The Orlando Magic found their franchise cornerstone when they drafted Gonzaga's Jalen Suggs with their fifth overall pick. He made his NBA Summer League debut and immediately showed two-way potential as he averaged 15.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in three games in Las Vegas before spraining his left thumb.
In an interview with Danny Webster of the Spokesman-Review, despite Suggs' NBA Summer League cut short, the Magic's guard remained positive on his outlook ahead of the regular season:
“It is what I thought it would be. It’s a learning experience. You’ve got to take it for what it is, the goods, bads, ups and downs,” Suggs said. “The big thing is to keep pushing and not get discouraged.”
The outspoken Magic guard was always vocal about pointing out the positives and negatives of his teammates back in college. Suggs hopes to replicate the same attitude towards his first season in Orlando:
“I think I’m just trying to control the pace as best I can,” Suggs said. “Be the leader on the team, offensively and defensively. I think just making it more consistent; I’m getting to my spots. I’ve just got to knock down my shots.
Suggs also mentioned how big of a factor the Orlando fans can be on his rookie year:
“I’m just coming in to be myself,” he said. “I hope [the fans] gravitate towards that; my leadership, my positive energy, the way I give it all on the floor each and every night.
“I just hope they gravitate towards that and embrace me the way I’ve embraced their fans so far. Just the amount of support and outpour of love I’ve gotten on social media and from everyone who’s here in Vegas supporting us, it’s been great. I can’t wait to get back to Amway, see the fans in the arena, get to interact with them back at home and give it my all every night.”
On his lone season in Gonzaga, Suggs averaged 14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists while shooting at an efficient rate of 50.3% from the field. They eventually fell short against Baylor on the tourney final.
Jalen Suggs will look to bring his dynamic skills and athleticism in his first season with the Orlando Magic.
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