DALLAS — Santi Aldama will not play for Spain this month. The Spanish Basketball Federation announced Wednesday that the Dallas Mavericks forward is still recovering from right knee surgery.
Spain plays Portugal in Zaragoza on Aug. 28 and Greece in Athens on Aug. 31. The games open the second round of European qualifying for the 2027 World Cup.
Spain coach Chus Mateo will not call up a replacement. That leaves 14 players.
The Memphis Grizzlies announced on March 15 that Aldama would undergo an arthroscopic procedure and receive an orthobiologic injection to address discomfort in the trochlear compartment of his right knee. The procedure ended his season. Aldama last appeared in a game on Feb. 4.
He’s expected to be ready for training camp. Mavericks players can report Sept. 21 and open camp the next day, a week ahead of the rest of the league. Dallas meets the Houston Rockets in Macao on Oct. 9 and Oct. 11.
How Santi Aldama Reached The Dallas Mavericks
Memphis agreed to send Aldama to Dallas on July 1, and the deal closed July 8 inside a six-team trade that also involved the Detroit Pistons, LA Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Washington Wizards. Dallas sent guard AJ Johnson, a top-20 protected 2030 first-round pick originally belonging to the Golden State Warriors, and two future second-round picks to Memphis. The Mavericks also acquired the draft rights to Tarik Biberović from the Grizzlies and guard Marcus Sasser from Detroit.
Aldama made $18,485,916 last season, per Basketball Reference. His deal runs through 2026-27 and carries a team option for 2027-28, with unrestricted free agency in 2028.
Last season, Aldama averaged 14.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 43 games. The scoring and rebounding numbers were career highs. He shot 47.9% from the field, 35.0% from 3-point range, and 66.7% at the free-throw line.
He was the 30th overall pick in the 2021 draft. Aldama spent five seasons in Memphis and played 278 games. He averaged 10.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists.
Dallas carries 16 players on standard contracts. The Mavericks acquired Zaccharie Risacher in a three-team trade on July 19 and extended Naji Marshall on Aug. 2 on a three-year, $52.2 million contract that runs through 2029-30.
Spain’s Roster For Portugal And Greece
Spain sits atop Group I at 5-1, two games clear of the elimination zone. Mavericks guard Sergio de Larrea stays on the roster after Dallas moved up from No. 30 to No. 25 in the June draft for his rights. Hugo González of the Boston Celtics and Aday Mara of the Oklahoma City Thunder are also on it, along with Willy Hernangómez and Juancho Hernangómez.
Aldama has represented Spain since his teens. He was MVP of the 2019 FIBA U18 European Championship, and he was MVP again at the 2024 Olympic qualifying tournament in Valencia. Spain won that tournament and took the last spot in the Paris Olympics.
Aldama played five games at the 2023 World Cup. He averaged 11.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in 19.4 minutes there.
Greece will play the Aug. 31 game without Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Dallas opens the regular season against Houston on Oct. 21. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. CT.
