Moe Wagner prepares for uphill climb of injury rehab

Moe Wagner said all he can do is put his energy toward the challenge ahead as he recovers from a torn ACL. The climb up the hill is just beginning.

Leg injuries have a way of putting the simple things in perspective. You understand how much you take mobility for granted. It sometimes feels like even the most basic things have to be re-learned.

Right now, Moe Wagner likely feels as if he is at the bottom of a steep hill. He can see the breadth and scope of the climb ahead of him, and it could feel overwhelming.

After all, without the power of walking as Wagner crutched from the team's locker room area to the backdrop to speak to the media after the Orlando Magic's shootaround Monday, you have to learn everything over again. You have to have the patience to wait until your body is ready for the next steps and you have to have the determination not to give up when things get hard.

Rehab is hard.

There is indeed a tall mountain for Wagner to climb. As much as the ever-positive and perceptive Wagner wants to put his focus and his energy on being optimistic, even he has to feel the pain and frustration that his breakout season is over and that he will not be able to play basketball for a little while.

Everyone feared the worst when Wagner drove through the lane late in the first quarter of Saturday's loss to the Miami Heat and he collapsed with a non-contact injury. Those fears were confirmed when the Magic announced he had torn the ACL in his left knee.

Now he is staring at a tall mountain to climb to return to the court. It starts with that single step. Whether it is getting up to crutch across the court to speak to the media or even something as simple as a teammate like Jonathan Isaac who has been through this injury showing him how to put on a compression sleeve.

The journey back to the top starts with that first step. And Wagner's journey is just beginning.