The hype for Orlando Magic swingman Mario Hezonja has been immense, but even with his immense confidence he is humble enough to respect the legend of Drazen Petrovic.
Mario Hezonja was speaking after a game which saw him electrify teammates and observers in the Orlando Summer League.
He had thrown down two wicked dunks, knocked down a triple and looked like every bit of the talent that caused Magic general manager Rob Hennigan to draft him No. 5 overall.
But beneath the bravado and cockiness is a guy who still knows he needs work, a guy who is not willing to embrace the hyperbole that has accompanied his trek into the NBA.
Super Mario! #NBASummer http://t.co/XjrNLwSUjh
— NBA TV (@NBATV) July 6, 2015
Hailing from Croatia, Hezonja was born after the death of legend Drazen Petrovic. But he is well aware of what Petrovic was, and what he means to European basketball, let alone Croatian basketball. For all the talent he is, Hezonja does not really like the comparison to a player who put Croatia on the NBA map in the 1990s.
Hezonja manifests all the traits Petrovic did: quick, a great shooter, and intelligent on the court. He has been criticized for being cocky, but when he was asked about comparisons to Petrovic, that facade disappeared.
He was visibly caught off guard when asked if the Petrovic comparisons put undue pressure on him.
Hezonja paused and did his best to compose the answer just right. It was clear to see Petrovic is still an emotional trigger for Croatians.
“He was the best player in the world at the time, so of course it is good to hear that,” Hezonja said. “But I don’t like the comparison because it is disrespectful, so I don’t like it.”
While he appreciates the comparison, he is not about to embrace it. Hezonja believes he can be a major player in the NBA, but he is not looking to infringe on Petrovic’s legend. This was a player after all who blazed a trail to the NBA for international prospects and made the All-NBA third team in an era that featured some dominant guards, not the least of which was Michael Jordan.
But Hezonja lived in a world where Petrovic was Michael Jordan, “the best player in the world,” in the eyes of a small country that has produced a wealth of NBA talent, especially on a per-capita basis.
Croatia is regarded as a hoop hotbed, and Hezonja is the latest and greatest, but he is not the greatest ever. And the fact he knows that, and knows he has to work, is what is going to drive him to the top in the Association.
When asked what he can do to be a better player, he repeated, “Work. Work…work.”
It was a simple answer and his cadence with it elicited a chuckle from reporters, but players who already think they are the best are elevated to higher stature on the basis of hard work ethics. His ego and cockiness may not quite be as advertised.
Hezonja has now realized he is going from possibly the second toughest league in the world (ACB Spain) to the league’s elite basketball club. But he is taking the hype in stride, even commenting his two highlight dunks meant very little because the Magic Blue team lost the game to Oklahoma City. Hezonja had shown the flashes that made him a high lottery pick.
People are still getting excited for what he can be.
People, I know it's only Summer League, but I REALLY like Super Mario Hezonja for the Orlando Magic.. Again it's an early eye test..
— Reggie Miller (@ReggieMillerTNT) July 6, 2015
But Hezonja is not ready to bill himself a legend, and that humility is going to keep him in check as he seeks to become a premier swingman. And the best thing since Petrovic, yet still not Petrovic.
Hezonja may not have been alive when Petrovic died tragically, but Petrovic’s legend casts a huge shadow over Croatia, and Hezonja is willing to stand in it, surprisingly humbly for a guy that has been billed as overconfident.
There is a time and place for confidence, but it has not tainted his perception of Petrovic’s legend, and that shows the kid has respect.