Magette Hopeful of Shock Return

Saturday, February 18, 2023

Tasmania star Josh Magette could be set for a shock return if the JackJumpers advance to the Championship Series.

Magette suffered a broken cheekbone and a fractured eye socket in the last round of the regular season and has missed all of Tasmania’s Finals campaign so far and won’t play in the Playoff series against the New Zealand Breakers.

However, if the JackJumpers can overcome a 1-0 series deficit to the Breakers, a masked Magette could take the court in the Championship Series.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">?WATCH: <a href="https://twitter.com/joshmagette?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@joshmagette</a> is hopeful of returning to the <a href="https://twitter.com/JackJumpers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JackJumpers</a> line-up if his team can progress to the <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NBL</a> Grand Final series. ??The star guard was involved in a sickening incident during the final roster match, requiring surgery on a broken cheekbone & fractured eye socket <a href="https://t.co/rrbDKJ6IdH">pic.twitter.com/rrbDKJ6IdH</a></p>— Brent Costelloe (@brentcostelloe) <a href="https://twitter.com/brentcostelloe/status/1625952956242866177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“I’m hopeful. I guess we’ll know more as the next week or two progresses but I think there’s a chance if we can find a mask that protects me and limits the amount of impact it would have on my face then I’m definitely optimistic for it,” Magette said via The Mercury.

“Whatever it takes, I’d just be happy to be on the court and whatever I can do to help our team win I’m all there for it.”

Magette added his recovery is “progressing well” after he had three metal plates put into his face.

Game 2 of the best-of-three series between Tasmania and New Zealand is tonight at 7:30pm AEDT at MyState Bank Arena. It will be broadcast live on ESPN via Kayo Freebies.

The Breakers won Game 1 in Auckland 88-68.