Magic guard R.J. Hampton to make return from knee injury Friday vs. Rockets

Hampton has been out for more than one month after suffering an MCL sprain and bone bruise in his left knee and will come back to a team that is in full rebuild mode, having lost four in a row and six of their last seven. Entering Thursday, Orlando is an NBA-worst 13-47.

Less than one week after being selected 24th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2020 NBA Draft, Hampton was moved to the Denver Nuggets as part of a monster four-team trade also that also involved the Oklahoma City Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans. Then in March of his rookie season, the native of Dallas, Texas, was traded to the Magic with Gary Harris and a future first-round pick for Gary Clark and Aaron Gordon.

With a contending Denver team, Hampton averaged just 9.3 minutes per contest over 25 games, but with Orlando, the youngster posted 11.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 25.2 minutes per tilt in 26 games. In 42 games this season, Hampton has registered 7.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 19.4 minutes per contest.