Mario Hezonja is getting better, growing more comfortable

The stats are not there yet for Mario Hezonja and he still has a lot of learning. But it is also clear Mario Hezonja is showing general improvement.

Every moment on the floor is a learning opportunity for Mario Hezonja.

Each time he gets the ball and makes the decision to drive or shoot or pass, is a learning moment. Each defensive possession — every time he chases down a screen or closes out — is a learning experience.

As frustrating as it might be not to see Hezonja playing 20-30 minutes per game like other rookies, Hezonja is learning and improving with each game.

The 20-year-old sharpshooter has needed some time to get comfortable in the league. Slowly but surely, Hezonja is getting there and beginning to show signs of consistency and even more comfort.

“He’s getting better,” Scott Skiles said when the team returned home from a win against the Knicks on Dec. 21. “He played well offensively [against the Knicks] on the defensive end he turned right around and gave it right back to them. He’s about a 50/50 player. We looked at it. I sat with him and we looked at his defensive breakdowns. He’s got a lot of stuff he’s processing right now.”

There has been a lot of that give and take with Hezonja throughout the season. In that Knicks game, he scored 11 points in 19:14 on the floor. It was his fourth time scoring in double figures. The kind of game that showed off his offensive potential.

Hezonja is averaging 4.5 points per game in 13.0 minutes per game, shooting a 52.9 percent effective field goal percentage. He posts 12.5 points per 36 minutes.

These are modest numbers for sure. Heoznja has not quite produced at a very high level yet. His growth on defense has been as important as anything else for the Magic.

As the cliche goes, Hezonja said the game has slowed down for him some. But even he acknowledged he still has a long way to go.

“There is only one thing that is different,” Hezonja said. “It’s the new team. Know your personnel, as coach says. As soon as I get into that group as we stick together and everything and we feel each other where we are on the floor, it’s going to be awesome. Now, it’s good, it’s not awesome. We still have a lot of work to do to be great.”

Hezonja was starting to gain confidence as the Magic’s offense was picking up speed a few weeks ago. He was confidently shooting the ball and the team was moving the ball back then.

Hezonja was part of that. Filling in as the team’s backup point guard, Hezonja showed his ability to pass the ball and what he can do when his offense gets into rhythm.

There were still mistakes made. And so the team has continued to be patient with him even as he has gotten more minutes.

“We’ve got to have patience and also have the same demands on him that we would have on anyone else on the defensive end of the floor,” Skiles said. “He’s learning. He’s way more advanced right now than say the first week of training camp, but he is still a work in progress on that end.”

Where has he improved?

Certainly his comfort on offense. He is shooting a bit more confidently and dribbling into traffic less. He is picking the spots to attack a bit better. He is passing with a lot of confidence too. His vision as a passer has proven to be as valuable as his ability as a shooter early on.

Defensively, Hezonja is still making mistakes. But nothing he cannot continue to improve on. Teams are still looking to attack him on and off the ball as a rookie. Hezonja just has to continue to adjust.

The thought process in getting him more regular playing time starting with the game at Brooklyn on Dec. 14 was because the team was not shooting well. They needed to get him some more experience was critical for the team and his development.

He has played well in the role, if not showing the inconsistencies of being a rookie and figuring out the league. He is still trying to fit in.

“One extra pass is separating us from horrible to great,” Hezonja said. “When we share the ball we are really good. And we execute well and everyone is getting involved. As soon as somebody starts, let’s say me, I make some mistake or dribble the ball too much and I make a mistake, then everybody else it’s like a chain reaction.

“We are improving in that everyday,” Hezonja said last week. “We repeat the same stuff with the new stuff obviously. It’s working well. Obviously we are young, but we work harder than everybody I guess. Everything that we do is reflecting on the game as you can see.”

The Magic have hit a bit of a rough patch. Hezonja has struggled as much as anyone. He still has the rookie moments. And he is not quite an impact player for this roster, able to change things with his presence.

What is important for Hezonja and for the Magic is that he continue to show this general progression and comfort the rest of this season. There will be a time for him to take over and show what he can really do.

Next: Top 10 NBA Rookies: Where does Mario Hezonja stand

Right now, he is accomplishing what he has to — getting comfortable and growing every day.