National Basketball Association

Spurs' LaMarcus Aldridge cleared to play after heart-related scare

Published Mar. 15, 2017 12:03 p.m. ET

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Andrew Lynch

The San Antonio Spurs will be at 100 percent for the final stretch of the regular season.

LaMarcus Aldridge, who had an "occurrence of a minor heart arrhythmia" last week, has been cleared to return to all basketball-related activities, the team announced Wednesday. Aldridge will be available for the Spurs' game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night.

Via the Spurs:

"The San Antonio Spurs today announced that forward LaMarcus Aldridge has been cleared to resume all basketball-related activities. After Aldridge had an occurrence of a minor heart arrhythmia in Oklahoma City on March 9, the Spurs medical staff led a process that included multiple tests and examinations as well as consultation with numerous experts in the field.

"'We are thankful that LaMarcus will be able to rejoin the team,' said Spurs General Manager RC Buford. 'All of us have been impressed with the professionalism and grace he has shown in dealing with this difficult situation.'"

Aldridge was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome in April 2007 while with the Portland Trail Blazers, a genetic condition he’s carried since birth. “I was born with a heart condition,” Aldridge said in a video in 2015. “As a kid I would get these little flutters … my heart would just start racing. I actually died at birth. My mom told me when I came out of the womb I wasn’t breathing.”

Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome is an abnormality in the heart where an extra electrical pathway causes arrhythmia, palpitations and possible cardiac arrest. Aldridge underwent treatment in 2011 after a recurrence of his condition and missed the first two months of the regular season.

While Aldridge's health is the most important thing, the Spurs will be happy to have their big man back on the court. San Antonio trails the Warriors by half a game for the best record in the NBA, with the two teams set to square off in Oakland on March 29.

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