Jalen Suggs: The other No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft

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NBA Draft prospect Jalen Suggs (Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports) /

The other things

So this is the part of the scouting report if you want to call this that, where I like to look at other traits a prospect may possess that may get overlooked often. We can talk about the scoring, shooting, passing, and defense all we want but there are some skills the stats can’t or don’t fully show how valuable they truly are. These also might be things that aren’t as flashy or important so to say to most evaluators in determining the outcome of a prospect’s chances to develop into a star player at the NBA level.

For Suggs, the things I believe he does really well that consistently get put on the backburner are his off-ball scoring and his rebounding. Suggs is clearly at his best with the ball in his hands, but he’s not a player who needs it to be effective. He’s a good cutter and once again his awareness and feel for the game is just incredible and it allows him to not only be such a versatile player, but also the ability to impact a game in a multitude of ways.

You’re talking about a top-level scorer who doesn’t have an ego and can play off of other stars, that alone might be the biggest selling point for Suggs being the possible No. 1 overall pick in 2021.

Suggs off ball scoring, great read and subtle back cut, circus finish, up and under reverse lay up /

He’s also just an awesome rebounder for a guard and is not afraid to do the dirty work. As much as his motor shines on the defensive end or in the open floor, Suggs’ effort also is obvious on the glass. He’ll crash in for defensive or offensive boards and puts the same level of energy in getting rebounds as he does making pull-up 3’s or acrobatic finishes offensively.

Suggs effort, rebounding, crashes offensive glass to get rebound over two defenders /

Suggs definitely has the family tree and pedigree of what you’d expect from a future NBA All-Star too. He is cousins with seven-time NFL Pro Bowler Terrell Suggs and former three-time NBA All-Star Eddie Jones. This is a kid who literally has pro sports in his blood and has been groomed for this by his father Larry while still in diapers.

This isn’t something that is going to make or break Suggs’ draft stock or NBA outlook and it shouldn’t, but it’s just another thing worth noting on things to like about the kid’s chances to be a special player in the association.