After undergoing an MRI on his injured left knee, Magic guard R.J. Hampton has been diagnosed with an MCL sprain and a bone bruise, the team announced today (via Twitter).
Hampton, who sustained the injury in the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s loss in Philadelphia, will likely be sidelined for about two-to-four weeks, barring any setbacks in his recovery process, a source tells Khobi Price of The Orlando Sentinel.
It’s worth noting that the Magic typically take an extremely cautious approach to their players’ recoveries from injuries and rarely provide specific timelines. In other words, I’d be surprised if Hampton is back on the court two weeks from now. Orlando has the NBA’s worst record (8-38) so far this season, so there’s little incentive to rush back one of the team’s young prospects.
Acquired from Denver in last season’s Aaron Gordon trade, Hampton has averaged 7.2 PPG, 2.9 RPG, and 2.4 APG in 42 games (19.4 MPG) for the Magic in 2021/22. While his 36.4% rate on three-point shots is solid, he has struggled to consistently knock down two-pointers (39.3%) and free throws (60.8%).
In Hampton’s absence, the Magic figure to lean more heavily on guards Cole Anthony and Jalen Suggs, as well as wings Gary Harris and Terrence Ross. Markelle Fultz, who is practicing with the team as he recovers from his ACL tear, will also figure into the backcourt mix once he’s ready to make his season debut.