Orlando Magic fans have learned even more about top draft pick Jalen Suggs during his time in the NBA Summer League. The main thing: The dude has hops.
Suggs was so impressive with a put-back, one-handed dunk he threw down over the top of a weak box out by Cleveland’s Lamar Stevens, that he was all over ESPN’s SportsCenter highlights and Top 10 plays of the day Thursday night. After the throw-down, Suggs turned and had some words for Stevens.
Suggs has shown his leaping ability on several different occasions during the summer league. He went high to block three shots against Golden State on Monday and he thwarted other shot attempts against Cleveland but was not credited with any blocks. The former Gonzaga star is averaging 20 points, 8.5 rebounds, three assists, and 1.5 steals and blocks per game so far.
Suggs, who had another explosive two-handed dunk off a pass from Cole Anthony, who found Suggs in a clearing in the halfcourt during the second half, was obviously disappointed by the loss to Cleveland, but he remained upbeat.
“I think [ball movement] was great tonight. We didn’t knock down some open shots. Some nights, that’s just how the ball goes. You can’t control that,” Suggs said. “I think we did a good job moving [the ball], moving our bodies and putting ourselves in good position to be open, and making the extra pass.
“[The Cavs] were really tight in the gaps and they were helping a lot. Again, that opened up a lot of drive-and-kicks, and we got the open look. They just didn’t fall tonight.”
