Magic's Jalen Suggs 'Back Rocking' as He Preps for Possible Return

ORLANDO, Fla. – Jalen Suggs closed his eyes and began shaking his head.

A simple question was posed to the Orlando Magic guard: How antsy are you to get back on the court?

Suggs, who's missed the last 10 games because of a low back strain, opened his eyes, leaned back against the wall of the AdventHealth Training Center and smiled.

"I'm super excited," the fourth-year pro said. "Especially being on the sideline, man, just seeing how – I mean, we're just in a learning stretch right now. We're in a tough stretch of the season. It hurt seeing the guys go through it and not be able to go out there [and] contribute. Not only with words, but with my actions."

Selected No. 5 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Magic go as Suggs goes. He's their defensive point-of-attack ace who possesses a motor with no off switch. When describing him, Orlando often articulates phrases that refer to him as the team's "heart and soul," "head of the snake" or "heartbeat."

"It was hurting sitting over there on the bench, but now that I'm back rocking, I've got some good juice.

The Magic need it. Desperately.

Without his presence on the court – leaving the floor by wheelchair in Toronto on Jan. 3 and out of action since – they've gone just 2-8, including five straight double-digit losses. Despite inching closer to full health with the recent returns of Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley attested to his team not having the right energy and spirit about them in their recent stretch of poor play on both ends of the court.

Friday evening, Suggs was listed as questionable for the first time since his injury north of the border, and he followed it up by going through Saturday's shootaround. With his participation, the buzz was back.

"Just having him on the floor again, being able to go through the shootaround [and] go through a shooting spot to see how he feels tonight, I think it brings the energy," Mosley said. "We understand his impact on this team and how his energy and how much gravity he has in this group."

Following up his All-Defensive team nod last year, Suggs is averaging 16.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals through in 34 appearances this season. Teams are scoring -4.3 points less per 100 possessions with him on the court, per Cleaning the Glass.

Case in point: While rookie wing Tristan da Silva was shooting on a nearby court as Suggs addressed his potential return with local reporters, where Suggs himself said he was excited to feel and be a part of the group's energy, da Silva jubilantly pumped his arms in celebration.

"You can be a part of it when you're not playing, but it's different when your emotions are in the game," Suggs said. "I'm excited."

So excited, in fact, that he couldn't play it down when directly asked whether he could play versus the Pistons on Saturday.

"I'm good," Suggs said. "You know me. I ain't gon' lie. I'm rocking."

While signs certainly point toward his return coming in a time of certain need, he may not be the only contributor joining the fray on Saturday evening.

Cole Anthony, who's also listed as questionable for Saturday after missing the previous two games with an illness, participated in the Magic's morning shootaround. Mosley said the fifth-year reserve guard was "feeling better" hours before tipoff.

After a rough start to his year, Anthony has played much better as of late. With Suggs down, Anthony averaged 17.0 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 31.5 minutes before his bout with illness began Tuesday in Toronto.

Goga Bitadze was also listed as questionable for Saturday as he continues working through concussion protocol. The Georgian center didn't participate in contact portions of shootaround, but he did play 2-on-2 with Gary Harris, who's out with a left hamstring strain, and coaches following the shootaround session concluded.

After starting the year on the third string, Bitadze assumed the starting role and was in the midst of a career year before his entrance into the concussion protocol. This year, he's averaging 9.6 points and 8.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.6 blocks and nearly a steal per game – all career highs through 36 appearances. Orlando is just 1-9 without him available.

Harris is missing his 27th total game this year – the 12th because of this second stint with a left hamstring strain he re-aggravated on New Year's Day in Detroit and kept him out for 13 games earlier this year.