After retiring with heartbreak five months ago, seven-time All-Star winger LaMarcus Aldridge will return to the Brooklyn Nets with a one-year, $ 2.6 million contract, his agent, Jeff Schwartz, told ESPN. ‘Excel Sports.
Aldridge, 36, received medical permission from several doctors, including freelancers and Nets affiliates, to return to his 16th season, Schwartz told ESPN.
“I retired in April based on what I thought was the wisest precautionary decision for my personal health at the time, but more tests and assessments by several major doctors have convinced us doctors, to me and the Nets that I am fully authorized and in a position to return to the rigors of the NBA, “Aldridge told ESPN in a statement. “I loved my brief time with Brooklyn and I’m excited to be joining the team again in search of a championship.”
The Nets have a deep rotation of former All-Star front-line players, including Aldridge, Blake Griffin and Paul Millsap.
ESPN reported Aug. 4 that Aldridge was considering a comeback, and his talks about a comeback focused primarily on the Nets. Aldridge played five games with Brooklyn last season after agreeing to terminate his contract with the San Antonio Spurs.
Aldridge experienced an irregular beat during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers in April, and this soon led him to the decision to announce his retirement.
“For 15 years I’ve put basketball first,” Aldridge wrote on Twitter at the time. “And now, it’s time to put my health and my family first.”
Aldridge signed with the Nets on March 28 after agreeing a buy-out with the Spurs, with whom he had spent the past five and a half seasons. He played the first nine years of his career with the Portland Trail Blazers.
He has averaged 19.4 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game in his career.