Jalen Suggs: Primed for Playoff Action with the Orlando Magic
PHILADELPHIA – A year ago, Jalen Suggs was a spectator as the Orlando Magic battled through the NBA play-in tournament, ultimately falling to the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs. After a challenging season sidelined by a left knee injury, Suggs is back and ready to contribute to his team’s postseason run. Having appeared in 57 regular season games – the second-most of his career – he’s eager to prove himself on the biggest stage.
“I’ve been waiting for this time of year all season,” Suggs shared with the Orlando Sentinel after shootaround before Wednesday’s play-in game against the 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena. “I feel like I was trying to wait to get to this point. Now that it’s here, you can’t do anything but come out at tipoff and compete.”
A Veteran’s Perspective
Suggs recognizes the heightened intensity of playoff basketball. “You can tell who’s ready and who’s energized, who’s willing to do the little things to win, and who isn’t,” he explained. “It’s much more apparent, so I’m ready to play. I’m excited.”
While he wasn’t part of last year’s playoff team, Suggs gained valuable experience in the 2023 playoffs with the Cleveland Cavaliers, participating in all seven games of their first-round series. He averaged 14.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists, adding 1.3 steals per game, though his three-point shooting percentage was 29.2% against Cleveland. This experience, combined with observing last year’s Magic playoff run from the bench, has given him a deeper understanding of what it takes to win.
“Just knowing what it takes to win and knowing that that’s all it’s about – the win,” Suggs emphasized.
Pressure to Perform
The Magic, under coach Jamahl Mosley (in his fifth year), are yet to advance beyond the first round of the playoffs. Following two first-round exits and a turbulent season marked by losing streaks, the pressure to succeed is mounting. However, Suggs and his teammates are focused on blocking out external noise.
“Once the ball tips off, nothing else matters, to be honest,” Suggs stated. “It’s literally just a game, so all that other stuff is human nature. It’s impossible not to hear it, but once the ball tips off and you walk into the arena on game day, all that other stuff doesn’t matter. It’s about handling the task and the day at hand. That’s how I try to approach it.”
He added with conviction, “All that is what it is, but it’s just time to play. I really don’t care.”
Grateful for the Opportunity
Suggs expressed his gratitude for being healthy and available to contribute to the Magic’s playoff push. “It’s hard not to get excited, especially now that you’re really in it,” he said. “There’s nothing after the fact that you can say you can make up for in the next game. These are literally it.”
Jalen Suggs is ready to lead the Orlando Magic, bringing a blend of experience, determination, and a singular focus on winning. The playoffs are here, and Suggs is eager to make his mark.
Source: Orlando Sentinel
