldama debuts for Mavericks after knee surgery
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Spanish forward Santi Aldama scored 8 points in 13 minutes as Dallas beat Utah 112-100.
His return adds a 7-foot option to a 4-3 Mavericks team after knee surgery.
Background
Santi Aldama is a 7-foot Spanish forward/center, 25, who spent his first five NBA seasons with the Memphis Grizzlies and averaged a career-high 14 points and 6.7 rebounds last season. He re-signed with Memphis in 2025 on a three-year, $52.5m deal, then was traded to Dallas in July 2026. A March 2026 arthroscopic knee surgery ended his season after 43 games, and Dallas brought him along slowly in rehab, holding him out of two preseason games in Macao, China. He joins a Mavericks team coached by Dusty May, hired before the 2026 NBA Draft after leading Michigan to a national championship, alongside team-mates Kyrie Irving and Cooper Flagg.
How it unfolded
- Mar 17, 2026Aldama undergoes arthroscopic surgery on his right knee while with the Memphis Grizzlies.
- Jul 1, 2026The Mavericks reportedly agree to acquire Aldama from Memphis for AJ Johnson, a 2030 first-round pick and two future second-round picks, per ESPN's Shams Charania.
- Jul 8, 2026Dallas announces its part in a six-team trade, landing Aldama and the rights to Tarik Biberovic from Memphis and Marcus Sasser from Detroit; Aldama takes No. 34.
- Nov 4, 2026Recovered from surgery, Aldama is listed questionable for the Mavericks' road game against the San Antonio Spurs.
- Nov 5, 2026Aldama is downgraded to doubtful, then out, against the Spurs, delaying his Dallas debut; later that day he is upgraded to probable for Friday's NBA Cup game against the Utah Jazz.
- Nov 6, 2026Aldama debuts with 8:03 left in the second quarter against Utah, scores 34 seconds later off an offensive rebound, and finishes with 8 points and 9 rebounds in 13 minutes as Dallas wins 112-100.
Key terms
- NBA Cup
- An annual NBA tournament held during the regular season, split into group stage and knockout rounds.
- first-round pick
- Selections made by teams in the first of the two rounds of the annual NBA draft of eligible players.
Source: Wikipedia
Who’s saying what
- Public
- Aldama said he was "just honestly happy to be out there" and was "just trying to impact the game" as soon as he got in.
- Caution
- Aldama said he had not practiced with the first unit, only done walk-throughs with the second unit, pointing to limited familiarity with the starters.
Still unverified
Whether Aldama would face the Spurs was uncertain: he was listed questionable, then doubtful, then out. He will likely be on a minutes restriction, with his exact playing time unknown — "Only his coach, Dusty May, knows."