Orlando, FL — While first-time All-Star Paolo Banchero and third-year forward Franz Wagner deserve a lot of credit for the success of the team, Jalen Suggs has officially emerged as the third star for this Magic squad.
Jalen Suggs, who was the fifth pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, was supposed to be a dynamic playmaker and undoubtedly the point guard of the future for this Orlando Magic team. Although he hasn’t necessarily lived up to those expectations, fair or unfair, his value and importance to this team is far beyond that as he’s arrived before our very eyes.
Despite his injury history and poor shooting from the outside the first two seasons of his career, you could always rely upon Jalen Suggs to be a lockdown perimeter defender. There is a certain edge, defensive intensity, and tenacity that Suggs plays with on that side of the ball that words truly can’t describe.
“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.”
It’s been a total team effort, getting the job done by committee if you will, for this Orlando Magic team to be ranked top five in terms of defensive rating (111.7). But Jalen Suggs has been by far the best and most reliable defender leading this team on that end of the floor.
Jalen Suggs is not only tasked with guarding the opposing team’s primary ball handler, he’s also ranked ninth in the NBA in steals (1.4 SPG), and he leads all Magic players in terms of defensive rating with at least 50 games played (111.2). His energy and effort he brings on that side of the ball not only creates winning plays, it’s infectious towards his teammates.
“We strap up… simple as that,” Cole Anthony said. “We take pride, and we’ve got a few dudes on this team between Jalen (Suggs) and JI (Jonathan Isaac), who I like to call the heads of the snake on the defensive end. Those are two dudes who have All-Defensive Team potential. When I’m on the bench watching how hard Jalen plays on that defensive end, it makes me want to go out there and guard, cause that energy is contagious.”
Injuries and the lack of a consistent perimeter shot have been the biggest factors that have hindered Suggs in the first two seasons of his career. Suggs has appeared in 55 of 60 Magic games in 2023-24 but missed 63 games in his first two seasons combined which is about 38.4% of the Magic’s games. Jalen also struggled mightily with his shot from deep as he shot 21.4% in his rookie season and 32.7% in his sophomore season.
Since coming into the NBA Jalen Suggs has been widely regarded as a great defender, but his biggest area of improvement has been with his three-point shooting, it is night and day. Jalen Suggs is shooting an incredible 39.2% from deep, and he has a true shooting percentage of 58.7% which is a noticeable difference from his previous season at 52.8%.
“It goes to the body of work that he puts in.” Orlando Magic Head Coach Jamahl Mosley when asked about Jalen’s offensive growth this season. “It goes into the belief and trust that these guys have in him, his confidence, and what he’s capable of doing. He put in a great summer, the game is slowing down for him in so many ways, so I think just being able to be confident in everything that he does and the guys having confidence in him.”
Suggs has not only been shooting the ball at an incredibly efficient clip from long range, but he’s also hitting a high volume of threes consistently. Back in January at Sacramento Jalen Suggs put together a phenomenal performance in a heartbreaking overtime loss with 24 points, two steals, and at the time shot a career-high 6-12 from long distance. Two days later a depleted Magic team went into Denver and beat the reigning and defending NBA champions to sweep the season series. Paolo Banchero recorded the first triple-double of his career but Jalen Suggs was sensational as he recorded 27 points and shot a scorching 7-9 from deep, breaking his single-game record for three-pointers made for the second consecutive game in a row.
With the Magic’s 115-107 win over the Utah Jazz on Feb. 29 they have now totaled 34 wins on the season, matching their entire win total in 2022-2023, and they still have 22 games remaining on their schedule. Jalen Suggs came to life in that fourth period knocking down three clutch triples as the crowd was ignited and it helped close the Jazz out.
“I think a dope part about having this unit that’s been together the past two years, you know, all the same, is we’ve gone through a lot together.” Jalen Suggs on the team’s ability to close out games. “I think it just shows our growth. You know, we’ve come a long way, we’re learning how to close games out, we’re learning how to play from ahead—They’re going to make runs, it’s just about withstanding them, staying solid and even keel through them, and running it up when it’s our turn.”
When Jalen Suggs is on the court for this Orlando team there is a significantly different feel and energy with this team, as he’s truly the heart and soul of this roster. Suggs continues to make his case night in and night out as one of the best defenders in the game, and now one of the best 3-D players in the association with his improved shooting.
“Watching a lot of basketball, I think that’s a big difference, I watch a lot more hoop.” Jalen Suggs on his growth offensively. “ Not just our games, but every night NBA games, I’m tuned in. I watch a lot of this dude right here [Franz Wagner] to be honest, and I sat in their film session today, watching clips from the last game. The poise, the patience, the manipulation that he uses with his feet, with the ball, his eyes, you know and I try to apply that— A lot of credit goes to those guys they’re continuing to make me better each day.”
The Orlando Magic are currently the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference, just one game back of the fourth seed, and have the easiest strength of schedule remaining in the NBA (.440 SOS). This Magic team will look to continue to climb the standings, and Jalen Suggs will continue to be a shining star for this Orlando squad.
