Santi Aldama says Dallas already felt like home to his family before the Mavericks acquired him from Memphis in a six-team trade.
The first road trip Santi Aldama's wife ever took with him was to Dallas, and she told him afterward she wished they lived there, the Dallas Mavericks forward told Mavs.com's Eddie Sefko.
Aldama became a father on May 2. Dallas acquired him from the Memphis Grizzlies on July 8 in a six-team trade.
"The first time she ever came on the road with me was here in Dallas and she said it felt like home," Aldama said. "And I felt like that, too. She always made the trip here. Interestingly, she said I wish we lived there. It's crazy. I'm very excited for the new chapter."
Aldama Embraces a New Chapter in Dallas
Aldama was born Jan. 10, 2001, in Las Palmas. Utah drafted him 30th overall in 2021 out of Loyola Maryland, and his rights were traded to Memphis. He spent his first five NBA seasons with the Grizzlies and re-signed there on a three-year, $52.5 million contract in June 2025.
Last season, he averaged career highs of 14.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 43 games. He shot 47.9% from the field and 35.0% from three.
Memphis sent him to Dallas in a deal that also moved Khris Middleton to Washington in a sign-and-trade.
Being traded was new for Aldama.
"Everything happened super-fast," Aldama explained. "It was weird because it was the first time happening to me. A lot of emotions. I'm super thankful to the Grizzlies. It had been my home for five years and got me to this spot."
"But I'm happy for what's new, a new chapter moving here. I'm just recently a dad. And it's one of my wife's favorite cities, too. So we're very excited to get to know everybody," Aldama continued. "We have a lot of people who are new here. We're excited to do nice stuff and win. I'm happy to be here and help any way, shape or form."
Aldama Reunites With Sergio de Larrea
Sergio de Larrea, a 6-foot-7 rookie guard, is also from Spain. He and Aldama have played together for the national team.
Playing with de Larrea has always been fun for Aldama.
"He's a super-tall guard that's pass-first," Aldama said. "You don't see many pass-first guards that are that tall. Super-good court vision. Playing with him has always been fun. I think, once he gets acclimated to the NBA game, he's going to do it even better. He's going to make the right read every time."
De Larrea has Aldama helping him through the process.
"It's amazing to have him here. He's helping me with the process," de Larrea told Sefko. "We're friends and we played together on the national team and have good chemistry. It's perfect for me to have him here and to share the experience with him."
P.J. Washington plans to pick their brains during the season.
"They've kind of been stingy. Serge and Santi, they've been speaking Spanish just to themselves," Washington said Thursday. "So I'm going to pick their brain a little bit during the season."
Mavericks Continue to Manage Aldama's Recovery
Dallas has several bigs working back. Dereck Lively II is recovering from December surgery on his right foot, and rookie Morez Johnson Jr. has been limited by lower leg soreness. On Sept. 26, every player other than Lively took part in practice in some capacity. Daniel Gafford, Dwight Powell, Moussa Cissé, and Lively are listed at center on the camp roster.
Aldama has been limited in camp. He had an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee on March 17 and had not played since a Feb. 4 game against Sacramento. He prioritized his recovery this summer and sat out Spain's World Cup qualifiers against Portugal on Aug. 28 and Greece on Aug. 31. On Sept. 26, Mavericks coach Dusty May described it as a nagging injury and said he did not know the details.
The 7-footer could be a stretch five in a death lineup, May said Sunday. The trade that brought Aldama to Dallas also sent Marcus Sasser to the Mavericks from Detroit.
May did not say Friday whether Aldama will play in Macao, where Dallas faces the Houston Rockets on Oct. 9 and Oct. 11.
