ORLANDO — Jalen Suggs is ready. The Gonzaga alum’s rookie season was limited to just 48 games due to a combination of injuries, including a stress fracture in his right ankle in which he underwent surgery for in May. While Suggs is disappointed that he couldn’t reach higher heights as a rookie, he’s prepared for an elevated year. two.
“This is a big year coming up. Not only for myself but for us as a team,” Suggs told FortyEightMinutes while explaining that he spent much of the offseason rehabbing his ankle injury and getting ready for the 2022-23 NBA campaign.
“This summer definitely paid off,” Suggs continued. “It was a good one.”
The Magic may immediately call on Suggs to take on a bigger role with Markelle Fultz expected to miss time with a fracture in his big left toe.
Jalen Suggs Talks Mental Game
Suggs admitted that a lack of confidence was something that plagued him during his rookie year, telling FortyEightMinutes and other media in Orlando that he’s been working on his mental game this summer.
Jalen Suggs (@jalensuggs) says his confidence is “sky high” this season but that was something he struggled with last year.
Suggs talks about the mental side of his rookie year. @FortyEightMins@OrlandoMagic || #MagicTogether pic.twitter.com/ezS8jJCKlQ
— 𝙲𝚑𝚛𝚒𝚜 𝚆. 𝙲𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚎 🏙 (@ChrisWCrouse) September 26, 2022
Suggs struggled with his shot as a rookie, making just 21.4 percent of his looks from behind the arc, though there is hope that getting mentally right will help to improve his game all-around.
The point guard said his confidence heading into year two is “sky high.”
“I’ve worked a lot on my mental game. That’s a huge side of the game, Suggs said. “I feel supremely confident. I feel ready.”
Suggs started in 45 of the 48 games he played as a rookie and he’s expected to be a starter to begin the year (possibly alongside Cole Anthony in the backcourt).
