Tag: Jalen Suggs

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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2021 NBA draft class: Final rookie stat leaders for the 2021-22 season

Rookie Wire took a look back at which first-year players were among the leaders in scoring, rebounding, assists and more.

With the 2021-22 regular season wrapped up, observers of the NBA can now take a look back at the year that was and evaluate how each player performed, including the rookie class.

The group played at a high level throughout the season with several individuals emerging as potential future All-Stars. As a result, the Rookie of the Year voting is expected to be highly competitive with as many as five players in the running to win.

Rookie Wire took a look back at how the class performed and which players were among the leaders in key statistical categories, including scoring, rebounding and assists.

Note: Stat leaders are according to NBA.com.

Magic: Jalen Suggs reacts to starting next to Markelle Fultz

Jalen Suggs returned after a 10-game absence, and helped the Magic defeat the Cavaliers.

Jalen Suggs on Tuesday returned from a 10-game absence and helped the Orlando Magic defeat the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers to snap a six-game losing streak.

Suggs recorded four points, two assists, one rebound, one steal and one blocked shot in 18 minutes during the 120-115 victory. He went 2-of-5 from the field as the Magic opted to ease him back into action with a minutes restriction.

The fifth pick last played on March 13 after suffering a right ankle bone bruise. The injury came as Suggs battled through a sprain on the same ankle during the early part of the month. He wasn’t sure if he’d return this season, but was ecstatic to get back out onto the court.

It was amazing. I was a little jittery getting back out there. It feels like it has been forever since I played 5-on-5 and then not knowing if I was going to come back at the end of the season. I was just grateful, really happy especially to get the win, that’s what it’s all about at the end of the day.

Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley opted to insert Suggs back into the starting lineup versus the Cavaliers. But with starter Cole Anthony nursing a toe injury, Mosley switched up his backcourt pairing and elected to give Markelle Fultz his first start of the season.

Of course, Fultz made his season debut on Feb. 28 after missing over a year of action due to a torn ACL. He produced 16 points, six assists, two rebounds and two steals in a season-high 24 minutes of action to lead the Magic to the win.

The former No. 1 pick has performed well as of late, averaging 14.2 points, 5.5 assists, 2.5 rebounds and two steals over his last six games. Fultz has often been commended by his teammates for how efficiently he can run the offense while also creating for himself.

Suggs has learned quite a bit by watching Fultz this season.

He makes things so easy. I’ve been able to sit and learn from him the past 7-8 games. I think just the pace he plays at and the way he gets to his spots and pullups at his own time and is never rushed, we’ve really been dissecting the game and working with each other off the court and I think it has helped me big time. … I can’t wait to get back out there with him again and start getting comfortable and really get this thing rolling. He is a heck of a player and really fun to play aside.

With Suggs back from injury, the 20-year-old will have the opportunity to play the final two games of the season. His rookie campaign has been marred by various injuries but the final two contests will give him the chance to build positive momentum heading into the season.

The backcourt duo of Suggs and Fultz could be a preview of the future. Of course, the starting lineup next season is far from decided but Fultz sees what Suggs brings to the court on a nightly basis for the Magic.

“I think another strong guard,” Fultz said. “I see the work he puts in outside of the gym. He can defend multiple positions but on the other end, can push the pace, get into the paint, mid-range. I think it is going to be something fun to watch in the future.”

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

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Magic: Jalen Suggs making ‘slow progress’ with ankle injury

Suggs hasn’t played since suffering a right ankle bone bruise on March 13 versus the 76ers.

Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley on Friday said rookie Jalen Suggs has still not been cleared to practice or participate in shootaround due to a right ankle bone bruise.

Suggs suffered the injury on March 13 versus the Philadelphia 76ers and has missed the past nine games for the Magic. The injury came just as Suggs battled through a sprain on the same ankle during the early part of the month after tweaking it on March 4.

Mosley said Suggs is making “slow progress” with the injury. The team was originally going to see if Suggs could participate in practice on Saturday, but it was eventually canceled after playing on Friday versus the Toronto Raptors.

He will remain day-to-day with the injury.

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Suggs previously told Mosley he wants to travel and be around the team as much as possible over the final stretch of the season while recovering from the injury. He could play again this season, but the Magic will not push him too hard.

The Magic have often been cautious with injuries and will not rush Suggs back into action too quickly. With just four games left this season, it is possible the team will just hold Suggs out of action to ensure he is 100% healthy going into the offseason.

Suggs, in 46 games, is averaging 12.1 points, 4.4 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals this season. He ranks eighth in scoring among all first-year players and third in assists.

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

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Magic: Jalen Suggs still not practicing due to ankle injury

The Magic have ruled out Suggs from playing on Saturday versus the Kings due to the injury.

Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley ruled out rookie Jalen Suggs from playing on Saturday versus the Sacramento Kings due to a right ankle bone bruise.

Suggs suffered the injury on March 13 versus the Philadelphia 76ers and has missed the past five games for the Magic. He was hobbled throughout that contest and was eventually ruled out of returning to play after logging 22 minutes.

The fifth pick previously battled through a sprained right ankle for much of early March after initially injuring it on March 4 against the Toronto Raptors. He missed two games but was cleared and played in the next three games before bruising it versus the Sixers.

Suggs still hasn’t returned to practice, Mosley said on Friday.

Jalen will not be available tomorrow as of right now. He didn’t go through practice. He just did some running to try to see how the ankle keeps responding.

The fifth pick previously told Mosley that he wants to travel and be around the team as much as possible over the eight games of the season while recovering from the injury. He could play again this season, but the Magic will not rush him back.

The Magic have often been cautious with injuries and will not rush Suggs back into action too quickly. He has been sidelined over 20 games this season due to various injuries so the team will work to ensure he is fully healthy before clearing him to play again.

Suggs, in 46 games, is averaging 12.1 points, 4.4 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals this season. He ranks eighth in scoring among all first-year players and third in assists.

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

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Cole Anthony had a hilarious message for Jalen Suggs after Gonzaga loss

Anthony, being the good humanitarian that he is, delivered some words of encouragement for Suggs immediately following the loss.

On Thursday, the No. 4 seed Arkansas Razorbacks shocked the world and upset the top-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs to advance to the Elite Eight with a 74-68 win.

Arkansas entered the contest winless in 10 tries versus No. 1 seeds, but it held the Bulldogs in check and limited most of their key players to win. JD Notae scored a team-high 21 points to lead the Razorbacks while Jaylin Williams and Trey Wade each had 15 points.

On the other side, All-American Drew Timme led Gonzaga with 25 points and seven rebounds. Meanwhile, All-American Chet Holmgren battled through foul trouble and eventually fouled out in 23 minutes of work, finishing with 11 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks.

The early exit left Zags Nation feeling it afterward, including Jalen Suggs.

Fortunately, Suggs’ Orlando Magic teammate, Cole Anthony, was there to help him out during this difficult time. Anthony, being the good humanitarian that he is, delivered some words of encouragement for Suggs immediately following the loss.

I sent him a nice voice note as soon as the game ended: ‘Jalen, it’s going to be OK, bro. UNC is going to get this dub for you. We’ll win the whole thing for you.’ That’s what I told him. He sent me a little meme back … I could tell he was going through a lot so, me, I’m just going to give my brother some moral support. I gave him a little dap (this morning) just to try to keep the young fella happy.

Of course, Suggs was named a consensus second-team All-American last year with Gonzaga, averaging 14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.9 steals. He helped lead the Zags to the national title game after draining the game-winning shot over UCLA in the Final Four.

Suggs kept up with the program throughout the season, and even stopped in to watch a couple of games when there was a break in the Magic’s schedule. Given his relationship with the team, Suggs is likely still reeling from the loss.

The strong season by the Zags certainly came to an end far earlier than they wanted it to but, with seven-straight appearances in the Sweet 16, it seems like a safe bet that they will be back again next year.

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

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Magic: Jamahl Mosley reveals injury plan for Jalen Suggs’ ankle

Suggs suffered the injury on March 13 versus the 76ers and has missed the past four games for the Magic.

Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley on Tuesday said there is no timetable for rookie Jalen Suggs to return from a right ankle bone bruise.

Suggs suffered the injury on March 13 versus the Philadelphia 76ers and has missed the past four games for the Magic. He was hobbled throughout that contest and was eventually ruled out of returning to play after logging 22 minutes.

The fifth pick previously battled through a sprained right ankle for much of early March after initially injuring it on March 4 against the Toronto Raptors. He missed two games but was cleared and played in the next three games before bruising it versus the Sixers.

Mosley said Suggs did some work in shootaround on Tuesday.

He got on the court today a little bit, just no contact stuff. He has not practiced with us but moving forward (we will) just continue to see how he responds to a little bit more and more as we ramp him up.

Suggs will travel with the Magic to Oklahoma City on Tuesday but will likely not play. Suggs told Mosley that he wants to travel and be around the team as much as possible over the final nine games of the season while recovering from the injury.

He could play again this season but the Magic will not rush him back.

I think, for that young man, playing is the thing he loves to do the most; being around his teammates is what he loves to do the most in these situations. We’ll focus on his health which is, obviously, the biggest thing and if he is healthy to go then we’ll have him out on there on the court ready to play.

The Magic have often been cautious with injuries and will not rush Suggs back into action too quickly. He has been sidelined over 20 games this season due to various injuries so the team will work to ensure he is fully healthy before clearing him to play again.

Suggs, in 46 games, is averaging 12.1 points, 4.4 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals this season. He ranks eighth in scoring among all first-year players and third in assists.

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

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Magic: Jamahl Mosley provides injury update on Jalen Suggs

Suggs was ruled out of playing Tuesday versus the Nets due to a right ankle bone bruise.

Orlando Magic rookie Jalen Suggs was ruled out of playing Tuesday versus the Brooklyn Nets due to a right ankle bone bruise, head coach Jamahl Mosley said at shootaround.

Suggs has battled through a sprained right ankle for much of the past two weeks after initially injuring it on March 4 versus the Toronto Raptors. He missed two games but was eventually cleared to play and appeared in each of the last three games.

The fifth pick suffered his latest setback on Sunday in a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. He was hobbled throughout the contest and was ultimately ruled out of returning late in the game. Mosley said Suggs is considered to be day-to-day with the injury.

We’re going to keep monitoring just to see exactly how he pulls up. Giving him some time off in this situation is probably the best thing for him so that we don’t have any more reoccurring injuries there. He is just going to monitor day-by-day and see how he goes with a little bit of rest.

The Magic have often been cautious with injuries and will not rush Suggs back into action too quickly. The contest on Tuesday will be the 24th that Suggs has missed: He was sidelined 20 games due to a fractured thumb and four because of right ankle injuries.

Suggs, in 46 games, is averaging 12.1 points, 4.4 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals this season. He ranks eighth in scoring among all first-year players and third in assists.

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

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Magic: Jamahl Mosley explains the improvement of Jalen Suggs

Suggs has battled through the typical ups and downs for a rookie but Mosley believes he has made a noticeable improvement.

Jalen Suggs has battled through the typical ups and downs that any rookie player faces transitioning to the NBA but the Orlando Magic guard is making noticeable improvement through it all on the court.

Suggs, in 44 games this season, is averaging 12.3 points, 4.4 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.2 steals. He missed 20 games due to a fractured thumb and a few other games due to various injuries, including two recently for a sprained right ankle.

The time away from the court allowed Suggs to continue to develop his game. In fact, Suggs and the team even thought he came back better than before after spending time working on various areas of his game with the training staff.

Jamahl Mosley explained how Suggs has improved throughout the year.

His pace and reading of the game. Obviously, him being hurt and coming back allowed him to slow down the game a little bit in his mind as well as the way his body has adjusted to things, knowing when to pick up the pace, knowing when to slow it down. I think that has been the biggest area of improvement. Then, the other side of it is his conditioning of what our performance staff and coaches did while he was out. I thought they’ve done a fantastic job with him.

Suggs credited teammate Markelle Fultz for seeing the game in a different way. They have talked about playing at a fast pace to catch defenses off guard, and “stealing easy points” on that end of the floor. Paying attention to situational moments has also been a point of emphasis.

The fifth pick knew coming into the season that adjusting to the pace of the NBA would be critical. He called that a work in progress but is fully accepting the challenge.

There have been good days and there have been bad days but that is all part of the process and those are things you have to embrace or else you won’t be great. You let those things stop you and hinder you from moving forward and that’s how you stay average. I’m really just trying to roll with the game, continue to learn, continue to be myself and add to my bag but I’m definitely feeling comfortable as the season has gone on.

Suggs has emerged as one of the top rookie players this season and has often drawn praise from opposing players and coaches. He is only in the beginning stages of his development, but the early display by the 20-year-old has those around him excited for his potential.

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

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