Well, the last 24 hours must have been an emotional roller coaster for Wendell Carter Jr. With two years left on his contract and uncertainty about his future with the Magic, the Center began his preseason journey last night facing the Pelicans. However, things soon turned scary, as the hooper was forced to leave the game midway because of an unfortunate ankle injury. But just as he was at his lowest point, his spirits would’ve been lifted hugely, as the big man earned a $59 million upgrade to solidify his future in Orlando.

Yes, in Shams Charania’s first major insider report, following his latest move to ESPN, he revealed that Wendell Carter Jr. has agreed to a three-year $59 million contract extension with the Orlando Magic. Sure enough, this takes his total contract value to the available max extension- $82 million, securing his future with the team for the next five years. Despite his new lucrative deal, it will take Carter some time to return to the court after last night’s incident.

During the third quarter of the preseason opener, the Center landed awkwardly on Daniel Theis’ foot and tweaked his left ankle. In visible pain, Wendell Carter Jr. fell to the floor and headed to the locker room soon after. Moreover, he did not return for the rest of the game and finished with only 4 points and 6 rebounds.

Addressing the hooper’s injury after the game, head coach Jamahl Mosley said, “We’re going to evaluate him and get some imaging, and see how he’s doing. I think he’s doing well.” He even revealed his perspective of the unfortunate incident, saying, “I looked up and I just heard him scream. I think it was just him turning his ankle, landed wrong.” As fans await more updates on Wendell Carter Jr.’s injury, the Orlando side would be hoping that it’s nothing serious, especially after the massive contract extension.

Wendell Carter Jr. reveals the “biggest” requirement for a successful season

Unfortunately, this is not the first time WC’s health has been a concern. Just last season, he was limited to playing only 55 games because of a hand injury. On Media Day, Carter even revealed what he needs to do to have a successful year, “Healthy. Not missing the games from injuries. I think that’s the biggest thing for me.” But he wouldn’t have expected that his plan would fail in his very first preseason appearance.

When healthy, Wendell is a solid player who has averaged nearly 9 rebounds during his time in Orlando. He is also a consistent 15-point scorer who can protect the rim with his 6’10 frame and long arms. Maybe that’s why the Magic trusted him enough to offer an extension despite constant injury concerns. Before last night’s injury, the hooper seemed extremely confident heading into this season, “Physically, I feel amazing. My body feels amazing, but what feels even better is my mentality.”

Getting a lot of time to himself last season due to rehab and then, in the offseason, Wendell Carter Jr. claimed that he worked on building mental toughness to deal with adverse situations. Hopefully, he will return to the court soon and help the Magic make a solid run this season!

Before leaving, do watch the Dual Threat Show hosted by BG12 where Bulldogs’ Asia Avinger details her experience with Kobe Bryant, her WNBA ROTY picks, and more in the video below.