Aldridge back at scene of career-threatening heart scare

SAN DIEGO — For Nets center LaMarcus Aldridge, the preseason game Sunday against the Lakers in Los Angeles will be his first live NBA action since his last visit to Staples Center, when he thought a cardiac issue would end his career … or worse.

Aldridge felt an irregular heartbeat on April 10 while playing for the Nets against the Lakers, and was forced to retire just days later. But after being medically cleared to play again, and signing a veteran’s minimum contract to come back, the 36-year-old’s return to action will come on that same court.

“He looks great,” Blake Griffin said of Aldridge. “LaMarcus is LaMarcus, man. Mid-range specialist, knows how to play defense. He’s a good basketball player. He looks good.”

Griffin laid claim to the center job last season after Aldridge retired, and is the incumbent starter who could have to fend off a challenge this season.

Head coach Steve Nash said Aldridge has looked solid so far in camp and he is one of the few big names expected to play Sunday. Patty Mills — who has known Aldridge for more than a decade and has been his teammate with the Trail Blazers, Spurs and Nets — said the center is feeling rejuvenated physically and mentally.

“Yeah, look, first of all, I obviously love having him around. And learning from each other that way as well over the years, and how to make the longevity of your career go on,” Mills said. “And obviously a few months off I think gave him a chance to look after the body and recover and get his body and mind to a certain point where he felt comfortable to be able to come back with the same hungriness.

“So to walk in the locker room and know that he’s there and to be able to have conversations about the past and where we’re trying to get to moving forward, I think he’s really helpful.”

Nash said assistant Jordan Ott (who coached the summer league team) will lead the offense, while assistant head coach Jacque Vaughn will once again serve as the de facto defensive coordinator.

The Nets will continue to be switch-heavy, and will eventually add some new wrinkles defensively, but that’s for down the road. Right now they’re still drilling down on their defensive principles.

Kessler Edwards, the only one of three secondround picks to have signed a Nets contract, continues to engender faith he can someday develop into a capable defender.

“He’s done well,” Nash said. “He’s an NBA defender I think potentially.”