Magic's Jalen Suggs to Undergo Surgery on Knee Injury; Out Indefinitely
Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs will undergo surgery to remove a cartilage fragment in his knee, the team announced Sunday.
Shams Charania of ESPN first reported the news.
He is expected to make a full recovery, but his timeline will be based on his rehab.
The Magic initially announced Friday that Suggs would be out indefinitely with a trochlea injury in his left knee:
Suggs has appeared in just one contest since he left a Jan. 3 game in a wheelchair with what was identified as back spasms.
He played again on Jan. 25 before he was sidelined with what the team called a left quad contusion.
The knee injury was discovered when Suggs underwent tests including an MRI because he was "experiencing discomfort," according to the Magic.
The Magic signed Suggs to a five-year, $150.5 million contract extension ahead of the 2024-25 season.
That deal doesn't kick in until the 2025-26 season, at which point it runs through 2029-30.
Coach Jamahl Mosley has accordingly said multiple times throughout Suggs' absences that the team is prioritizing his long-term health in managing his return to the court.
Mosley mentioned that goal most recently on Tuesday, when he said the Magic were "not leaving any stone unturned" in looking at what was delaying Suggs' return from the quad contusion.
"We're trying to find a reason to see how he is, but also knowing it's very important that we look at the long-term as well and make sure he is full-go when he steps on that court for us," Mosley said, per Philip Rossman-Reich of Orlando Magic Daily.
The Magic have struggled on defense without Suggs, who was averaging 0.9 blocks and 1.5 steals per game in addition to his 16.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists.
After missing 10 games with the back injury and 14 games following the thigh contusion, Suggs has appeared in just 35 of the Magic's 61 games so far this season.
Orlando will be challenged to continue battling for an Eastern Conference playoff spot without their best defender. The Magic hold the No. 7 spot in the East despite only having their top three scorers of Suggs, Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner together for six games this season.
