NBA
JS
#4

Jalen Suggs

Guard · Orlando Magic · 6'5", 205 lb · Born Jun 3, 2001 · Saint Paul, Minnesota · Drafted 5th overall, 2021
All-Defensive (2024)NCAA buzzer-beaterTwo-sport starPerimeter stopper
NBAOrlando MagicGuards
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In short

Jalen Suggs is a combo guard and elite perimeter defender for the Orlando Magic, drafted 5th in 2021 out of Gonzaga. A two-sport Minnesota legend — the first in state history to win both Mr. Basketball and Mr. Football in the same year — he hit one of the great buzzer-beaters in NCAA history and earned 2024 NBA All-Defensive honors. His 2024-25 season ended early with knee surgery.

Matchup model · next gameLow confidenceSat, Nov 14
@New York KnicksDrop coverage
Proj. points
13.7
range 11–16.4
Line 14
46%
to go over
Team win
39%
111–113
Poi 13.7 Lean underReb 3.9 Lean underAss 5.5 Lean underPRA 23.1 Lean over
Likely on himOG Anunoby· 84 Perimeter DStrong defender
10+ pts89%15+ pts33%

Model lines Suggs at 13.7 pts (range 11–16.4) vs a 14 line — roughly a coin flip to clear it (46%).

Biggest edge: scheme fit — drop coverage concedes the pull-up/mid-range he likes.

Full matchup breakdown · all markets →
Balladex Matchup Model — modeled from real roster ratings, scoring baselines & defender-matchup history. Schedule, availability & head-to-head samples are illustrative in this prototype; production wires live schedule, injury & player-tracking feeds. Not betting advice.
✦ Ask anything about Suggs
The Suggs Story — narrated
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A two-sport Minnesota legend turned elite perimeter defender — competitiveness for the Magic.

Suggs won Minnesota Mr. Basketball and Mr. Football, then hit a famous 40-foot buzzer-beater at Gonzaga.

🏫 Gonzaga · 5th, 2021NCAA buzzer-beater

Orlando drafted him 5th in 2021, and he became the first Magic All-Defensive pick since Dwight Howard.

All-Defensive 2024Perimeter stopper

His scoring rose to a career-high 16.2 a game, and he signed a five-year, $150.5M extension.

16.2 ppg5 yr / $150.5M

A knee procedure ended his 2024-25 season early.

🩹 Knee surgeryCornerstone
— end of story —
Want the full numbers? Open the breakdown →
PPG
13.8
2025-26
RPG
3.9
per game
APG
5.5
per game
FG%
.435
.339 from three
LIFE

Roots & the rise

A combo guard and elite perimeter defender — a two-sport Minnesota legend for the Magic.

Jalen Suggs was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota and became a two-sport legend — the first athlete in state history to win both Mr. Basketball and Mr. Football in the same year, leading his team to a state football title as a quarterback. He played one season at Gonzaga, where his banked-in 40-foot buzzer-beater beat UCLA in the 2021 Final Four.

Orlando drafted him 5th in 2021, and he developed into an elite perimeter defender — the first Magic player named All-Defensive since Dwight Howard — while his scoring rose to a career-high 16.2 points a game. He signed a five-year, $150.5 million extension, though a knee procedure ended his 2024-25 season early.

Sources: Wikipedia, NBA.com, Basketball-Reference, ESPN.

BEYOND THE GAME

Beyond the game

Suggs's athletic pedigree is remarkable — a quarterback and point guard who won Minnesota's top honor in both sports in the same year, and a cousin of NBA players including Tyrese Haliburton. A Christian who plays with visible fire and competitiveness, he carries the two-sport toughness into his defensive identity.

His on-court calling card is defense — an athletic, high-IQ combo guard who takes on the toughest perimeter assignment, earning All-Defensive honors. His scoring and shooting have been developing (a modest career three-point percentage), and durability has been a concern, but his defensive intensity and playmaking make him a cornerstone of Orlando's identity.

PERSONALITY

The person

A fiery, athletic perimeter defender and combo guard — defense, competitiveness, and playmaking.

Elite defender2024 All-Defensive — takes the toughest perimeter assignment.
Two-sport starWon Minnesota Mr. Basketball and Mr. Football in the same year.
CompetitorPlays with visible fire; hit an iconic NCAA buzzer-beater.
PLAYER DNA

Archetype & ratings

Archetype
Point-of-Attack Guard · Two-Way
Temperament
Connector
Leadership
58/100
Scoring63
Playmaking70
Rebounding43
Perimeter D84
Rim protection23
Spacing60
Athleticism70
Clutch64
Elite perimeter DTwo-way guardConnector
ANALYSIS

What the numbers say

A defensive cornerstone

Suggs's value is elite perimeter defense — an athletic, competitive combo guard who takes the toughest backcourt assignment and earned All-Defensive honors, a rarity for the franchise. On a young Magic team built on defense, his on-ball intensity and playmaking are foundational, and his scoring leap (16.2 a game) added a two-way dimension.

Health and shooting to watch

The variables are durability and shooting — a knee procedure ended his 2024-25 season early, and his career three-point percentage remains modest. Locked into a long-term extension, his outlook hinges on returning healthy and continuing to develop his jumper; if he does, he's a genuine two-way cornerstone for Orlando's core.

STATS

Season by season

Per game

SeasonGPMINPTSREBASTFG%3P%
2025-265727.613.83.95.5.435.339

Source: Basketball-Reference.

ADVANCED

Advanced & historical

Where he sits in history

202140-foot overtime buzzer-beater vs. UCLA in the NCAA Final Four with Gonzaga
2024NBA All-Defensive Second Team — first Magic player so honored since Dwight Howard
High schoolFirst Minnesotan to win Mr. Basketball and Mr. Football in the same year

Hardware

1×
All-Defensive Team (2024)
5th
Draft pick (2021)
OUTLOOK

Where it's headed

AI-generated · updated July 13, 2026

An elite perimeter defender and combo guard — a two-way cornerstone returning from injury.

Suggs is a defensive cornerstone of Orlando's young core, locked in on a five-year, $150.5 million extension. His scoring was rising (16.2 a game) before a season-ending knee procedure; his outlook hinges on health and continued shooting development to complete a genuine two-way profile.

Perimeter defenseElite
CompetitivenessElite
PlaymakingStrong
Shooting / healthWatch

Contract

Deal
5 yr / $150.5M signed 2024
Role
Defensive guard cornerstone
Age
25 prime
Bottom line

An elite perimeter defender, fierce competitor, and two-sport legend — a defensive cornerstone for Orlando, with health and shooting the keys to a fuller two-way ceiling.

FAQ

Quick answers

What is Jalen Suggs best known for?

Elite perimeter defense (2024 All-Defensive) and an iconic 40-foot buzzer-beater that beat UCLA in the 2021 NCAA Final Four with Gonzaga.

Was Jalen Suggs a two-sport athlete?

Yes — he was the first Minnesotan to win both Mr. Basketball and Mr. Football in the same year, starring as a quarterback and point guard.

What happened to Jalen Suggs in 2024-25?

His season ended early after a knee procedure, though his scoring had risen to a career-high 16.2 points a game.