Jalen Suggs had surgical procedure final week to handle a slight stress fracture in his proper ankle, Orlando Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman introduced Monday.
The Magic mentioned Suggs is predicted to renew basketball actions this summer time and make a full restoration for the beginning of coaching camp.
“In assessing Jalen’s proper ankle on the conclusion of the season, and consulting with a number of docs, we got here to the willpower to endure this preventative measure,” Weltman mentioned. “We really feel by addressing this now Jalen can nonetheless have a productive summer time main into coaching camp.”
Suggs, the No. 5 decide in final yr’s draft, handled accidents to his proper ankle throughout his rookie season that sidelined him for 13 of the ultimate 18 video games.
He sprained the ankle throughout the street win over the Toronto Raptors on March 4 earlier than lacking the subsequent two video games.
Suggs returned within the win over the New Orleans Pelicans on March 9, additionally taking part in vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves on March 11 and Philadelphia 76ers on March 13 earlier than lacking 10 consecutive video games due to a bone bruise in his proper ankle.
Magic coach Jamahl Mosley mentioned Suggs, amongst different gamers who have been coping with late-season accidents, wasn’t going to return to the ground until they have been wholesome sufficient to play.
“You’d wish to see him on the courtroom sooner or later, but it surely’s not going to be to the detriment of his well being,” Mosley mentioned of Suggs in late March. “I perceive their means to push by, however you don’t need guys to proceed to have nagging accidents going by the summer time. So that you make certain they’re wholesome all the way in which earlier than they step on the ground.”
Suggs returned within the house win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on April 5 and performed within the street loss to the Charlotte Hornets on April 7, taking part in on a minutes restriction in each video games, earlier than sitting out the season-finale win over the Miami Warmth on April 10 due to the bone bruise.
Suggs completed the season averaging 11.8 factors (36.1% taking pictures, 21.4% on 3-pointers), 4.4 assists and three.6 rebounds in 48 video games.
He additionally missed 20 video games from early December by mid-January after fracturing his proper thumb (taking pictures hand) in a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Nov. 29, 2021.
Suggs spoke on coming again for his second season as a considerably higher participant, pointing to his shot and ball-handling as areas he’d give attention to bettering.
The hope is that by getting the surgical procedure earlier within the offseason, Suggs will nonetheless be capable to work on his recreation throughout the summer time forward of subsequent season’s begin.
This text first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. E mail Khobi Worth at khprice@orlandosentinel.com.
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