Suggs is Orlando’s Third All-Star

Orlando, FL—Jalen Suggs is not only one of the best 3-and-D players in the association, but he is the true heart and soul of the Orlando Magic. With his incredible play this season, it is safe to say a Suggs all-star appearance isn’t too far away.

Jalen Suggs Growth from Last Season

Since the beginning of last season, Suggs has continued to take on a larger role offensively, and it appears that all of this preparation has prepared him for this very moment.  

Last season at the time we saw Suggs average career-highs across the board in points (12.6), field goal percentage (47.1%), three-point percentage (39.7%), and steals (1.4) which led him to be named to the All-NBA Defensive Second Team. 

“Jalen Suggs, man that guy may be one of the hardest playing guys in the entire league.” Denver Nuggets Head Coach Mike Malone when asked about Jalen Suggs’s defense. “I love the emotion he plays with. Last night he’s going coast-to-coast, he’s pounding his chest, he’s sticking his tongue out I mean he’s just leaving his imprint all over the floor—When you’re aggressive and play hard, good things are going to happen. And I think that’s what kinda defines Jalen Suggs, how physical, how aggressive, how confident he is, and it’s really impressive to watch.” 

Despite making a postseason run against the Cleveland Cavaliers and ultimately falling just short of advancing many NBA fans and analysts questioned the Magics’ front office for the amount of money that they gave to both Franz Wagner (5yrs-$224 million) and Jalen Suggs (5yrs-$150.5 million) but both players are continuing to exceed expectations.

Franz and Suggs Step Up in the Absence of Banchero

After the Magic lost Paolo Banchero (torn right oblique) back on Oct. 31st, both Franz Wagner and Jalen Suggs had to step up and carry more of the load. 

Franz Wagner in 20 games without Banchero averaged 26.1 points, 6.3 assists, 6.0 rebounds, and Franz was finally playing like one of the best players in the game. That stretch featured the Magic winning 13 of 20 games, including a six-game win streak, a game-winning three on the road against the Lakers, and being named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for the first time in his career.

Jalen Suggs in his own right was playing some phenomenal basketball as he averaged 15.2 points, 3.9 assists, 3.6 rebounds, in those games alongside Franz Wagner without Banchero. 

Then the unfortunate happened in Philadelphia on Friday, Dec. 6th as Franz Wagner (torn right oblique) sustained the same injury as Paolo Banchero and was ruled out indefinitely for the foreseeable future. 

“In that moment, all I could think about is the player that’s going through that incident, that moment,” Jamahl Molsey said of Franz Wagners’ injury. “And when you do all that work and a fluke, random injury hits you in that way, you can’t plan for that. So, I think the emotions that I felt, as well as our staff, as well as the players, were hurting for him.”

Jalen Suggs Emerges as the Number One Option

Once again Jalen Suggs was thrust into a position to put the team on his back and he stepped up to the plate. In the last two games leading the team as the number one option, Suggs has averaged 29.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.5 steals. 

In his first game without both Banchero and Wagner, Suggs put together a valiant effort against the Phoenix Suns leading the Magic to victory with a game-high 26 points. Suggs also contributed four rebounds, two assists, one steal, and knocked down four shots from distance in the second half to keep this Magic home win streak alive, improving to 10-0 at the Kia Center. 

Jalen Suggs taking the ball up the court

Jamahl Mosley talked about the uniqueness of this situation for his team moving forward without their two best players in the pre-game versus Phoenix. 

“It’s a unique situation. When Paolo [Banchero] goes down, you’re losing 30-8-6 for numbers. When Franz [Wagner] goes down, you’re losing 27-6-5. You’re not asking one person to fill that void, and that’s why we talk about by committee—Enjoy the process of coming closer together and pushing each other to achieve great things.”

The Magic did just that by continuing to have that belief in themselves, their defensive identity, and by wanting the man next to them to succeed. Suggs may have been the biggest reason the Magic took down the Suns, but he made sure to show his love and appreciation towards the team instead of taking the shine for himself.

“I’m so proud of everybody man—We spoke about it earlier today about coming together [and] about this being a group effort. Everybody that stepped on the floor tonight was ready to play. So, really just proud of how everybody came in with the right intensity [and] the right mindset to come and win a game. I don’t have anything more to say because I love these dues and I’m so proud of them.”

Suggs Puts Together a Career Night Versus the Bucks

Jalen would continue to step up to the task putting together a career-high 32 points on the road in Milwaukee for the quarterfinals of the NBA Eastern Conference Emirates Cup. Suggs finished the night scoring 32 points, nine rebounds, and four steals and scored 18 of his 32 in the fourth quarter alone.

“It’s what we need from him,” Mosley said of Suggs’ recent play. “We’re going to continue to demand a lot from him as well as the rest of the group to just continue to defend and play hard to give ourselves the chance and opportunity to go take some of these games. He’s doing a great job of continuing to fight, continuing to lead, and continuing to put the team in a position to come away with a win.”

Suggs was proud of the way in which the team continued to rally together and go toe-to-toe with multiple future Hall of Famers in Milwaukee. 

“We fought, played hard, we withstood runs, withstood adversity, and for that I’m proud of every man up and down the roster,” Jalen Suggs said of the team’s performance versus Milwaukee. “Everybody did everything tonight to give ourselves a chance to win, it hurts knowing that—That’s two end-of-games for me that I’ve not felt super great about walking off the court. So, time to get back, get better, get ready for our next one.”

Orlando Continues to Earn Their Flowers

On the national stage against the Milwaukee Bucks, the NBA Inside crew spoke glowingly about how dangerous this Orlando Magic team can be moving forward, especially with Suggs’ all-star campaign growing stronger each game.

“I think the Orlando Magic, when they’re healthy … they’re the new OKC,” Charles Barkley said. “To me, in my opinion, I still believe in the Knicks, and the Cavs are playing great. But the team, if they could ever get healthy, they would be scary to play. Because what’s gonna happen; they got a bad break with [Franz] Wagner going out because now, when you watched them play in the playoffs last year, they just gave everything to Paolo and he was making some mental mistakes down the stretch. Those other guys are gaining confidence now. Suggs is gaining confidence. This team is going to be very dangerous.”

Kenny “The Jet” Smith would go on to add how he believes that Jalen Suggs will be an All-Star soon.

Jalen Suggs continues to show night-in and night-out that he can help keep this Orlando Magic team afloat while decimated with injuries, why he’s one of the best 3-and-D players in the game of basketball, and why he has All-Star potential. Suggs has been resilient, is an extremely hard worker, and has been battle-tested throughout his career. This stretch without Banchero and Wagner will continue to test not only himself but this entire Magic squad.