The NBA dreams for USF standout Izaiyah Nelson are temporarily on hold.
The Orlando Magic announced that he he will need surgery after suffering a fracture in his left ankle during the first half of Sunday's Las Vegas Summer League game against the Trail Blazers,
The team said he is expected to return to basketball activities in 3-4 months.
Nelson, who led the Bulls to the regular-season and tournament championship in the American Conference this season, was taken in the second round of the June draft.
The injury occurred when Nelson was trying to block a shot and landed on a teamate. It was originally beleved to be a sprain, but imaging later showed the fracture.
Nelson signed a two-way contract with the Magic, which means he will be on the team's main roster but will also alternate with the Magic's G-League team in Kissimmee. Under the terms of the two-way contract, Nelson cannot appear in more than 50 of the Magic's games in the upcoming season, although the team can rework that deal at any time.
He has made a postive impression on his new team.
"He has a very impressive motor," Magic summer league coach D.J. Bakker said. "He likes to fight and he likes to (use) his physicality. He understands what his role is on both sides of the floor. He had great rim protection, not good rim protection, great rim protection.
"He does a great job of running the floor and screening as well. He’s a competitor … Great eye contact, great engagement, and very coachable. First impressions with him have been very impressive.”
In the 2025-26 season, Nelson took three top honors from the American -- Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Newcomer of the Year.
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