NBA Top-10 Rookie Rankings: Has Mario Hezonja Moved Up?

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Mario Hezonja, Orlando Magic, Al Horford, Atlanta Hawks

Feb 8, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Orlando Magic guard Mario Hezonja (23) drives to the basket against Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford (15) during the first half at Philips Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /

10 Mario Hezonja

Last Ranked: 10

Mario Hezonja has now come on, but so have many other rookies, which is why he remains No. 10 in the rankings. We have now seen Hezonja start to unravel the tricks that lurked up his sleeve early this season.

Hezonja’s best antics have come in the long triple, as he has displayed that he has the range to pull up four and five feet behind the line at times.

Hezonja has become a fixture in the rotation of a team in contention for the playoffs. He is now taking on the role we expected he might when preseason stat projections were hammered out here at Orlando Magic Daily.

Hezonja has averaged 23.4 minutes per game in Orlando’s last five games and he saw 32 minutes in the 117-110 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Feb. 8. The rookie has been somewhat inconsistent, but that is a bit expected.

Hezonja took a lot of tough looks in both games against the Hawks, but against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Feb. 3 he hit 6 of 10 from the floor while scoring 16 points, one shy of his career high of 17.

He is coming around.

Next: Orlando Magic Daily Podcast: All-Star Break

If he helps Orlando sneak into the playoffs his ascent up the rankings here will most certainly happen.