Michigan State Basketball: Will Joshua Langford return for 2020-21 season?

With the recent reports of Joshua Langford’s potential return to the Michigan State Basketball roster, should Spartans fans be excited or reserved in their hopes for the oft-injured guard’s contributions?

Josh Langford’s career at Michigan State Basketball took a dramatic turn in December 2018, when a stress reaction in his foot forced Langford out of the lineup and abruptly brought to an end a promising season for the junior, who was averaging 15.0 ppg on 44% shooting, including 40% from 3-point range, at the time of the injury. A captain and defensive stopper for the Spartans, Langford was an important player for Michigan St. before his injury.

Prior to the 2019-2020 season, things were looking up for Langford and the Spartans with his potential return to the lineup, as a consensus of college basketball pundits ranked Michigan St. #1 in the preseason, in large part to Langford’s return. Then, reports came out that Langford would not be ready to begin the season, and ultimately his return ended before it began with surgery on his foot in December 2019.

Expectations this spring were that Langford would try to pursue a professional career, perhaps in the G-League or overseas, and the thought of his return to East Lansing was fleeting. However, a report on Wednesday, quoting Coach Tom Izzo, states that Langford is eyeing a potential return to the Spartans lineup as a fifth-year senior.

There is no denying Langford’s talent, as he improved statistically each year for the Spartans. He was set to be a dynamic contributor for the remainder of his junior season, and his void left quite a hole for Michigan St. to fill on both the offensive and defensive ends. While that season ultimately resulted in a Final Four run for Sparty, and included sharing the regular-season Big Ten title and winning the Big Ten Tournament outright, Michigan St. fans are rightly left to wonder whether they’d have cut down the nets in Minneapolis with Langford healthy.

Joshua Langford’s impact on Michigan State Basketball’s roster

With some roster flux with the draft decisions of Aaron Henry and Xavier Tillman looming, it’s clear that a healthy Langford would return experience and leadership to a team that is faced with those potential departures, as well as the loss of senior guard and leader Cassius Winston. Langford and Izzo seem to have a special relationship, and Langford’s presence in itself would be an important component of Michigan St.’s team chemistry next season.

The biggest questions, though, are regarding Langford’s health and ability to contribute on the floor. He was a dynamic scoring guard developing a shooter’s touch and possessing the ability to create his own baskets when he went down with his injuries. He’s a former five-star prospect who can both lead an offense or get buckets in a secondary role. At full health, or close to it, Langford makes the Michigan State roster much better than currently constructed, there is no doubt.

However, assuming the 2020-21 college basketball season kicks off on time, Langford will be almost two full years removed from game action, and the long layoff, together with the history of his foot injury, raises serious doubts about the level to which he can return as a player. It’s unlikely Spartans fans see the dynamic scorer who was developing into one of the best guards in college basketball. It’s not impossible, but not likely.

Still, a healthy Langford contributing whatever his body allows is a net positive for Michigan St. With Rocket Watts, Langford, and a possible return of Aaron Henry, Michigan St. would likely be near the top of the preseason polls again. Here’s to hoping Langford returns successfully, remains completely healthy, and puts together a fine senior campaign. For all he’s endured through injury, he deserves that chance.