SAN ANTONIO -- 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.