Rookie LaMarcus Aldridge to miss remainder of season

 

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -Portland Trail Blazers rookie LaMarcus Aldridge is out for the season after his rapid heartbeat was found to be caused by Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome.
A statement released by the team Monday said the diagnosis was made after Aldridge, 21, underwent a series of tests at Providence St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Portland, Ore.
Aldridge, in his first season after leaving Texas early to enter last season’s NBA draft, has received treatment from Dr. Daniel Oseran at St. Vincent’s. The condition is not considered career-threatening – the Trail Blazers believe he’ll resume physical activity soon and could play on the team’s summer-league squad.
“He’s in good hands with our medical staff,” Trail Blazers assistant coach Monty Williams said.
Aldridge, a forward, experienced dizziness and a rapid heartbeat after playing seven minutes March 31 against the Los Angeles Clippers. He was taken to the hospital that night and initially was diagnosed with dehydration. But he wore a heart monitor for 24 hours and was referred for additional tests.
Aldridge had started 22 of the 63 games he played for Portland, assuming the starting role when Joel Przybilla had season-ending knee surgery. He averaged nine points and five rebounds per game.
The Blazers already had signed center Luke Schenscher for the remainder of the season. Portland signed the 7-foot-1 Schenscher to a 10-day contract from the development league’s Fort Worth Flyers on March 15, and re-signed him to another 10-day contract March 25.