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:
Tighten up his handle
Much of Jalen Suggs’ struggles have been with the ball in his hands.
The young guard has not looked assured or calm enough to be the lead offensive initiator during the games he has played and was often too predictable for opposing defenses to read.
A lot of this is because of his handle.
Suggs is not a bad ball-handler by any means, but if he is to get to the level that he is capable of and wants to become the Orlando Magic’s lead guard, it has to get considerably better.
Across 21 games, Suggs has averaged 3.2 turnovers per game and has had multiple four or five turnover games already this year. The team needs him to take better care of the ball, and improving his handle is the biggest way he can do that.
High turnover rates are not unusual for rookies. They often make the wrong decision or try to do things they are not yet capable of.
But Suggs is different in that he looks to be a very smart player. He knows where to be, does not make a ton of bad shots or passes, and it looks like he knows his role on the team. The thing that has let him down is his dribbling ability.
Not only does it lead to turnovers, but it makes it more difficult to get to the spots he wants to get to on the court. Suggs has the potential to be a very good shot creator and is better than simply being a catch-and-shoot guard or defensive specialist.
It will take plenty of practice, but the former Gonzaga guard has the time to get his handle to the level it needs to be at.
Work on his jumper
Jalen Suggs has really struggled with shooting the ball this season. He was never expected to be an elite three-point shooter coming into the league, but his college season suggested he had the tools to at least be a decent one to start with.
Suggs made 33.7-percent of his 3-pointers in college and made 75.4-percent of his free throws. Suggs is still improving his jumper overall and those struggles are clear in the NBA.
Suggs is making roughly just one out of four attempts from beyond the arc this season and it was a notable factor in some of the games the Magic lost while he was healthy. A bit more consistency would have seen the team pick up a couple of more positive results.
There is not necessarily anything glaringly wrong with the way Suggs shoots the ball. He has a good leap to get plenty of power behind the shot and has a fluid motion when releasing the ball.
The ability seems to be there, but the execution is not. Whether it is difficulty dealing with closeouts from NBA defenders or letting his concentration slip, the shots just are not going in.
Unfortunately, this is the one thing Suggs was not likely able to work on seeing as the fracture in his thumb came in his shooting hand. One of the concerns with bringing him back was simply about catching the ball. He has clearly cleared that hurdle. Expect Suggs to seek out his rhythm again as he gets himself back into game action.
For a long time, the Magic have lacked good shooting. And having someone at the 2-spot who can shoot threes reliably will be key for this team going forward. Suggs has to start showing he can be that guy.
It is not just from three where Suggs has to improve. He has just shot just 39.4 percent from 2-point range this season and has not been good at shooting from mid-range either.
A run of games shooting the ball well would be a huge confidence booster for Suggs.
Be more confident
And speaking of confidence, Jalen Suggs should also be a bit more selfish and trust more in his own ability during the rest of this season.
There were a lot of times earlier this year where Suggs would have a good look at the basket but instead pass up an opportunity and opt for a teammate who was often in a position no better or slightly worse than his.
Suggs prides himself on being a team-first player and having someone who is happy to share the ball and find his teammates is an important part of his game. It is a big reason why the Magic drafted him.
But at some point, a guy with his level of potential must put more faith in himself when it comes to making shots.
While the Magic are very much still in the early rebuild stages, where development is the most important thing, it is the perfect time for Suggs to build confidence and make mistakes.
But what must not be forgotten is that, despite his early struggles, the Magic have a hugely exciting player for the future. The rest of the season must be seen as laying the foundations for what could be a potentially very successful career for Jalen Suggs.