ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Magic now know why guard Jalen Suggs, one of the NBA’s most rugged perimeter defenders, felt continued discomfort as he attempted to work his way back from what team officials originally had described as a quadriceps contusion.
Suggs is dealing with a trochlea injury in his left knee and will be out indefinitely, the Magic announced early Friday night.
Team officials said Suggs, 23, recently underwent additional imaging tests on his knee, and those tests revealed the injury. A treatment plan has not been determined yet, team officials said, adding that Suggs “is expected to make a full recovery.”
Suggs suffered the injury on Jan. 25 and has missed Orlando’s last 13 games. The Magic have compiled a 5-8 record in that span, and the team’s hopes of securing a top-six playoff berth — and avoiding the Eastern Conference’s Play-In Tournament — have taken a severe hit during his absence. With 21 games remaining on their regular-season schedule, the Magic sit in seventh place in the East standings, five games behind the red-hot — and sixth-place — Detroit Pistons.
Suggs is averaging 16.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists this season.
It’s unclear whether Suggs will be able to return before the postseason.
In what ways do the Magic miss Suggs most?
Suggs is Orlando’s third-leading scorer, but his impact is felt most in two ways: his defense and his energy.
He was named to the 2023-24 NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and his ability to disrupt opponents’ ballhandlers enables the Magic to regain the basketball, push upcourt in transition and attempt shots before opponents can set their defenses. Because the Magic are shooting a league-worst 30.5 percent from 3-point range, they struggle to space the floor in half-court situations; that, in turn, means the team feels Suggs’ absence more than ever.
When Suggs has been on the court this season, the Magic have allowed only 104.8 points per 100 possessions, which would be the top-ranked defense in the league, according to the NBA’s data.
But when Suggs isn’t on the court, the Magic have allowed 110.1 points per 100 possessions. That would rank as the league’s sixth-best defense; that’s still very good, of course, but not elite.
Suggs adds an intangible element, too. Teammates have called him the heart and soul of their team because of his selfless play and all-out effort.
Who has to step up in Suggs’ absence?
Cole Anthony, 24, has been Orlando’s starting point guard lately, and although he is a better shooter than Suggs, Anthony is not as effective as a defender.
Anthony Black, 21, is now the backup point guard, and he’s particularly adept on the defensive end.
Orlando’s two best players, forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, handle the bulk of the team’s playmaking duties even when Suggs is healthy. But with the team allowing more baskets and creating fewer transition opportunities, Banchero, Wagner and the rest of their teammates have to operate more often in the halfcourt against set defenses.
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(Photo: Julio Aguilar / Getty Images)
