Tag: Jalen Suggs

Jalen Suggs talks former teammate Chet Holmgren’s successful season

Jalen Suggs talks former teammate Chet Holmgren’s successful season.

The Oklahoma City Thunder’s contest against the Orlando Magic will feature a pair of former high school teammates squaring off.

Chet Holmgren and Jalen Suggs played together in Minnehaha Academy before both also joined Gonzaga, albeit in separate years. Suggs, who is a year older, went No. 5 in the 2021 draft while Holmgren went No. 2 in 2022.

After missing all of last season with a Lisfranc injury, Holmgren has blossomed into one of the best defensive players in the league despite his youthful age.

The 21-year-old is part of an impressive young trio in OKC with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams that has the Thunder (36-17) being in contention their first year together.

When asked about his former teammate’s immediate success, Suggs said he knew he’d make an immediate impact.

“He’s played well man. He’s doing what he needs to do,” Suggs said. “Handling business offensively, defensively. Making an impact to winning. That’s what he does, that’s the type of person and player he is. Happy for him.”

“I knew Chet was a great player. I’ve known it and I’ve always seen it. To see him strive and flourish on his club this year after being out all last year is a blessing, I’m happy for him.”

Meanwhile, Suggs has had his own successful campaign. After a so-so first two seasons, the 22-year-old has established himself as a starter for the Magic (29-24), who are having one of their best seasons in recent history.

Editor’s note: Cody Taylor of Rookie Wire contributed to this article.

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‘I can’t wait for him to come back’: Former teammate talks Chet Holmgren’s return

Read what Chet Holmgren’s former teammate had to say about his return this season.

As training camps begin around the league, one of the biggest storylines heading into the 2023-24 season is the return and debut of Chet Holmgren.

The 2022 No. 2 pick was sidelined all of last season recovering from a Lisfranc injury he suffered last summer. After a one-year delay, Holmgren looks to be one of the favorites to win Rookie of the Year.

Several of Holmgren’s current teammates sounded off on media day about their excitement over his return and the role the seven-footer could fill for OKC’s starting lineup.

It looks like the excitement isn’t bottled in just OKC either, as Holmgren’s former teammates from his previous stops are equally excited to see him return.

Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs was asked about Holmgren’s return by Rookie Wire’s Cody Taylor. In his response, he spoke about how the former high school teammates talk constantly in a group chat.

“Our whole friend group, we talk every day in our group chat just kind of keeping up with each other and checking in,” Suggs said. “Chet has been doing a great job. He has been working his tail off. I’m proud of him and I can’t wait for him to come back and get to hooping and playing and in his environment again.”

Both Suggs and Holmgren attended Minnesota’s Minnehaha Academy together. Both also played at Gonzaga – albeit they missed each other by a year; Suggs played in the 2020-21 season while Holmgren played in the 2021-22 season.

Suggs and Holmgren will get a pair of chances to square off this upcoming season. The Magic will play at OKC on Jan. 13, 2024 and the Thunder travel to Orlando on Feb. 13, 2024.

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Mock trade has Nets trading Royce O’Neale, first-round pick for Jalen Suggs

In this mock trade suggested by James Piercey of the NBA Analysis Network, the Brooklyn Nets would be trading Royce O’Neale for Jalen Suggs.

With the NBA 2K24 Summer League now in the rearview mirror, the Brooklyn Nets have their sights set on the next segment of their offseason. Before they get there, the Nets may want to think about how they can make their team better before the 2023-24 season begins.

With all of the trades and moves that Brooklyn has made in free-agency, they have some new players who will be coming off the bench next season, but they will also be missing some players who made an impact for the team last season. The Nets want to do whatever possible to make the team able to make it to the playoffs and possibly win a series or two.

With the current roster, Brooklyn should be a decent team as they are led by Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and Nic Claxton. However, being decent can be a dangerous position for a team that does not have some of its own draft picks for the next few years. This mock trade suggested by James Piercey of the NBA Analysis Network could be something that improves the Nets’ playoff chances:

Takeaways: Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun magical as Rockets end skid in Orlando

In a matchup loaded with high picks from the last two drafts, it was Houston’s Jalen Green (34 points, 66.7% FG, 45.5% on 3s) who stole the show in Monday’s win at Orlando.

In a matchup featuring numerous high first-round picks from the 2021 and 2022 NBA draft classes, Rockets guard Jalen Green stole the show. His 34 efficient points helped Houston snap its six-game losing streak, 134-127, (box score) at Orlando.

Both the Magic and Rockets are 2-9.

Green connected on 12-of-18 shots (66.7%), including 5-of-11 on 3-pointers (45.5%).

Magic rookie Paolo Banchero, drafted at No. 1 in 2022, had 30 points (50% FG and 3-pointers) and 6 rebounds while easily outdueling Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr., who was taken two picks later. Smith’s slow start to his NBA career continued. He had just 3 points in 22 minutes on 1-of-4 shooting (25%), all from 3-point range.

Beyond Smith, Houston’s prospects showed up in a big way. Second-year center Alperen Sengun had 20 points and 10 rebounds, while third-year forward KJ Martin added 21 points in 26 reserve minutes on 8-of-14 shooting (57.1%) and 4-of-8 on 3-pointers (50.0%).

Rookie forward Tari Eason added 8 points and 6 rebounds in 20 minutes, including 2-of-3 on 3-pointers (66.7%). Eason also made several key defensive plays when isolated against Banchero.

Houston had key veteran contributions, as well, led by Eric Gordon, who scored 19 points on 5-of-7 from 3-point range (71.4%).

As a team, the Rockets connected on 24-of-48 from 3-point range (50.0%), and they reaped the benefits from strong ball movement. Houston had a season-high 31 assists as a team, led by 11 from Kevin Porter Jr., 5 by Martin, and 4 apiece from Sengun and Gordon. Porter also, however, had a team-high 7 turnovers, including several in the fourth quarter as Orlando tried to rally in the final minutes.

Orlando’s second-year backcourt of Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner, each drafted in the 2021 first round, played well in defeat. Wagner had 23 points (75% FG and 3-pointers) and 7 rebounds, while Suggs added 11 points (62.5% FG) and 6 assists. Both played 33 minutes.

Scroll on for highlights, analysis, and postgame interviews from Orlando. Next up for Houston as the road trip continues is Wednesday night in Toronto, with tipoff set for 6:30 p.m. Central.

Rockets at Magic: Monday’s lineups, injury reports, broadcast and stream info

In a showdown of high draft picks from 2021 and 2022, Jalen Green and Jabari Smith are leading the #Rockets to Orlando to face Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs, and the Magic.

The Houston Rockets (1-9) own the NBA’s worst record after six straight losses. But they have an opportunity to change that with Monday’s visit to another young and rebuilding club. The Orlando Magic (2-8) are only one game better.

Despite the lowly records, it should be an entertaining game, since both teams are loaded with top prospects from high in the first round of both the 2021 and 2022 NBA draft classes.

Orlando features Jalen Suggs in the backcourt, and Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner in the frontcourt. Houston counters with Jalen Green at guard, and Alperen Sengun and rookies Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason on the front line. For those types of players, it’s a showcase game versus many of their young peers, with all looking for a career breakthrough.

Smith missed Houston’s previous game — a loss in Minnesota on Saturday — while ill, but he is listed as probable to return for Monday’s matchup versus another top rookie (Banchero) in Orlando.

Top plays in 2021-22 by the top Ja(y)lens in the NBA, according to ESPN’s Jalen Rose

Jaylen Brown, of course, makes an appearance.

When the annual arrival of the NBA’s summer doldrums finally drops, NBA analysts tend to turn to the tried and true source of content for when the annual news cycle slows to a crawl — making lists of things. And here at the Celtics Wire, we appreciate a little creativity with the philosophy behind a list, even if it is an exceptionally simple (and slightly silly) one.

So it caught our attention that ESPN host Jalen Rose put together one such list of his favorite plays from the 2021-22 season, with one catch: the list is restricted to players who also happen to be named a variation of “Jalen”.

Boston Celtics star forward Jaylen Brown of course makes an appearance; watch the clip embedded below to see where Brown stacks up against the likes of Jalen Suggs and Jalen Brunson — at least in Rose’s opinion.

Check out the Celtics Lab podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

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2021 NBA Draft: 10 bold predictions from the preseason revisited

Rookie Wire made 10 bold predictions for the 2021-22 rookie class and made a vow to come back and see how we did.

Rookie Wire offered 10 bold predictions for the 2021-22 rookie class last October and made a vow at the time to come back after the season and see just how we did.

Well, it is that time to look back and review the results.

Our annual revisit of these bold predictions is our favorite time of the year. It typically just consists of us trying to convince basketball fans why we made the picks and why they should have come true, but ultimately didn’t.

Upon further review, this year proved to be no different.

Several predictions fell well short of expectations but to be fair, we were pretty close on a few. We just ask that you don’t alert the authorities at Freezing Cold Takes about the ones we missed badly on.

Here are the latest results with the verdict from each prediction.

ACC players selected in the 2022 NBA draft

Who from the Irish’s conference have made the jump?

For the fourth time since 1999, a Duke player was the first overall selection of the NBA draft. That also made it the ninth consecutive year in which the ACC had one of its players taken within the first four picks. The conference had a decent night overall, but the 2022 NBA Draft particularly was amazing for Duke, like that surprises anyone. Meanwhile, Notre Dame saw one of its own selected in the first round, which had not happened in seven years.

While it would be nice to guarantee that all of these players will hit it big in the NBA, we all know that’s unlikely. Some might be future superstars, and others might not even register a single minute in the league. Time will let all of these careers play out, and it’s not really the time to speculate on who will be good or bad. This is the time for them to celebrate the next chapter of their lives.

Here are the ACC players who were drafted by NBA teams in 2022:

3 reasons why Magic will take Chet Holmgren, high school teammates with Jalen Suggs, at No. 1

The Orlando Magic landed the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft, and I’d be surprised if they didn’t select Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren.

The Orlando Magic landed the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft, and I’d be surprised if they didn’t select Gonzaga’s Chet Holmgren.

To be clear, that’s not because Holmgren is head and shoulders better than Auburn’s Jabari Smith or Duke’s Paolo Banchero. Smith and Banchero are both fantastic prospects, and either could go No. 1 overall in some other draft classes.

However, based on what we know about Orlando’s front office and what will show up Holmgren’s scouting report, I think the choice should become fairly obvious.

We have plenty of time between now and when the NBA draft concludes, and as such, we won’t know anything official until June 23. However, until then, I will likely have Holmgren in the pole position on my mock drafts.

Magic: Jalen Suggs underwent surgery to repair ankle fracture

Suggs averaged 11.8 points, 4.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 48 games this season with the Magic.

Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs underwent surgery to repair a slight stress fracture in his right ankle, the team announced on Monday.

Suggs missed 34 games this season due to various injuries, including a right ankle sprain and bone bruise. The team said Suggs is expected to return to basketball activities this summer and will be ready for the start of training camp in September.

He was only able to play two games in the final month of the regular season in April because of his right ankle. The team was rather cautious with Suggs this season and did not want to rush him back into action too quickly.

The rookie campaign by Suggs was marred by injuries but the fifth pick showed flashes of his potential throughout his time in the lineup. He developed into a strong defender and was often matched up with some of the elite guards in the NBA.

Suggs, in 48 games, averaged 11.8 points, 4.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals on 36.1% shooting from the field. He finished eighth in scoring among all first-year players and third in assists and steals.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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