Jalen Suggs is set to return from injury on Friday when the Orlando Magic take on the Charlotte Hornets — his first game since a defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers in November when he fractured his thumb due to a heavy slap down from Joel Embiid.
The injury came at a frustrating time for both him and the Magic.
The team has not had much luck with injuries overall but especially when it comes to the rookies — with Cole Anthony and Chuma Okeke both missing considerable game time last season. Suggs was also starting to look more comfortable as an NBA player.
Heading into the draft, Suggs was billed as a culture changer and someone who could come in and have a positive impact right away, a big ask for a rookie. It placed a lot of expectation on him but things did not quite go to plan early on.
Jalen Suggs will return from injury for the Orlando Magic against the Charlotte Hornets. Here are three aims for the young guard from now until the end of the season.
The 20-year-old struggled with the speed of the game and was woefully inefficient to start the year. He has shot 33.9-percent from the field this season and only 25.5-percent from three. The offensive problems were clear for all to see.
But his return around midway through the season presents the chance to make some important steps forward heading into his second year. There have been glimpses of what he can do and no conclusions can be drawn for a player who has played just 21 NBA games.
By far the biggest strength prior to his injury was his defense — which was way above the level typical for someone of his age. He has the speed and strength to cause opposing players real problems. And seeing Jalen Suggs in a fully healthy lineup with the likes of Jonathan Isaac and Franz Wagner is an exciting prospect on that end of the court.
But there are some immediate and clear problems that Suggs must address during the remainder of the season. Here are the top three things he must work on as the Magic close out the year: