Tag: Jalen Suggs

NBA Rising Stars: Cade Cunningham named MVP to lead Team Barry to win

Cade Cunningham was named MVP of the NBA Rising Stars game to lead Team Barry to the championship and tip off All-Star Weekend.

Detroit Pistons rookie Cade Cunningham on Friday was named the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Rising Stars game to lead Team Barry to the championship and tip off All-Star Weekend from Cleveland, Ohio.

Cunningham recorded five points, including a huge 3-pointer late, three assists and two rebounds in the final game over Team Isiah. He scored a team-high 13 points, six assists and five rebounds to lead Team Barry in the semifinal round versus Team Payton.

Orlando Magic rookie Franz Wagner sent Team Barry to the win after hitting his first free throw to cross the 25-point threshold to win. The teams played to 50 points in the semifinal round and 25 points in the final to commemorate the 75th-anniversary season of the NBA.

Here is how each player and team fared in the competition.

Magic trio eager to play in Rising Stars game at All-Star Weekend

Cole Anthony, Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner each reflect on participating in All-Star Weekend beginning Friday in Cleveland.

The trio of Orlando Magic players set to participate in the NBA Rising Stars game at All-Star Weekend are each excited and honored to take in the festivities in Cleveland, Ohio.

Magic second-year guard Cole Anthony and rookies Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner were among 28 total players selected to participate in the Rising Stars game on Friday. The pool of players included 12 rookies, 12 second-year players and four NBA G League Ignite players.

The weekend will give the trio the chance to unwind and soak up the event surrounded by All-Stars and other legends of the game as the NBA celebrates its 75th anniversary season. The experience should create lasting memories for them.

Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley is excited for the three players.

It is such a great experience for these young men to just be around the caliber of players that are going to be there, as well as celebrating 75 years of the NBA and the history of the game, which has given these guys such a great opportunity now. To take that in and soak that all up is just a phenomenal opportunity for them.

Said Suggs:

It is going to be a ton of fun, just getting to see all of the rookies and guys I’m that close with and friends with. That is going to be a good time, looking forward to it. Of course, that is a blessing coming in my rookie year. You want to stay focused, stay humble and keep your head down and work but those things really are a blessing to be picked to that and it is an honor. I can’t wait to go down there. I’m excited.

The Rising Stars game this year will feature four teams competing in a mini-tournament consisting of three games. Each game will be played to a final target score, meaning a game will end with a made basket or a made free throw instead of a running clock.

Hall of Famers Rick Barry, Gary Payton, Isiah Thomas and James Worthy will serve as honorary coaches for the four teams. They each drafted their teams by a random drawing from the pool of players as Worthy selected Anthony and Suggs while Barry took Wagner.

Anthony, Suggs and Team Worthy will face Team Thomas in the semifinals while Wagner and Team Barry will play Team Payton on the other side of the bracket. While they won’t meet in the semifinals, Anthony is hoping to face Wagner in the final game.

I done told Franz a couple of times: I’ve been waiting for that matchup for a while. All of that Euro stuff and all of them floaters and all of that, I ain’t having none of that. I want him in an isolation situation because if I see him, it’s going to be a long time on that island. I’m excited for that matchup. I’m sure Jalen is, too.

The three players have each proven to be worthy of their selections.

Anthony, averaging 17.7 points, is currently fourth in scoring and third in assists among second-year players. Suggs is posting 12.6 points, 4.4 assists and 3.7 rebounds while Wagner leads all rookie players in scoring and is in the conversation for Rookie of the Year.

Wagner, speaking earlier this month, said it is an honor to be selected.

It is an honor for us three as players but also for the whole organization. … I think everybody is happy for us. I hope (our teammates) know, and the coaches know, they are the reason that we’re so comfortable and get opportunities and stuff like that so I hope they know that. I think everybody is happy for each other.

While the three players will compete in the Rising Stars game, Anthony will also be participating in the Slam Dunk Contest. He will be challenged by Houston Rockets rookie Jalen Green, New York Knicks forward Obi Toppin and Golden State Warriors guard Juan Toscano-Anderson.

Anthony wouldn’t divulge much about his plans but is excited about it, nonetheless. He hinted that there could even be an appearance by his father, former 11-year NBA veteran Greg Anthony.

“I got a few tricks up my sleeve. It is going to be exciting,” Anthony said. “I might bring Greg out. I might let Greg touch the floor and keep his name alive a little bit longer. That’s about all of the hints I can give.”

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

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‘It meant a lot’: Jalen Suggs thankful to play in front of cousin Terrell

Suggs said it was a great experience to play in front of several of his family members, including second cousin Terrell Suggs.

Orlando Magic rookie Jalen Suggs on Saturday said it was a great experience to play the Phoenix Suns in front of several of his family members, including his parents and second cousin Terrell Suggs.

Suggs turned in a strong performance, producing 20 points, a career-high 10 assists and six rebounds for his first career double-double. He converted on 7-of-14 shot attempts from the field in 26 minutes of work in the 132-105 loss.

The fifth pick was admittedly excited to play in front of his family and it resulted in one of his finest outings of the season, which was just his fourth 20-point game. He was excited to share the moment with his parents and cousin.

I’m glad he was able to make it. It has been a while since we’ve been able to see each other but knowing he was in the building definitely got me excited before the game. Knowing they were sitting right by the bench, just a couple of feet away. I was able to say what’s up to him before the game, talk to my dad and mom and my cousin and just share tonight with them, share the game and this experience. It meant a lot they were here.

The four-game road trip for the Magic has been an eventful one for Suggs. In addition to seeing his family on Saturday, he also paid a visit to Gonzaga on Friday as the Bulldogs hosted Pacific. He earned a standing ovation in front of a packed house at McCarthey Athletic Center.

Suggs, who was named to the NBA Rising Stars game, is averaging 12.4 points, 4.4 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 37 games this season. He ranks seventh in scoring, third in assists and third in steals among all first-year players.

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

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Magic: Jalen Suggs provides status update on Achilles injury

Suggs appeared to suffer the injury early in the first quarter on Tuesday when he was fouled on a layup attempt.

Orlando Magic rookie Jalen Suggs said that he will be able to play Friday on the road against the Utah Jazz after experiencing Achilles soreness on Tuesday.

Suggs appeared to suffer the injury early in the first quarter versus the Portland Trail Blazers when he was fouled on a layup attempt by Jusuf Nurkic. He checked out of the game after the period and was eventually ruled out of returning to play.

The team wanted to be cautious with it and not risk further injury.

“I feel good now. I will be alright tonight,” Suggs said on Friday. “It is one of those things where it got a little tight and felt it a little bit but we’re all good. I am OK.”

Orlando started a four-game West Coast road trip on Tuesday and had the past two days off after defeating the Trail Blazers. The team wanted to monitor the injury to Suggs but the fifth pick was able to practice and will be available to play versus the Jazz.

Suggs, who was named to the NBA Rising Stars game, is averaging 12.2 points, 4.2 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 35 games this season. He currently ranks seventh in scoring, third in assists and fourth in steals among all first-year players.

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

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Rockets rookie Jalen Green ready to put on a show at NBA All-Star slam dunk contest

Rockets rookie Jalen Green says he has dreamed about moments like the upcoming slam dunk contest at NBA All-Star Weekend, and he’s ready to put on a show and make the most of it.

“Oh, let me show you this one,”  Houston Rockets center Christian Wood said at practice as he dribbled towards the goal.

The 6-foot-10 Wood explodes off the ground, puts the ball through his legs, and dunks it with ferocity. His teammates high-five him as they all stand around waiting for their turn to emulate what they saw.

One player stood on the sideline watching with two basketballs in his hands, trying to comprehend a new dunk that just popped into his mind.

Rookie Jalen Green calls for his backcourt mate Kevin Porter Jr. to explain to him what he is going to try, and next thing you know, Green is in the air with his head above the rim — trying to execute a nearly impossible dunk.

“Let’s try it again,” Green said. “I think if I jump a little higher, I can grab the other ball quicker.”

Green, now 20 years old, is one of four participants who is set to compete in the AT&T Slam Dunk contest in Cleveland on Saturday, Feb. 19 during NBA All-Star Weekend. Historically, he will be only the fifth Houston Rockets player to compete in the competition.

“I have some exciting things planned,” Green said on Tuesday. “It’s going to be a show. It’s going to be fun. I’ve been dreaming about moments like this, and I have to make the best of it. I have some ideas planned, but I don’t want to say too much, but it is going to be exciting.”

Joining Green in the contest will be Orlando’s Jalen Suggs, Golden State’s Juan Toscano-Anderson, and New York’s Obi Toppin.

“I do expect Jalen to win,” teammate Eric Gordon said after practice on Tuesday. “I definitely expect that.”

Christian Wood echoed the sentiments of Gordon when asked to predict the outcome of the dunk contest. “I think he is going to win it,” Wood said. “I am choosing Jalen. I got him for sure. He is going to bring out something that we have seen many times in practice.”

Green, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, will also compete in the Clorox Rising Stars event during All-Star Weekend. He will be accompanied by teammates Jae’Sean Tate and Alperen Sengun, who were each selected to compete in the tournament, as well.

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Jamahl Mosley: Jalen Suggs OK after leaving early with sore Achilles

Suggs left Tuesday’s win over the Trail Blazers after the first quarter due to right Achilles soreness.

Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley said rookie Jalen Suggs is doing OK after suffering an Achilles injury that forced him to leave early in Tuesday’s win over the Portland Trail Blazers.

Suggs, who started the contest, appeared to suffer the injury early in the first quarter when he was fouled on a layup attempt by Jusuf Nurkic. He checked out of the game shortly after that sequence but eventually returned to play the final 2:22 of the period.

The fifth pick went back to the locker room at the conclusion of the first quarter and was eventually ruled out of returning due to right Achilles soreness. He finished with one point and one assist in just over seven minutes of work during the 113-95 victory.

Mosley said the team didn’t want to risk further injury by keeping him in.

It is just a little bit of a sore Achilles. I think we just wanted to monitor it. He is doing OK, though. … He said he felt it a little bit in that first quarter so we just wanted to get him out and monitor it a little bit. When he was sore, I wanted to make sure we took care of it versus letting anything else happen to it.

The Magic have often exercised caution when dealing with injuries so they opted to play it safe and hold Suggs out of the lineup. He previously missed 20 games this season with a fractured thumb so they will once again not rush him back into action.

Orlando started a four-game West Coast road trip on Tuesday and will not play again until Friday in Utah. The two-day break will give Suggs additional time to get treatment on the injury as the team will provide an update on his playing status later this week.

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

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Magic: Franz Wagner, Cole Anthony react to Rising Stars selection

Cole Anthony and rookies Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner were among the 28 players selected to play in the Rising Stars game.

Orlando Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley called it a phenomenal opportunity for three of his players to participate in the NBA Rising Stars game at All-Star Weekend in Cleveland, Ohio.

Magic second-year guard Cole Anthony and rookies Jalen Suggs and Franz Wagner on Tuesday were among the 28 players selected to play in the annual showcase game. In all, 12 rookies, 12 second-year players and four NBA G League Ignite players were chosen to play this year.

Mosley said the trio of players earned the opportunity to play in the game.

I think it is a phenomenal opportunity. It is great for our fans. It is great for our organization and it is great for those guys. The work that they put in. You talk about growth and development and guys getting better. The league recognized it and other coaches recognized it.

Anthony is averaging 17.9 points, 6.1 assists and 5.9 rebounds in 38 games this season. He leads the team in scoring and assists on the season and ranks 20th in assists among all players. He is fourth in points among second-year players.

The former 15th pick is happy to see their hard work paying off.

It is dope, definitely an honor to see all of our names get called for that. We all have been working hard, it has been a long season. Obviously, we would like the season to go a little bit better but that won’t take away from the work we’ve all put in. I’m just happy we’re all getting recognized for that. I know Franz and Jalen are ecstatic.

Suggs, the fifth pick, is posting 12.3 points, 4.1 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 31 games. He produced his best game on Jan. 21 with 22 points in a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers and recently scored in double figures in seven straight games, his longest streak of the season.

Meanwhile, Wagner has started every game this season for the Magic, averaging 15.8 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists. The eighth pick leads all rookie players in total scoring and has the most 20-point games of the season with 13.

Wagner credited his teammates and coaches for the honor.

It is an honor for us three as players but also for the whole organization. … I think everybody is happy for us. I hope (our teammates) know, and the coaches know, they are the reason that we’re so comfortable and get opportunities and stuff like that so I hope they know that. I think everybody is happy for each other.

The trio of players certainly represent a big part of the future in Orlando. They have taken full advantage of their early opportunities and have flashed their potential in various moments. The hard work they are putting in is paying off and they’ll be rewarded soon in Cleveland.

The Magic dropped to 11-41 on the season after narrowly losing to the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday, 126-115. The wins have been few and far between amidst a rebuilding effort, but the opportunity to participate in All-Star Weekend will certainly be a high point for the group.

“I’m going to take care of them while we’re out there,” Anthony said. “We’re going to have some fun. Really, that whole weekend is just about having fun. The whole season is about business for me but (it will be nice) to take a little break, kick back and have some fun.”

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

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NBA Rising Stars 2022: Player pool revealed for revamped game format

The NBA on Tuesday unveiled the 28 players set to participate in the Rising Stars game during All-Star Weekend.

The NBA on Tuesday unveiled the list of 28 players set to participate in the annual Rising Stars game on Feb. 18 as part of All-Star Weekend in Cleveland, Ohio.

The showcase game will feature four seven-player teams competing in a mini-tournament consisting of three games. Each game will be played to a final target score, meaning that a game will end with a made basket or a made free throw instead of a running clock.

The semifinal games will be played to a final target score of 50 with the final game being played to 25, for a total of 75 points across the semifinal and final to celebrate the league’s 75th anniversary season.

NBA All-Star Game: Rookie players to earn All-Star selections

The pool of 28 players for the game consists of 12 first-year players, 12 second-year players and four players from the NBA G League Ignite. The rookies and sophomores were selected by assistant coaches and the Ignite players were chosen by G League head coaches.

The teams will be coached by members of the NBA’s 75th-anniversary team. The coaches will select their rosters in a Rising Stars draft with each team consisting of seven players, including one from the Ignite. The details of the coaches and draft will be announced at a later date.

TNT will televise the competition beginning at 9 p.m. EST.

Cavs’ Evan Mobley led all rookies in All-Star fan voting

While no first-year players were named starters, Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley led all rookies in fan voting.

The NBA on Thursday announced the two captains and starters from each conference for the 2022 NBA All-Star Game scheduled to take place on Feb. 20 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James led all players in fan voting to earn captain honors from the Western Conference. Meanwhile, Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant will represent the Eastern Conference after finishing as the lead vote-getter.

After James, the Western Conference will send reigning MVP Nikola Jokic, Golden State Warriors players Andrew Wiggins and Stephen Curry and Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant to the exhibition game. Wiggins and Morant are first-time All-Star selections.

Joining Durant from the Eastern Conference are Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid, Chicago Bulls guard DeMar DeRozan and Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young. Durant is not expected to play due to a knee injury and will likely be replaced.

While no first-year players were named starters, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley led all rookies in fan voting. Mobley finished with 283,425 votes from fans, while Toronto Raptors guard Scottie Barnes was second with 224,761 votes.

Here is how the first five rookies drafted finished in the voting:

  1. Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons: 32,190
  2. Jalen Green, Houston Rockets: 53,304
  3. Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers: 283,425
  4. Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors: 224,761
  5. Jalen Suggs, Orlando Magic: 2,792

Making the All-Star Game as a rookie is rare, with only 45 players earning the honor in their first year in the NBA. Of course, the reserves will be announced on Feb. 3 but it is highly unlikely any rookie this year will be selected.

Despite no All-Star selections, 12 players from the class this year will be selected to compete in the Rising Stars game on Feb. 18. The first five players selected in the draft figure to have a great chance of participating as they have each performed well this season.

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

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Rookie Power Rankings: Cade Cunningham, and the return of Jalen Suggs

Rookie Wire takes a look at the top first-year players over the last two weeks of the 2021-22 season.

After a bump in the road due to injuries and the NBA’s health and safety protocol, several of the top first-year players have returned and are performing at a high level once again.

The rookie class recently saw several players sit due to various reasons, but they are back and contributing to their respective teams. Cade Cunningham is playing like the No. 1 pick, Jalen Suggs is back and dunking on people, while Chris Duarte has emerged once again.

To make sense of it all, we took a look at the best recent performances of these first-year players and ranked them in the latest edition of the Rookie Wire Power Rankings. The rankings are not for Rookie of the Year purposes but, rather, to illustrate the best players week to week.