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2016-17 Orlando Magic Player Evaluations: Mario Hezonja

By Philip Rossman-Reich

Mar 27, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Orlando Magic guard Mario Hezonja (8) shoots as Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) defends at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Magic 131-112. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 27, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Orlando Magic guard Mario Hezonja (8) shoots as Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan (10) defends at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Magic 131-112. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mario Hezonja, orlando Magic, Andrew Wiggins, Minnesota Timberwolves
Nov 9, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves forward Andrew Wiggins (22) drives to the basket as Orlando Magic guard Mario Hezonja (8) defends during the second half at Amway Center. Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Orlando Magic 123-107. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

The Good and the Bad

Per Game Table
G GS MP FG% 3P% eFG% FT% TRB AST STL TOV PTS
65 2 14.8 .355 .299 .420 .800 2.2 1.0 0.5 0.9 4.9

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 5/9/2017.

Mario Hezonja was starting from a pretty low place to begin the season.

Coach Scott Skiles seemed to put Hezonja in a bit of a box and hold a tight leash over him. The Magic never really got to see Hezonja at his best it seemed — fully unleashed and creating for himself and others without structure or restriction.

He was still learning and maybe a bit too wide-eyed as a rookie. But he still had some flashes of brilliance and was at least moderately successful.

This season was different. Frank Vogel let Hezonja go a bit, but it was clear very early in the season, Hezonja was not quite the same player. Or not the player they had imagined when they made him the fifth overall pick.

Hezonja gained a spot in the rotation off the bench to start the season. That seemed to be about the bare minimum the team could ask for him.

In the first eight games, Hezonja averaged 16.8 minutes per game but scored just 6.3 points per game and shot 33.3 percent from the floor including 19.2 percent from beyond the arc. It became harder to play Hezonja.

Hezonja saw his minutes significantly cut. He even fell out of the rotation at a certain point.

By the end of the season, things were not much better. True, he struggled to gain a rhythm with the inconsistent playing time. But he played the final 30 games, averaging 20.5 minutes per game. He scored only 6.5 points per game shooting 36.2 percent from the floor and 30.0 percent from beyond the arc.

It begs the question: If Hezonja is not able to shoot the ball, what exactly is it that he can do at a NBA level?

Yes, Hezonja improved defensively. He is not going to get down and defend the opponent’s best player anytime soon, but he showed increased knowledge and awareness defensively. It was a good sign of progress to improve one of his weaknesses.

But the Magic — and the NBA world — became enamored with Hezonja because of his shooting ability. Without that, what is Hezonja really?

The bottom line is Hezonja shot 35.5 percent from the floor and 29.9 percent from beyond the arc. He did not do the one skill everyone thought he had when the Magic drafted him. And finding his shot is the top priority.