Jalen Suggs showed Orlando Magic the exact leader they’re getting

Pick your favorite moment from Jalen Suggs in his three-game Summer League run. There is a lot to choose from.

His game-saving block that forced overtime in the team’s win over the Golden State Warriors was the highlight on the court for sure. That was a strong impression for the team.

Then there were the other little moments. His willingness to drive to the rim and even play through injury. His return to the court after spraining his thumb in Thursday’s loss to the Boston Celtics showed the kind of toughness he has. Although that sprain is a real injury, Suggs seems like the kind of guy who wants to play through anything as much as he can.

There was the smart passing that often went unrewarded. The skip passes on a line to the opposite corner to set up open threes. Or the defense he played and the steals he created from his ball pressure.

Jalen Suggs showed his desire to win and the leadership qualities the Orlando Magic are looking for as they begin this rebuild.

The most impressive thing? It might have come in a moment of frustration for the rookie. It might have been a misunderstanding of how players speak to officials in the NBA, even in Summer League. But it is a sign of Suggs’ attitude and just how much he fits the identity and culture the team wants to build. And the team needs to build even through these difficult early stages of a rebuild.

Suggs picked up a technical foul. The Orlando Magic were struggling to shoot and falling behind against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He drove to the basket trying to create something and keep his team afloat when he believed he got fouled.

Suggs was grinding for every little piece he could get. In that moment, trying to get the referees’ attention, Suggs was perhaps a bit overzealous. And touching the ref is a big no-no.

But the frustration over losing was evident. He was not frustrated with his teammates or ever lost his focus. He just wanted to win and was willing to push to get his team to win.

If anything, this was the biggest takeaway from Suggs’ Summer League run, cut short by that injury in Thursday’s loss to the Celtics. Suggs is a competitor. He wants to win and he can actually affect winning with his driving, scoring, passing and defensive ability.

This is the most excited Magic fans have been for a guard prospect since Victor Oladipo and probably even further back than that. Suggs delivered in his Summer League run in almost every way possible.

The stats may not fully show this — certainly weight down by a six-point, 12-minute effort in Thursday’s loss to the Celtics.

He finished his Summer League averaging 15.3 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game and 2.3 assists per game. He shot 41.5-percent from the floor and 35.7-percent from beyond the arc for a 47.6-percent effective field goal percentage.

Jalen Suggs also added a surprising 2.7 “stocks” per game, a stat that will be coming back into vogue with Jonathan Isaac’s impending return to the lineup. While this stat — combining blocks and steals per game — is not a catch-all stat for defensive play, it is a sign of defensive activity. And there is plenty of anecdotal evidence about Suggs’ defensive activity.

Orlando Magic

While the stats were impressive — especially his 24-point, three-block, two-steal performance in the opener against the Warriors — it is the other things he did that have fans buzzing even more.

Everyone who had been around Suggs from within and outside the Magic organization talked about how Suggs was all about winning. They marveled at his desire to do what it takes to win and the mentality he brings to the game.

That was by far the most impressive thing on display for Suggs in his three-game run at Summer League. He seemed to take losing hard and sometimes allowed his frustration to boil over.

But Suggs did plenty of other things that contribute to winning too.

He was a more than willing passer. And even though his assist numbers were fairly low for someone who played the point and primary playmaking role, he made plenty of stellar passes.

One of the bigger things Suggs is going to have to learn and feel out this season is understanding when to be a playmaker and when to take over games. That is something every young scorer has to figure out. And it seems Suggs, while willing to step up in the big moments, prefers to start by getting others involved before himself.

That, of course, does not mean he cannot take over games and dominate them when needed. That is what ultimately happened when he led the Magic to a win in the opener over the Warriors. It was easy to see throughout the games he played how special he can be, especially when better teammates surround him.

His rookie season will be spent putting him in positions to succeed and easing him into larger responsibilities. The Magic probably do not want to throw him to the wolves immediately — opposing teams will do that plenty with how they tend to target rookies of all stripes.

Of course, Suggs may well take larger responsibilities on sheer talent alone. He may quickly demand a whole lot more. And there was nothing within the team’s Summer League play to dissuade that notion. Suggs looked every bit the best player on the floor.

More than that, he looked capable of taking over games. that is something the Magic have not had from a perimeter player in a very long time. If fans are having a hard time containing their excitement about Suggs, this is why.

Everything should come back to the things Suggs did beneath the surface. The way he managed the games and kept others involved before taking his shots. And most importantly in his drive to win.

The going thought coming out of Summer League is that Suggs is the perfect player for a young team to begin its rebuild. He is about all the right things and will help the team establish a new culture.

Suggs showed a lot of that in his three games. if that translates, the Magic may have the leader they have long wanted with the talent to match.