Jalen Suggs: The other No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft
By Evan Wheeler
Defense
We’ve already looked at how Suggs turns defense into offense in transition as well as his ability as a help defender, but his capabilities as a defender go further than that. He doesn’t have great length as a guard, but Suggs still has good size for the position standing at 6-foot-4 inches and weighing 205 pounds.
His physicality is present as an on-ball defender and even though smaller, quicker guards may give him some trouble at times, Suggs has the compact build and athleticism to force most opposing one’s or two’s to have to work hard to create offense. He’ll pressure the ball heavily, has good fundamentals staying low in his defensive stance, and does a great job of mirroring his man to force either a tough shot attempt or potential turnover.
You’ll see this in the play below where Suggs hounds Iowa guard Jordan Bohannon, shadows him, allows him no room to breathe really and forces him into a bad decision that leads to a Gonzaga steal. He doesn’t get credit for it in the box score, but Suggs can make these kinds of defensive plays in his sleep where he won’t get credited for the steal but his ball pressure is what causes it.
Adding even more to the promise of Suggs as a potential defensive anchor in the league is his tremendous 89.4 defensive rating this season for the Bulldogs.
The awareness, anticipation, and basketball IQ though that allows Suggs to be such a phenomenal offensive talent, also bleeds into the things he can provide on the defensive end of the floor. He makes everyone around him better and just pops off the screen as an exceptional team defender. His steals will get much of the headlines too, but Suggs might also be one of the best shot-blocking guards I’ve personally ever evaluated. The combination of his athleticism, motor, instincts, and explosive leaping ability make him a constant threat to create highlight-reel level blocks.
