LaMarcus Aldridge gives encouraging injury update after scary departure in Nets loss
The Brooklyn Nets suffered a tough loss to the Warriors on Saturday night but they also lost their mid-range star. LaMarcus Aldridge exited the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury and didn’t return. After the game, he was seen leaving the locker room on crutches.
Brooklyn is no stranger to injuries this year. Kevin Durant (sprained MCL), James Harden (hand strain), and Joe Harris (ankle) didn’t play against Golden State. The Nets can’t afford to lose one of their big men too.
Luckily, Brooklyn won’t have to plan for not having Aldridge for an extended amount of time. He suffered an ankle sprain and is listed as questionable for Tuesday’s game in Phoenix.
Initially, Aldridge’s injury looked like it was worse than a sprain, and the image of him walking down the hallway in Chase Center didn’t help to ease any worries.
LaMarcus Aldridge departing Chase Center on crutches after spraining his ankle. #Nets pic.twitter.com/Fjh2DKsOYk
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) January 30, 2022
Brooklyn Nets center LaMarcus Aldridge is questionable with an ankle sprain.
While he was on crutches, Aldridge gave a promising update on his left ankle injury.
“It’s just an ankle sprain. I will be all right. I just can’t walk on it right now,” Aldridge said while using crutches. https://t.co/pLtVB4S3Aw
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) January 30, 2022
Shortly after the news circulated that Aldridge was on crutches, ESPN’s Nick Friedell reported that the 36-year-old left the arena in a walking boot.
Aldridge just left Chase Center in a walking boot.
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) January 30, 2022
Although the Nets are set to face the best team in the NBA tomorrow, it’d be in the team’s best interest for Aldridge to remain out for a few days. The contest against the Suns is the first game of a back-to-back and Brooklyn can’t risk Aldridge further injuring his ankle.
The 16-year veteran signed with the Nets in March of 2021 and then retired in April due to a heart condition that caused him to experience an irregular heartbeat. He was medically cleared to return five months later and signed a one-year deal with Brooklyn.
Aldridge has been an integral part of the Nets. He averages a team-best 1.1 blocks and fourth-best 13.4 points per game. He replaced Blake Griffin in the starting lineup for 11 games before entering the health and safety protocols. Aldridge most recently missed a few games due to right foot soreness.
Brooklyn can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to injuries but at least the playoffs are still a little over two months away. The goal is to have a fully healthy team by that point, so hopefully the basketball gods will cut the Nets some much-needed slack.
