Suggs puts on dunking show
Rookie’s exploits prove to be popular feature on TV highlights
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 putback, one-handed dunk he threw down over the top of a weak boxout 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 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 half-court during the second half, was obviously disappointed by the loss to Cleveland. But he stayed upbeat.
“I think [ball movement] was great tonight,” he said. “We didn’t knock down some open shots. Some nights, that’s just how the ball goes. You can’t control that.
“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.”
The Magic missed 16 of 22 shots taken in a third-quarter lapse that spelled their demise Wednesday. They shot 27% in the quarter and 39% overall. Suggs didn’t shoot horribly, making 6 of 13 floor shots, but he did miss 4 of 6 3-pointers.
“It’s a learning experience and
you’ve gotta take it for what it is,” Suggs said of summer league. “The goods, bads, up and downs — take them, learn from them. Take the goods, be happy about it; learn from the bad. I think the big thing is to just keep pushing.”
Magic ink Brazdeikis to two-way contract
Another player who has had a solid pair of games in summerleague play has been free-agent forward Ignas Brazdeikis, whom the Magic signed to a two-way contract Wednesday.
Brazdeikis played in the final eight games of the season with the Magic last season. Under NBA rules, a two-way player is permitted to be on the Magic’s active list for no more than 50 games during the regular season.
The rest of his time will likely be spent with the Lakeland Magic G League team.
In summer-league play, Brazdeikis is averaging 10.5 points, five rebounds and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 54% from the field (7 of 13), including 2 of 4 from 3-point range.
Hogg makes the most of his time
The Magic were pleasantly pleased to see D.J. Hogg take advantage of extended minutes against Cleveland after only playing four minutes against Golden State on Monday.
Against the Cavs, Hogg, a former Texas A&M standout, played 19 minutes and was impressive at times. He scored 15 points and had six rebounds and shot the ball well, one of the few Orlando players to do so Wednesday. He hit 5 of 8 shots from the floor (62.8%), including 3 of 4 on 3-pointers.
The 6-foot-9 Hogg played at Lakeland last season, where he averaged about eight points per game coming off the bench.
2021 Orlando Magic Summer League remaining schedule
Aug. 15 vs. Houston, 8 p.m., NBA TV, Thomas & Mack