Orlando Magic

One major injury can have a trickle-down effect on an entire NBA roster, shortening the bench and altering rotations. Two significant injuries can further complicate things and create what injury analyst Will Carroll has dubbed “the death spiral.” Carroll theorizes that the once multiple severe injuries occur it’s hard to prevent more injuries from occurring as the medical staff must shift their focus from preventative care to rehabilitation.

If ever there was team to test Carroll’s theory, the Orlando Magic is it. Hampered in recent seasons by major knee injuries to players like Markelle Fultz, Jonathan Isaac, and Gary Harris, the Magic have struggled to keep their total games lost to injury or illness low. Isaac’s injuries, including his ACL tear in the 2020 Bubble and a torn groin, have been particularly costly, accounting for 20 percent of Orlando’s total games lost over the last three seasons. 

However, for the first time since 2018, the Magic and Head Athletic Trainer Ernest Eugene enter the season not rehabbing a player following offseason surgery. As a result, Orlando has a real chance to gain valuable continuity with their young roster and build on last year’s late season success. After starting the season 5-20, Magic played slightly over .500 basketball for the remainder of the year.