In 2021, Jalen Suggs couldn’t help but feel nervous as he paced in front of his television in his hotel room in Provo, Utah. He was watching Paige Bueckers play one of her most important freshman games, and UConn was trailing South Carolina by just one point. UConn had just one minute to turn things around. “I had to stand up and watch it,” Suggs shared but the reality was he was yelling at the TV screen in excitement. Eventually, UConn won, and Suggs quickly shot a text to Bueckers while simultaneously screaming, “You’re really the GOAT!” into this phone.

Hours later, Suggs himself scored 24 points in Gonzaga’s 11-point victory over the Cougars. But was this excitement stemming from their love for basketball, or was there something more to it?

What is the relation between Paige Bueckers and Jalen Suggs?

Paige Bueckers and Jalen Suggs’ friendship goes back to the streets and the basketball courts of the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Their friendship started in grade school, and of course, it started on the basketball court. Suggs and Bueckers’ brother played youth basketball together, and that’s how they first met. Paige Bueckers would hop in on their practices and copy the same drills the boys would be running through. Little did Bueckers and Suggs know that those moments of in-and-out dribbles would create the foundation for an incredibly strong friendship.

As they got a bit older, their friendship only grew. Bueckers and Suggs both flourished in AAU basketball, becoming the best players on their boys and girls teams, and then again in high school. The two even attended the Steph Curry SC30 Select Camp during their senior year, where both were recognized as the top players in attendance in their respective camps. In fact, she even asked Jalen Suggs out to the Sadie Hawkins Dance in high school, which he accepted. It wasn’t a romantic move, though, but rather a friendly one.

Despite college journeys taking them to opposite sides of the country, Bueckers at UConn and Suggs at Gonzaga, they have cheered for each other along the way. Suggs was attending Bueckers’ basketball games and vice versa. In fact, a couple of years ago, Suggs’ cousin Mia Curtis stated, “They were like the male and female versions of each other. Certain interactions you’d have – I’d just walk away and be like, ‘Oh, my God. Was I talking to Paige or Jalen?’” But that’s not all. Bueckers has been a constant motivator for Suggs.

For instance, back in 2021, Suggs credited Bueckers for giving him a pep talk before his regional final game against Southern California. “I’ve been kind of struggling, trying to get my footing in these tournament games. She kind of said some words – it kind of got me uplifted, got me going,” he revealed, but over the years, Suggs has done the same for her. However, when asked about her relationship status, what did the women’s player say?

In the past, rumors have connected her name to European Basketball player Matt Freeman, NFL quarterback Spencer Rattler, and even Orlando Magic’s Jalen Suggs. The whispers of her dating Suggs caught a lot of interest, considering they are childhood friends from Minnesota. However, during a conversation with GQ in February 2025, Paige Bueckers stated, “I’m more just focused on basketball. It’s a crazy world out here.”

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However, despite the longstanding gossip of a possible relationship, they have not commented on the rumors. If anything, they seem to be great friends and push each other to achieve.

Which team does Jalen Suggs play for in the NBA?

While Paige Bueckers continues to rise to stardom in the women’s basketball universe, 23-year-old Jalen Suggs has made a name for himself as a steady contributor in the NBA. After a collegiate season to remember at Gonzaga, Suggs was taken 5th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic.

The defensive-minded playmaker quickly became a key defensive piece in Orlando. In his very first NBA season, he played 48 games, scored 11.8 points, 1.2 steals, 4.4 assists, and 3.6 rebounds. But in his third NBA season, he earned career-best stats and was recognized with NBA All-Defensive Second Team honors.

However, Suggs’ rise to NBA fame hasn’t come without struggles. Suggs suffered a stress fracture in early 2025 that saw him miss the rest of the NBA season. But Suggs is expected to come back better than ever as he looks to continue his impressive career.