'Like Getting Drafted All Over Again': Wendell Carter Jr. On Magic Return

Orlando Magic big man Wendell Carter Jr. has been out with a hand injury for over a month, but now he is back in the lineup and he couldn't be more excited.

The Orlando Magic has been without its starting center for the last 20 games, but that could be changing in the team's game tonight against the Miami Heat.

Wendell Carter Jr. was injured in the final seconds of the team's game against the Utah Jazz on Nov. 2. Center Goga Bitadze has done a great job in Carter Jr.'s absence, but the team will be glad to have the big man back. Carter Jr. spoke more about what it will feel like to be back on the court in an interview this morning.

Wendell Carter Jr / Nell Redmond-USA TODAY Sports

"It's kind of like getting drafted all over again, there's a lot of emotions," Carter Jr. said. "I was really happy when I visited the doctor and he said he was cool with me starting to hoop again, so I was just glad to finally be back out there. I was really excited, so I called all of my friends and family and let them know."

Whenever Carter Jr. does step back on the court, he will have a wrap on his hand, but according to him, it won't have that much of an impact on his game, as it is on the back of his hand. Carter Jr. also talked a little bit about the minutes that he will be playing tonight.

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"Talking to coach, he told me to just blow it out," Carter Jr. said. "Go as hard as I can until exhaustion, and when I need a sub or I'm tired just let him know. So that could be 15-16 minutes, or it could be 25 plus, so it just kind of depends on how my wind is, the flow of the game, and how my hand is feeling."

Carter Jr. is finally off of the injury report for the Magic's game tonight against the Heat, and the big man will be looking to show how impactful he is to the team in his first game back. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. ET from the newly named Kia Center.