Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said Jalen Suggs has been able to take part in 5-on-5, full-contact drills during practice in the ramp up to Wednesday’s opening night game against the Miami Heat.
Suggs, who is recovering from a left knee trochlea cartilage tear suffered last season, is trending in the right direction to meet the target date of the season opener (which was originally set by Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman at media date Sept. 29), but Orlando will wait and see how the All-Defensive guard responds to treatment before making a decision.
“He had a great day,” Mosley said after practice Tuesday at the AdventHealth Training Center. “As I’ve continued to tell you all, we go off of how he responds to the treatment and what he’s been doing with that group, and today was a good day.
“Yesterday was a good day so he’s responding well,” he added.
Although Suggs averaged career highs of 16.2 points, 4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals per contest last season, he did so in a career-low 35 games because of the left knee injury that required surgery.
When he’s on the court, he changes the game for the Magic, who pride themselves on the defensive end of the court. A former high school football star from Minnesota, Suggs provided a level of physicality not seen often in the modern NBA.
He started the preseason only taking part in non-contact individual drills but last week responded well to limited 3-on-3 contact work. Whether he returns Wednesday night or some time in the first week of the regular season, Orlando understands his importance to the team on both ends of the floor.
“It’s just great to see that he’s able to go through full contact with the 5-on-5, with the group of guys being out there with his brothers, as he likes to say,” Mosley said. “It would mean a lot for us. We know what he brings to the table: his energy, his toughness, his defensive presence as the head of the snake defensively but then also his controlling of the floor on the offensive end.”
His teammates recognize his impact as well.
“First off, [I am] super happy for him that his rehab is going well,” Magic forward Franz Wagner said. “We definitely need Jalen. You know what I mean? His energy on defense making big plays, but [he is] one of our most important players on the team.
“So, I’ll be really happy for him when he gets back out there,” he added.
In a recent interview, Suggs shared that he’s aware he won’t play as many as 30 minutes or go as hard as possible from the get go, and that plan aligns with Mosley’s messaging Tuesday.
“Each guy is different in the way that they respond to treatment and when they come back, but we also have to be smart and think long term,” the Magic coach said. “That’s going to be the focus when he does work his way back into the group.”
Jason Beede can be reached at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com
Originally Published: October 21, 2025 at 2:35 PM EDT