Jalen Suggs Sounds Off on Magic Early Season Struggles

Jalen Suggs on Orlando Magic's Early Season Challenges

The Orlando Magic have struggled at the start of the season, with a 1-4 record marked by some tough losses. Despite the rocky start, the team has won their last two games before heading into a road game against the Atlanta Hawks.

Team Expectations and Performance

The Magic were projected to be a strong contender in the Eastern Conference, but their play has so far fallen short of those expectations. Key acquisition Desmond Bane has been underwhelming, averaging 14.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. The team will need him to improve, although Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner have stepped up as the top scorers.

Jalen Suggs' Perspective

“It’s coming along pretty well. It’s so easy to look at these things and call them ‘big, glaring problems,’ and then you forget that there’s 70-plus games left…”
— Jalen Suggs, per Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel

Suggs acknowledges the slow start but remains optimistic about the long season ahead.

Recent Improvements

The Magic have made noticeable adjustments in practice reflected in their gameplay. During the 1-4 start, they allowed opponents to score an average of 122.6 points per game, with opponents shooting 48.6% from the field and 36.5% from three-point range.

Offensively, Orlando averaged 114.0 points per game on 46.7% shooting, including 31.2% from beyond the arc. However, in their last two wins, the team has tightened their defense, reducing points allowed to 100.7 per game.

Author's summary: Despite early setbacks, Jalen Suggs and the Magic show promising signs of growth, focusing on adjustments and longer-term success this season.

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Heavy Sports Heavy Sports — 2025-11-04

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