Magic Announce Jalen Suggs Out For Season After Knee Surgery

Magic guard Jalen Suggs will miss the remainder of the 2024-25 NBA season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, the team announced.

Suggs had a cartilage fragment removed and also underwent a mosaicplasty procedure to repair the trochlear joint surface.

The 23-year-old, who had been sidelined indefinitely earlier this week due to a trochlea injury in his knee, had previously missed 14 consecutive games with what was originally diagnosed as a left quad contusion.

He has now been absent for 24 of Orlando’s last 25 contests after also dealing with a low back strain in January.

Suggs, who had been progressing toward a return to the court in recent weeks, experienced ongoing discomfort in his left knee, prompting further imaging that revealed the trochlea injury.

Despite exploring non-surgical treatment options, including physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medication, the team ultimately opted for surgery.

A former No. 5 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Gonzaga, Suggs has averaged 16.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game this season. His absence has been notable, as he is regarded as one of the league’s premier perimeter defenders. The Magic have posted a 20-15 record in games he has played, compared to a 9-17 mark in games without him.

The Magic had been a top-four seed in the Eastern Conference for much of the season, but they now sit at 29-32, currently occupying the eighth seed. Suggs’ absence has also contributed to a lack of continuity with fellow rising stars, All-Star forward Paolo Banchero and starting forward Franz Wagner. The trio has played just 97 total minutes together this season.

In October, Suggs signed a five-year, $150.5 million rookie scale extension with Orlando, a deal that is set to begin at the start of the 2025-26 season. Despite his injury, Suggs remains a key part of the Magic’s long-term plans. However, it remains uncertain when he will return to the court.