NBA player Jalen Suggs is taken off court in a wheelchair after suffering agonizing non-contact back injury
Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs left the court in a wheelchair on Friday after suffering a painful non-contact back injury against the Raptors.
Suggs had raced toward Immanuel Quickley of the Toronto doubles team when he fell to the ground in pain and grabbed his back.
The former Gonzaga standout appeared to be in immense discomfort on the floor as his teammates watched, before being taken off the field in a wheelchair.
“He was in a lot of pain,” Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said said after the game. He’s back in the locker room now, we’ll have him re-evaluated tomorrow. Right now it looks like back spasms.”
Suggs left the game – which Orlando won 106-97 – with six points in 13 minutes.
According to sports doctor Brian Sutterer MDSuggs is not expected to miss any extended time if his injury is officially diagnosed as a back spasm.
Jalen Suggs’ head was covered with a towel as he left the court in a wheelchair on Friday
Suggs writhed on the ground in pain after his injury. His coach said afterwards that he seemed to be suffering from back spasms.
Suggs is averaging a career-high 16.4 points per game in his fourth season with the Magic
Sutterer added that if Suggs doesn’t get an MRI for the problem, he could be back on the court within days.
However, if Suggs actually suffers a nerve or intervertebral injury, he will be out longer.
Suggs played a career-high 75 games last season but faced injury issues during his NBA career.
He played only 48 games in his rookie season after breaking his right thumb, and the following year he also played only 53 games.
Now in his fourth season, Suggs is averaging a career-high 16.4 points per game as a consistent starter for the Magic.
Orlando’s next game is Sunday against the Jazz.