The Magic Insider

'What Exactly is Magic Guard Jalen Suggs?' Asks ESPN Analyst

Jalen Suggs has struggled to stay on the floor for the Orlando Magic, battling injuries left and right. But how has that shaped his identity as an NBA player?

Jeremy Brener

'What Exactly is Magic Guard Jalen Suggs?' Asks ESPN Analyst
'What Exactly is Magic Guard Jalen Suggs?' Asks ESPN Analyst /
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ORLANDO - Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs is still getting into a groove in his NBA career.

As a second-year player, Suggs has only suited up in 72 out of a possible 130 games for his NBA career. He's averaging 11 points per game on 37 percent shooting throughout his stint with the Magic.

As the fifth overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Suggs had high expectations and potential to be the Magic's future franchise point guard. However, he hasn't shown that potential yet, according to ESPN's Zach Lowe, who's puzzled by who Suggs is at this point in his career.

Suggs has played as more of a shooting guard in Orlando next to either Markelle Fultz or Cole Anthony, but he hasn't been that great of a shooter. Suggs has made just 23.4 percent of his three-point attempts during his career.

That makes his role for the Magic a bit complicated, but it's a learning experience for the 21-year-old.

The one attribute that Suggs has that can separate him from other guards is his speed, and he's been able to use it in games, like in the clip below from the season opener against the Detroit Pistons.

In Lowe's ESPN piece, he asserts that using speed is a "viable NBA strategy" for point guards.

"Lots of point guards -- including Fultz -- face the same strategy," ESPN writes. "Some beat it with sheer speed -- winning the race to the spot underneath the screen. But it's hard to do that every time. You need craft -- changes of pace, shoulder fakes, the ability to bob and weave behind successive screens. Fultz has that. Suggs doesn't -- yet.

"He's a full-speed-ahead player. That works in transition, where his passing shines. In the half-court, he sometimes sprints ahead of teammates."

Suggs still has plenty of time to carve out his role in Orlando. The Magic views him as a key piece to its rebuild and believe he can be worthy of that No. 5 selection in due time.

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Jeremy Brener
JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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