Tasmania JackJumpers star Will Magnay admits he wanted to return to NBL24 sooner

A Tasmania JackJumpers star player has spoken openly about his frustrating five month recovery from injury.

While he admits it was a frustrating recovery, Tasmania JackJumpers big man Will Magnay is just happy to be back in the NBL.

The one-time New Orleans Pelicans player made a successful return in the JackJumpers win over Adelaide last Saturday after missing five months with a foot injury he suffered playing overseas in the NBL off-season.

Will Magnay made a successful return in the JackJumpers 10-point win over Adelaide last week. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

Magnay played 12 minutes in the 82-72 win over the 36ers and said while missing the opening seven rounds of NBL24 was frustrating, he was now focused on giving himself the best chance to stay on the floor.

“I felt a little bit behind speed wise but I’m just grateful to be back out there and everyone was excited for me,” Magnay said.

“I felt good (post-game). It’s just going to be about building my conditioning and game reps and keep trying to get better at practice.

“I think I could have played (earlier) but I probably would have only played one minute. It’s just one of those things, you get so excited because you’ve missed four or five months and are so antsy to get back out there but I’m happy Scott (Roth) put the brakes on me a bit and told me to settle down and get back in due time.

“Obviously you want to get it right, so that’s a big part of it. But when you start to push to play games and you keep getting told, no next week, that’s when it starts to get a bit frustrating but I’m in a great situation.

“Everyone looked after me. The medical team has been great, everyone has been communicating with me through it and have been happy with how I’m doing and I’m just grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to recover here and the help that I’ve had as well.

“I’m just going to stay on top of my rehab and prehab and keep trying to get fit, stay healthy, eat right and do all the right things. That will take me where I deserve to go.”

Now sitting third on the ladder after two back-to-back wins ahead of Thursday night’s clash against New Zealand in Launceston, the return of Magnay is set to ease the load of fellow big man Marcus Lee.

Import Marcus Lee continues to improve with every game for the JackJumpers. (Photo by Sarah Reed/Getty Images)

With Lee firmly entrenched in the JackJumpers starting five for the first 10 games, Magnay said it would just be a balancing act now between the pair, along with two other teammates, for court time but he was excited to team with the American.

“Marcus has been great,” he said.

“We have a really good relationship and are learning a lot from each other and continue to keep pushing each other every day.

“There are going to be nights where it’s his night and nights where it’s my night but we also have Fabijan (Krslovic) and ‘JB’ (Jarred Bairstow), so we have a lot of depth and character and we will be able to build on that and hopefully get each other better.”

While Magnay added that there was no restrictions on him from a minutes perspective, he said he now had to prove to Roth he was capable of extending his time on the floor with every passing game.

“If I tried to play 30 minutes (right now), I’d be cooked,” Magnay said.

“But at the same time I have to prove I can play 30 minutes. I have to be playing well and prove to Scott (Roth) I deserve to be out on the court.

“I’m just going to play my role and if its Marcus’s night then I’ll be cheering for him and doing the best I can to help him through the game and if it’s my night I’ll be doing the best I can.”

The JackJumpers host the Breakers at the Silverdome on Thursday night from 7:30pm.