Jalen Suggs will be available for Orlando Magic’s opening night

The Orlando Magic have dealt with more than their share of injuries through the early parts of training camp.

Two potential starters in Markelle Fultz and Gary Harris were ruled out for camp before it began as they recovered from offseason injuries. Jonathan Isaac was still recovering from his assortment of injuries as well.

Things only seemed to get worse one week ago Friday when Jalen Suggs hyperextended his knee and seemed destined for an extended absence. There was a small sigh of relief when he was diagnosed with a sprain and a bone bruise.

Suggs said he had this kind of injury before. He knew his body and the work he would need to put in to get himself back on the court.

That day is coming sooner than later.

Jalen Suggs will be available to play for the Orlando Magic when they open their season Wednesday against the Detroit Pistons, less than two weeks since a seemingly major knee injury.

Coach Jamahl Mosley announced after practice Sunday that Jalen Suggs would be available to play in the team’s season opener Wednesday against the Detroit Pistons, a stunningly quick recovery for the kind of injury Suggs seemed to sustain.

"“I understood what it was,” Suggs said after practice Sunday. “I had done this exact same thing before. I understood what I had to do to get back. I’ve gone through rehab before. Understanding what work I had to do in the weight room and everything to show the staff and everybody I was good to go. That’s exactly how I went about it. I don’t like missing time. I don’t want to miss time. We’re feeling good, we’re playing good. I want to be an assistance with that to help my team win and win with my team.”"

Suggs has unfortunately been used to being injured in his young career. He played in only 48 games during his rookie season. He missed 20 games in December and January after breaking a bone in his hand. He returned for a stretch of 22 games before an ankle injury caused him to miss 13 of the final 18 games of the season.

It was a disjointed rookie year. And while he had plenty of struggles (especially offensively) before his injury as he learned the NBA, the injuries certainly disrupted the normal growth for a rookie. He had off-season ankle surgery that further kept him out for Summer League.

Injuries are unfortunately something Suggs has been familiar with. But that also helped him focus in his work to get back onto the court.

"“The main thing was don’t drift into that space where you are getting into a negative mindset,” Suggs said after practice Sunday. “Continue to stay positive. Whether you are out for a week or however long, don’t get into that spot because it’s hard to get out of. That’s what I tried to do. I continued to watch the guys and talk from the sideline and help when I could. When it was my time to come on court, in the weight room or training room, I did what I had to do to improve that day. that’s all you can ask for.”"

Suggs will ultimately be out of game action for a total of 12 days. He was back on the court doing some shooting drills as early as Thursday as the Magic prepared for their final preseason game. Mosley said he was limited then to non-contact shooting drills, although he was doing some shooting off movement.

He sat out Friday’s preseason finale, but Suggs said he was eyeing a return for that game but could not get cleared in time.

Suggs said the coaching staff, particularly coach Jamahl Mosley and assistant coaches Jesse Mermuys and Randy Gregory, did a good job of keeping him in the positive mind frame but also trusting Suggs to know his body and where he was in his recovery.

The team found a good groove without him in the preseason. But Suggs is someone who should be able to plug right in and add to that.

Nobody expects him or the team to miss a beat upon his return.

"“I know what Jalen is capable of doing,” Mosley said after practice Sunday. “Our guys know what he is capable of doing and the way in which he plays and how he was able to recover in getting back. It doesn’t change much. Our guys understand when he steps into the game that he’ll be ready to go no matter what that looks like.”"

It is not yet clear what role Suggs would play for the team or if there will be any other restrictions. It is not yet clear what the team’s starting lineup even will be for the opening night.

But the Magic are always happy to have more players available. And certainly happy to have Suggs’ disruptive defense available.

Suggs clearly understood his body and pushed it in the right ways to get himself back on the floor. Everyone felt comfortable with clearing him to return and he and the Magic can hit the ground running.

The Magic are feeling some good vibes heading into their regular season opener. And getting Suggs back from injury only adds to that and the growing excitement for Wednesday night.