Santi Aldama is closing in on his return to competitive action and is set to make his debut for the Dallas Mavericks after recovering from a right knee injury, according to a report by as.com. The 25-year-old forward will train with the franchise’s G-League affiliate, the Texas Legends, to sharpen his conditioning before rejoining the NBA roster. The team confirmed in a statement that Aldama will not appear in any G-League games during his conditioning stint.
Recovery path through Texas Legends
The assignment to the Texas Legends follows a standard return-to-play protocol for players recovering from medium-to-long-term injuries. While practicing alongside the G-League squad, Aldama will share the floor with players such as the Díaz-Graham twins—who participated in preseason workouts with the Mavericks—and Jeremy Sochan, who was recently selected first overall in the league’s draft. The forward is familiar with the G-League environment from the early stages of his career with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Aldama joins Dallas after injury and Memphis extension
Aldama arrives in Dallas following a five-year stint with Memphis that ended prematurely due to injury. He sustained the right knee injury after setting new career personal bests, leading medical staff to determine that surgery was necessary. During the subsequent offseason, despite receiving a call-up from the Spanish national team for the August World Cup qualifying window, he opted to rest and prioritize his rehabilitation.
In 2025, Aldama signed a three-year contract extension with Memphis worth $52.5 million, leaving him with two seasons remaining on that deal. He was traded to Dallas during a complex six-team offseason deal that brought him to Texas alongside Marcus Sasser, who has featured prominently in the Mavericks’ early-season rotation.
Roster battle in Dallas
Aldama is one of five Spanish players competing in the NBA for the 2026/27 season, joining a group that includes Aday Mara, Baba Miller, sophomore Hugo González, and Sergio de Larrea. Unlike his compatriots, Aldama shares a locker room with de Larrea on a Mavericks squad anchored by star player Cooper Flagg, who is entering his second season with the franchise.
Upon returning to active status, Aldama will compete for minutes in a crowded frontcourt rotation that includes Flagg, rookie-scale forward Johnson, and current starter P.J.
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