Sorry, basketball fans. This weekend was devoted to four incredibly exciting football games and there is very little anyone could have done to change that.
However, for a brief moment, Orlando Magic rookie guard Jalen Suggs did everything in his power to capture our hearts and our attention.
Suggs, who was selected with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2021 NBA draft, has had a relatively underwhelming start to his professional career compared to what Cavaliers big Evan Mobley and Toronto forward Scottie Barnes have accomplished. But his last two games have been arguably the best he has had for the Magic.
The 20-year-old rookie was coming off a game against the Lakers on Jan. 21 in which he recorded 22 points to go with 9 assists, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. Then in a victory over the Bulls on Jan. 23, Suggs had 15 points as well as 7 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, and 1 block.
But the most impressive part of the night was the jaw-dropping athleticism he displayed on this transition dunk while padding the lead in the fourth quarter.
Jalen Suggs' slam had the crowd SHOOK 😂 pic.twitter.com/kinGvamon2
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 24, 2022
After throwing down the most impressive dunk he has had since playing for the Magic, the rookie did everything that he could to then pump up the crowd as well.
The shots the camera got of the crowd made it look like someone just had a perfect score at the dunk contest. But it’s so much more impressive when factoring in how much harder it is to do something like that during in-game action and guarded by the best defenders in the world.
For example, Suggs also knocked over likely All-Star forward DeMar DeRozan on the play. After the game, DeRozan had this to say about Suggs. (Via Rookie Wire):
“I’ve been a fan of his since he went to school in Minnesota,” DeRozan said of Suggs. “I always watched him, even when he went to Gonzaga. He is a hell of a talent. I’m a fan of his. I have been a fan of his without him even knowing. (I just told him) to keep going: ‘You’re a hell of a talent. You can be very successful in this league.’ I’m rooting for him.”
It’s fitting that it was Suggs who was the NBA player to transcend and trend during a weekend that was otherwise so dominated by the NFL.
Sugg knows a little something about football considering he was also a state champion quarterback in Minnesota. He had offers from Georgia and Ohio State and even Alabama coach Nick Saban said he was on his radar.
