‘Moving In The Right Direction’: Santi Aldama’s Status For Dallas Mavericks Opener At Houston Still Uncertain

DALLAS — Santi Aldama had a good practice Sunday, but Dallas Mavericks coach Dusty May was not ready to say whether the forward will play in Wednesday’s season opener against the Houston Rockets.

Aldama sat out all four preseason games. He has been working back from an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee on March 17, which he had while still with the Memphis Grizzlies. The procedure included an orthobiologic injection and ended his 2025-26 season.

Santi Aldama’s Status For The Houston Rockets Opener

On Thursday, May said Aldama was getting “much, much closer”, though he did not expect him to play in Friday’s preseason finale against the Atlanta Hawks. Aldama sat out that game, and on Sunday he was not on the floor for practice.

“I don’t know yet,” May said of whether Aldama will be ruled out for Wednesday.

Aldama was limited when training camp opened in late September, with the medical staff setting his workload day by day. In August, he and the Spanish federation decided he would skip Spain’s FIBA World Cup 2027 qualifiers instead of rushing the knee.

“I’m working on it. It’s been a long summer in that sense,” Aldama said at the start of camp. “I’m working every day and feeling better every day, so I’m excited to get back out there.”

Dallas has been short on bigs all preseason. Dereck Lively II has not played since Nov. 21, 2025, and he has had two surgeries on his right foot since then. Moussa Cissé tweaked his left ankle in the Oct. 14 game against the New Orleans Pelicans.

Sergio de Larrea On Aldama’s Help

Aldama spent five seasons in Memphis, and Dallas acquired him in a six-team trade on July 8. In his final season with the Grizzlies, he averaged career highs of 14.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists over 43 games. He shot 35.0% from 3-point range.

May already has a role in mind for him. In September, before the trip to Macao, May said the 7-footer has learned to put the ball on the floor against perimeter defenders.

“Santi, obviously, being a seven-footer, could be a heck of a stretch five in a death lineup,” May said. “The problem is the other teams don’t put the fives on him. Do we have a group that can go punish a five elsewhere or can he punish a three man or four man, whoever they put on him?”

While he waits, Aldama has worked with rookie Sergio de Larrea from the bench. On Sunday, de Larrea named his fellow Spaniard as the teammate he has leaned on most, and he said most of the help comes as scouting on players he has not seen.

“I know some of the players, but not all,” de Larrea said. “So sometimes it’s like, ‘Hey, he’s more a shooter, try to contest better. Maybe try to control more the drive with the right.’ It’s more scouting things, but then also in the bench, he’s trying to help me in what he’s seen and try to translate this to me.”

De Larrea and Aldama played together on Spain’s national team, but they have not shared the floor in a Dallas game. De Larrea is the 25th overall pick from the 2026 draft.

“I play with him on the national team, I think there we build up with chemistry,” de Larrea explained. “He’s a great shooter and I think he can give us a lot, he can open a lot of space, and I’m waiting for him. I want to be there with him.”

The Mavericks open the regular season Wednesday at Toyota Center, with tip-off set for 7:30 p.m. CT. Their home opener is Saturday against the San Antonio Spurs.