Spurs forward LaMarcus Aldridge out indefinitely with minor heart arrhythmia

Forward LaMarcus Aldridge is out of action indefinitely upon experiencing a minor heart arrhythmia, the San Antonio Spurs announced Saturday. The five-time All-Star is scheduled to undergo a series of tests before the team takes a call on his availability for the remainder of the 2016-17 NBA season, per reports.

According to an ESPN source, the Spurs are unwilling to rush Aldrige back despite the impending playoffs that begin in a little over a month. The source told the website that Aldridge's "health and safety are of the utmost concern" at this juncture, and that the veteran forward's return is the least of the team's concerns. The Spurs, just half a game behind the Golden State Warriors (52-14), are on the brink of overtaking the top seed in the Western Conference. However, Aldridge's injury could derail their pursuit of home advantage for the entirety of the postseason.

LaMarcus Aldridge heart arrhythmia: Star has history of heart issues

At the end of his rookie season, in April 2007, the former Portland Trail Blazers forward was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, an abnormality in the heart that causes a rapid heartbeat. The same condition recurred at the start of the 2011-12 season which ruled Aldridge out of the final nine games of the regular season. The Spurs' fate could now depend on Monday's diagnosis since it wouldn't be easy to replace Aldrige, who is averaging 17.3 points and 7.4 rebounds in 32.6 minutes per game in his second season in San Antonio.

Gregg Popovich, coach of the Spurs, said Saturday that Aldridge's situation doesn't compare to other NBA injuries, and had to be handled sensitively. "You just think more seriously. When somebody says heart, you start thinking a little more possible long-term kind of stuff. That's a little scary. But you don't go there yet. They're doing tests. They did some tests today, and they're going to continue it on Monday.
"He's going to see some people on Monday, and based on what they do and see, we'll figure then what we're really looking at. I don't know right now," the five-time NBA champion told reporters after his team beat a second string Golden State Warriors team at home.

Meanwhile, the Spurs are already dealing with a plethora of injuries. While point guards Tony Parker (back stiffness) and Dejounte Murray (groin tightness) missed Saturday's game against the Warriors due to nagging injuries, superstar forward Kawhi Leonard is currently under the league's concussion protocol. "He's just moving through the protocol. We expect and hope he'll be fine by the end of it. But it just takes a while. So the next possible game is Monday, and I'm hopeful he'll be ready for that," Popovich said of Leonard's condition.