Santi Aldama has averaged 10.0 points in 15.7 minutes through his first three games back from knee surgery. P.J. Washington explained how the 7-footer’s shooting, intelligence and versatility are helping Dallas.
GABy Grant AfsethPublished November 11, 2026 at 3:46 pm CST3 min read☆ Add us as a preferred source on Google
See more of our reporting in your Google results.
In this article
DALLAS — Santi Aldama is averaging 10.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in 15.7 minutes through his first three games with the Dallas Mavericks. The 7-footer made his Dallas debut Nov. 6 against the Utah Jazz after missing the first eight games while recovering from right knee surgery he had in March.
In Monday’s 125-122 win over the Indiana Pacers, Aldama had 10 points and 4 rebounds on 4-of-9 shooting. P.J. Washington spoke after practice Wednesday, a day before Dallas opens a three-game road trip at the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“His ability to knock down three and his IQ,” Washington said. “He’s a really smart player. He knows where he’s supposed to be. He talks on both ends, and he’s seven foot. So being able to be seven foot, playing on the perimeter, and can put the ball on the floor and back cut and do all the little things, I think, is just big for us.”
“He’s another guy that kind of just fills in the holes for us,” Washington continued. “So I think it’s great that he’s back, and I’m super excited to play with him. He makes my job easier, and I’m sure he makes everybody else’s.”
Santi Aldama’s Road Back From Knee Surgery
Dallas acquired Aldama in an offseason trade involving the Memphis Grizzlies, where he spent his first five NBA seasons. He re-signed with Memphis on a three-year, $52.5 million contract in June 2025.
Aldama sat out all four preseason games. Before the Utah game, Mavericks coach Dusty May said Aldama had been practicing with the Texas Legends, Dallas Sports Journal reported.
“Santi’s very close,” May said Nov. 5. “He’s practiced with the Legends a couple times.”
In Sunday’s 130-93 win over the Brooklyn Nets, Aldama scored 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including 2-of-4 from three, in 15 minutes. He is shooting 55.0% from the field through three games.
P.J. Washington On The Dallas Mavericks’ Offense
Washington is averaging 14.6 points and a team-high 7.6 rebounds while making 35.6% of his 3-pointers. Cooper Flagg leads Dallas with 25.9 points and 6.9 assists per game, and Kyrie Irving is averaging 22.9 points.
“I feel like it’s developing each and every game,” Washington explained. “We’re just getting more comfortable playing with each other and playing against other teams. We’ve seen a lot of different differences. So for us, it’s just identifying what they’re trying to take away from us and just working it from there.”
“I feel like with Kai and Coop, we have two of the best playmakers in the league,” Washington continued.
Washington said the two are creating for others, which “just makes our drives a lot easier.” Flagg and Irving combined for 78 points against Indiana on Monday.
Dallas plays at Minnesota at 7 p.m. CT Thursday. The Mavericks visit the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday and the Boston Celtics on Sunday before returning home Nov. 18 against the Golden State Warriors.
Dallas Sports Journal newsletters
Your teams. Your inbox.
Our newsletter is coming soon. Sign up now and choose your Dallas teams, national coverage, or the Daily Brief.
Free to join. Change your preferences or unsubscribe anytime.