Jalen Suggs' fourth NBA season is set to feature him more as an on-ball initiator – a role he's always desired. How are the Orlando Magic helping that process? By letting Suggs 'quarterback' the offense.
ORLANDO –– This season, Jalen Suggs is readying himself for a role he’s wanted from the moment he stepped into the league.
But Orlando’s offseason signing of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, a two-time NBA champion stamped with a decade-plus of experience as a three-and-D wing as a two-guard, is bringing change again to the offense. Head coach Jamahl Mosley said Suggs will take on “a significant amount” more of the playmaking responsibilities for the Magic in his fourth season.
Suggs felt he’d be doing the teammates, coaches, staff and organization that he values and trusts so innately “a disservice” if he was doing less than what’s expected of him in this role. He knew going into the summer that he’d have a heavier load to carry upon his shoulders, and that served as a motivating factor for his training regimen.
But trusting Suggs to be an improved initiator himself would better distribute the playmaking load from Banchero and Wagner’s duties. So, ensuring Suggs can be beneficial to the team in that regard is one of the top-of-mind aspects of not only this camp but this season. “He’s grown so much… He and I sat down before practice and watched some film, watched some clips, and I just wanted to get his feel, his thoughts, because he does such a great job of explaining the game. But again, when you’re out there, him and I being on the same page and one accord, just as much as with the teammates, is going to be so important.”
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