Jalen Suggs
![]() Suggs with theOrlando Magicin 2022 | |
No. 4 – Orlando Magic | |
---|---|
Position | Shooting guard/point guard |
League | NBA |
Personal information | |
Born | Saint Paul, Minnesota,U.S. | June 3, 2001
Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
Listed weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis, Minnesota) |
College | Gonzaga(2020–2021) |
NBA draft | 2021:1st round, 5th overall pick |
Selected by theOrlando Magic | |
Playing career | 2021–present |
Career history | |
2021–present | Orlando Magic |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at NBA | |
Stats at Basketball-Reference | |
Jalen Rashon Suggs(born June 3, 2001) is an American professionalbasketballplayer for theOrlando Magicof theNational Basketball Association( NBA ). He playedcollege basketballfor theGonzaga Bulldogs.He was selected by the Magic with the fifth overall pick in the2021 NBA draft.
Early life
[edit]Suggs was born inSaint Paul,Minnesota,to Larry Suggs and Molly Manley.[1]Suggs' father was an accomplished local athlete. Suggs started playingbasketballat an early age.[2]In seventh grade, he played three games ofjunior varsitybasketball forMinnehaha Academy,a private Christian school inMinneapolis,before moving to thevarsity team.Suggs was a starter at the varsity level as an eighth-grade student, averaging 17.5 points, 4.4 steals, and four assists per game.[3]
High school career
[edit]As a freshman at Minnehaha Academy, Suggs averaged 21.5 points, eight rebounds and five assists per game. He scored 22 points, including 15 in the second half, to win the Class 2A state championship over Crosby-Ironton High School.[4]Suggs was named to theMaxPrepsFreshman All-American first team.[5]In his sophomore season, he averaged 16 points, 9.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game, leading his team to another Class 2A state title.[6]Suggs earnedAssociated Press(AP) All-State first team and MaxPreps Sophomore All-American second team honors.[7]
As a junior, he averaged 23.3 points, 4.7 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game, winning a third straight Class 2A state championship. Suggs was named to the AP All-State first team and MaxPreps Junior All-American third team.[8]As a senior, he averaged 23.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, five assists and 3.9 steals per game.[9]The school's 2019–20 season was cut short due to theCOVID-19 pandemicone day after it won a section title, and the team was unable to defend its state championship. Suggs left as his school's all-time leading scorer, with 2,945 career points.[10]Suggs earned MaxPreps All-American first team andMinnesota Mr. Basketballhonors,[11][12]and was named Minnesota AP Player of the Year.[13]He was selected to play in theMcDonald's All-American Game,Jordan Brand ClassicandNike Hoop Summit,but all three games were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[14]
In addition to basketball, Suggs played thequarterbackposition for SMB Wolfpack, a cooperativefootballteam representing Minnehaha Academy and three other private schools.[15]He led his team to a Class 4A state championship as a junior in 2018. In his senior season, Suggs helped SMB finish as Class 4A runners-up and was namedMinnesota Mr. Football.[16]In his senior year, he was recognized as MaxPreps Athlete of the Year for his success in basketball and football.[9]He became the first athlete in Minnesota history to win the state's Mr. Basketball and Mr. Football awards in the same academic school year.[17]
Recruiting
[edit]On January 3, 2020, Suggs committed to playcollege basketballforGonzaga University,choosing theBulldogsover offers fromFlorida,Florida State,Iowa StateandMinnesota.He became the highest ranked player to commit to the program. Suggs was a consensus five-starrecruit,withESPNconsidering him the fifth-best player in the 2020 class. In football, Suggs was considered a four-stardual-threat quarterbackby ESPN.[18]
Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jalen Suggs PG/SG |
St. Paul, MN | Minnehaha Academy(MN) | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | Jan 3, 2020 | |
Recruiting star ratings:Rivals:![]() ![]() ![]() | ||||||
Overall recruiting rankings:Rivals:11247Sports:13ESPN:6 | ||||||
Sources:
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College career
[edit]Suggs played for theGonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball teamin the2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season.
In his debut on November 25, 2020, Suggs recorded 24 points and eight assists in a 102–90 win overKansas.[19]On December 2, during a game againstWest Virginia,he suffered an apparent foot injury but returned later in the game.[20]On December 19, Suggs posted a career-high 27 points, seven rebounds and four assists, shooting 7-of-10 from three-point range, in a 99–88 win over third-rankedIowa.[21]
On March 9, 2021, Suggs recorded 23 points, five rebounds and five assists in an 88–78 win againstBYUat the2021 WCC tournamenttitle game. He was named tournament most outstanding player.[22]In the Final Four of the2021 NCAA tournament,Suggsbanked ina 40-foot (12 m), 3-point, game-winningbuzzer beaterto defeat No. 11 seedUCLA93–90 in overtime, advancing Gonzaga tothe championship game.[23]
As a freshman, he averaged 14.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game and was a consensus second-teamAll-American.He earned First Team All-West Coast Conference(WCC), Newcomer of the Year, and All-Freshman Team honors.[24]He also received several player-of-the-week honors during the 2020-2021 season. On April 19, 2021, Suggs declared for the2021 NBA draft,forgoing his remaining college eligibility.[25]
Professional career
[edit]Orlando Magic (2021–present)
[edit]Suggs was selected with the fifth overall pick in the2021 NBA draftby theOrlando Magic.[26]Suggs dropping to the fifth overall selection was surprising, as on the night of the draft, many analysts assumed Suggs would be selected by theToronto Raptors,who owned the fourth pick. It was assumed that he would fit well with the void created by the impending departure of six time all-star guard,Kyle Lowry.Instead, Toronto unexpectedly selected forwardScottie Barnesout ofFlorida State.[27]
On August 9, he made his summer league debut in a 91–89 win against theGolden State Warriorsin which he posted 24 points, nine rebounds, three blocks, and two steals in 28 minutes.[28]
On October 20, Suggs made his NBA debut, putting up 10 points in a 123–97 loss to theSan Antonio Spurs.[29]On November 29, Suggs fractured his right thumb in a 101–96 loss to thePhiladelphia 76ers,finishing the game with 17 points before being removed due to the injury.[30]He missed twenty games with the injury.[31]After the 2021–22 season ended, Suggs underwent right ankle surgery.[32]
On November 18, 2022, against theChicago Bulls,Suggs hit the game-winning three-pointer in a 108–107 win for the Magic.[33]On February 4, 2023, he was suspended by the NBA for one game for his role in an altercation during a game against theMinnesota Timberwolvesthe day before.[34]
On January 5, 2024, Suggs recorded a career-high 27 points in a 122–120 win over theDenver Nuggets.[35]On April 25, 2024, Suggs recorded a playoff career-high 24 points with a 81.8 field goal percentage, in a 121–83 home victory of Game 3 of the2024 Eastern Conference First Roundagainst theCleveland Cavaliers.[36]In Game 6 of the same series, on the verge of elimination, Suggs recorded 22 points to help the Magic force Game 7.[37]Suggs was named to theNBA All-Defensive Second Teamat the end of the season, becoming the third player in franchise history to receive the honors, and the first sinceDwight Howardin the2011–12 NBA season.[38]
National team career
[edit]Suggs won a gold medal with theUnited Statesat the2017 FIBA Under-16 Americas ChampionshipinFormosa, Argentina.In four games, he averaged 7.5 points and 2.8 rebounds per game.[39]At the2018 FIBA Under-17 World Cupin Argentina, Suggs averaged 8.7 points and 3.3 steals per game and won another gold medal. He joined theUnited Statesat the2019 FIBA Under-19 World CupinHeraklion,Greece, averaging 9.6 points per game and helping his team win the gold medal. Suggs scored 15 points, his best mark in the tournament, in the final againstMali.[40]
Career statistics
[edit]GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field goalpercentage | 3P% | 3-point field goalpercentage | FT% | Free throwpercentage |
RPG | Reboundsper game | APG | Assistsper game | SPG | Stealsper game |
BPG | Blocksper game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
NBA
[edit]Regular season
[edit]Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2021–22 | Orlando | 48 | 45 | 27.2 | .361 | .214 | .773 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 1.2 | .4 | 11.8 |
2022–23 | Orlando | 53 | 19 | 23.5 | .419 | .327 | .723 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 1.3 | .5 | 9.9 |
2023–24 | Orlando | 75 | 75 | 27.0 | .471 | .397 | .756 | 3.1 | 2.7 | 1.4 | .6 | 12.6 |
Career | 176 | 139 | 26.0 | .422 | .333 | .753 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 1.3 | .5 | 11.5 |
Playoffs
[edit]Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2024 | Orlando | 7 | 7 | 33.2 | .402 | .292 | .767 | 5.1 | 3.3 | 1.3 | .4 | 14.7 |
Career | 7 | 7 | 33.2 | .402 | .292 | .767 | 5.1 | 3.3 | 1.3 | .4 | 14.7 |
College
[edit]Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020–21 | Gonzaga | 30 | 30 | 28.9 | .503 | .337 | .761 | 5.3 | 4.5 | 1.9 | .3 | 14.4 |
Personal life
[edit]Suggs has two younger sisters. Their father, Larry, is the second cousin ofNFLplayerTerrell Suggs,a two-timeSuper Bowlchampion.[41]Jalen is also a cousin ofEddie Jones,a three-timeNBA All-Star,and Pacers guard,Tyrese Haliburton.[40][42]He has several other cousins that have playedNCAA Division Ibasketball.[43]Suggs is aChristian.[44]
References
[edit]- ^Neal III, La Velle E. (March 19, 2021)."Jalen Suggs' march to history with Gonzaga is set to begin Saturday".Star Tribune.
- ^Moore, CJ (May 7, 2019)."Jalen Suggs is a top-10 2020 basketball recruit… who is also a four-star QB prospect".The Athletic.RetrievedJanuary 10,2020.
- ^Rule, Heater (January 23, 2016)."Minnehaha Academy eighth-graders anchor winning varsity".Star Tribune.RetrievedJanuary 10,2020.
- ^Frederick, Jace (March 25, 2017)."State boys basketball: Minnehaha Academy holds on to win Class 2A title".St. Paul Pioneer Press.RetrievedJanuary 10,2020.
- ^"2016-17 MaxPreps Boys Basketball Freshman All-American Team".MaxPreps.April 18, 2017.RetrievedJanuary 10,2020.
- ^Paulsen, Jim (March 24, 2018)."Minnehaha Academy, driven by larger purpose, defends 2A title with victory over Caledonia".MN Basketball Hub.RetrievedJanuary 15,2020.
- ^"2018 Minnesota AP All-State boys basketball team".Associated Press.April 3, 2018.RetrievedJanuary 15,2020.
- ^"2019 Minnesota AP all-state boys basketball teams".Associated Press.April 1, 2019.RetrievedJanuary 15,2020.
- ^abMeehan, Jim (May 26, 2020)."Gonzaga commit Jalen Suggs named MaxPreps male athlete of the year".The Spokesman-Review.RetrievedJuly 17,2020.
- ^Klauda, Paul (June 18, 2020)."Without a title in hand this year, Jalen Suggs leaves with plenty to smile about".Star Tribune.RetrievedJuly 17,2020.
- ^Divens, Jordan (March 25, 2020)."MaxPreps 2019-20 High School Boys Basketball All-American Team".MaxPreps.RetrievedJuly 17,2020.
- ^Paulsen, Jim (March 18, 2020)."Mr. Football winner Jalen Suggs named Minnesota Mr. Basketball, too".Star Tribune.RetrievedJuly 17,2020.
- ^"Minnehaha's Jalen Suggs named Minnesota AP Player of Year".Associated Press.March 26, 2020.RetrievedJuly 17,2020.
- ^Jordan, Jason (March 12, 2019)."McDonald's All American Game Cancelled Amid COVID-19 Concerns".Sports Illustrated.RetrievedMarch 30,2020.
- ^"I want to play for SMB!".SMB Football Homepage.RetrievedApril 9,2021.
- ^Paulsen, Jim (December 8, 2019)."Jalen Suggs wins Mr. Football".MN Football Hub.RetrievedJanuary 10,2020.
- ^Medcalf, Myron (March 25, 2021)."A decade in the making: The rising legend of Gonzaga star Jalen Suggs".ESPN.RetrievedApril 4,2021.
- ^Borzello, Jeff (January 3, 2020)."Jalen Suggs commits to Gonzaga, says overseas 'very serious' option".ESPN.RetrievedJanuary 10,2020.
- ^"No. 1 Gonzaga defeats No. 6 Kansas 102–90; 3 Zags with 20+".ESPN.Associated Press.November 25, 2020.RetrievedNovember 27,2020.
- ^Borzello, Jeff (December 2, 2020)."Jalen Suggs returns for No. 1 Gonzaga Bulldogs following injury scare".ESPN.RetrievedDecember 3,2020.
- ^Jackson, Wilton (December 19, 2020)."Jalen Suggs, No. 1 Gonzaga Cruise Past No. 3 Iowa Despite Hawkeyes' Second-Half Rally".Sports Illustrated.RetrievedJuly 20,2021.
- ^Lawson, Theo (March 9, 2021)."Jalen Suggs named WCC Tournament MVP; Corey Kispert, Drew Timme named to all-tournament team".The Spokesman-Review.RetrievedJuly 20,2021.
- ^Bolch, Ben (April 3, 2021)."UCLA's title hopes shattered in Final Four loss to Gonzaga in overtime".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedApril 3,2021.
- ^"Jalen Suggs - Men's Basketball".Gonzaga University Athletics.RetrievedSeptember 14,2021.
- ^Wojnarowski, Adrian (April 19, 2021)."Gonzaga Bulldogs star freshman guard Jalen Suggs to enter NBA draft".ESPN.RetrievedJuly 20,2021.
- ^Fuller, Marcus (July 30, 2021)."Jalen Suggs goes fifth in NBA draft to Orlando Magic".Star Tribune.RetrievedJuly 30,2021.
- ^Tjarks, Jonathan (July 30, 2021)."The Ripple Effects of the Raptors' Stunning Pick at No. 4".The Ringer.RetrievedMay 10,2024.
- ^"Orlando vs. Golden State - Box Score - August 9, 2021 - ESPN".ESPN.RetrievedAugust 10,2021.[dead link]
- ^Cali, Mike (October 20, 2021)."Spurs 123, Magic 97: Mo Bamba shines but Magic routed in season opener".SB Nation.RetrievedOctober 20,2021.
- ^"Orlando Magic lose Jalen Suggs to fractured thumb".ESPN.November 29, 2021.RetrievedNovember 30,2021.
- ^"Magic's Jalen Suggs Won't Need Surgery on Thumb Injury; Reevaluation in 2 Weeks".Bleacher Report.RetrievedMay 8,2022.
- ^"Magic's Jalen Suggs Had Surgery on Ankle Injury; Will Be Ready for Training Camp".Bleacher Report.RetrievedMay 8,2022.
- ^"Jalen Suggs' Game-Winner Leads Magic Over Bulls".Sports Illustrated.November 18, 2022.RetrievedFebruary 4,2023.
- ^"NBA Communications on Twitter:" The following was released by the NBA. "".Twitter.RetrievedFebruary 4,2023.
- ^"Magic vs Nuggets, January 5, 2024".Basketball-Reference.RetrievedFebruary 9,2024.
- ^"2024 NBA Eastern Conference First Round Game 3: Cavaliers vs Magic, April 25, 2024".Basketball-Reference.RetrievedMay 10,2024.
- ^"2024 NBA Eastern Conference First Round Game 6: Cavaliers vs Magic, May 3, 2024".Basketball-Reference.RetrievedMay 10,2024.
- ^"Year-by-year NBA All-Defensive Teams".NBA.RetrievedMay 25,2024.
- ^Daniels, Evan (June 1, 2017)."USA: Jalen Suggs shines on day one".247Sports.RetrievedJanuary 15,2020.
- ^abDrumwright, Steve (June 17, 2019)."Two-Sport Star Jalen Suggs Has Eye On Basketball For Now As A U19 World Cup Team Hopeful".USA Basketball.Archived fromthe originalon January 15, 2020.RetrievedJanuary 10,2020.
- ^"SociaLight: The Jalen Suggs-Terrell Suggs Connection Runs Deep".baltimoreravens.RetrievedApril 5,2021.
- ^"Gonzaga Star Jalen Suggs Comes From a Family Tree of Athletic Excellence".SLAM.March 12, 2021.RetrievedMay 10,2024.
- ^Paulsen, Jim (February 27, 2017)."For Minnehaha Academy's Jalen Suggs, athletic excellence is all relative".Star Tribune.RetrievedJanuary 10,2020.
- ^Claybourn, Cole (July 30, 2021)."Jalen Suggs drafted No. 5 overall by Orlando Magic, says, 'It was God's plan'".Sports Spectrum.RetrievedFebruary 20,2023.
External links
[edit]Media related toJalen Suggsat Wikimedia Commons
- 2001 births
- Living people
- All-American college men's basketball players
- American men's basketball players
- Basketball players from Saint Paul, Minnesota
- Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball players
- McDonald's High School All-Americans
- Orlando Magic draft picks
- Orlando Magic players
- Point guards
- Shooting guards
- 21st-century American sportsmen