Orlando Magic fans are still getting to know their newest draft pick in Mohamed Bamba. We reached out to Hook ‘Em Headlines to learn more about him.
Orlando Magic fans are still getting to know who Mohamed Bamba is.
They got a taste of his personality with his introductory press conference Friday. There he joked about asking Shaquille O’Neal if he could borrow his house when he finally moved down to Orlando full time. It is on the market, after all.
Bamba though also showed some incredible maturity. It was hard not to see why the Magic’s executives came away impressed with him after their interview at the NBA Draft Combine. All indications he is a very smart guy — he plays chess in his spare time, per the must-read story from May by John Gonzalez of The Ringer — and a diligent and hard worker.
Check those boxes off at least initially.
He even impressed in his Draft Night interview with Magic radio, showing off some of his personality and his focus on making the Magic great.
Bamba’s length is easy to spot — that 7-foot-10 wingspan is now the most famous stat about him — and it is the thing that will help him make the biggest impact. Orlando certainly hopes Bamba can help change the team’s defensive identity.
But his offense continues to be something the Magic hope develops too. He has put in a lot of work.
Clearly, the Magic were not simply investing in what he is today. That is already not particularly clear and certainly not entirely impressive.
Bamba’s final stat line with the Texas Longhorns last year was 12.9 points per game, 10.5 rebounds per game and 3.7 blocks per game. He posted a plus-8.9 defensive box-plus minus. As expected, he was not short on defense. But he certainly still has plenty to improve on the offensive end.
Everyone is eagerly awaiting the start to Summer League so they can see what Bamba looks like even on that quasi-NBA floor. The potential of being a gamechanger defensively has been extremely tantalizing. And that has Magic fans rightfully excited.
So who is Bamba really? To get those answers, I turned to someone who watched him play throughout his freshman year at Texas to learn more about him and his game.
Andrew Lynch is the site editor over at Hook ‘Em Headlines and he answered some of my questions about Bamba as the Magic look to build with him as their defensive backstop:
Philip Rossman-Reich, Orlando Magic Daily: Obviously, Mohamed Bamba’s length is a big thing everyone is talking about with him. But what stood out about him defensively? What does he do that maybe goes beyond his physical presence?
Andrew Miller, Hook ‘Em Headlines: He is surprisingly quick and strong when defending down low. His prowess stretches far beyond his physical tools. No matter what system he is facing, he has the ability to defend really any big he could possibly take on.
Rossman-Reich: What did Mohamed Bamba do offensively that stood out? Do you buy that he can develop into a stretch-5?
Miller: His effort and rebounding was nothing but expected. The shooting ability is good from 2-point range. Developing into a stretch-5 could take some time but the Magic need to be patient with him either way.
Rossman-Reich: Was there any aspect of Mohamed Bamba’s game that left you wanting more? Where does he still stand to improve?
Miller: Although he is a prototypical rim protector that can have an impact on offense too, Bamba could use some work on his passing ability from the paint. To really develop into an offensive force, he could be a better facilitator.
Rossman-Reich: How do you see Mohamed Bamba’s game fitting in the NBA? Does his game translate to a league that is getting smaller? Do you see him fitting in with the Magic’s roster?
Miller: We will have to watch what Orlando does with Aaron Gordon and Nikola Vucevic’s trade rumors. If all three big men are in the Magic rotation at the start of the season, he will have a fight on his hands for a bigger role he deserves. His speed and length will allow him to translate his skill set to the next level despite the NBA lineups getting smaller.
Rossman-Reich: What will Mohamed Bamba’s legacy be at Texas? Can a one-and-done freshman have an impact?
Miller: Pretty much every Texas basketball fan loves him, since we all know that he wanted to be a one and done but still left it all out on the court for the Longhorns anyway. His recruitment paved the way for big-time prospects to continue to choose to come to the Forty Acres. He certainly had a positive impact despite being a one and done.
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My thanks to Andrew for answering some of my questions about the Magic’s newest draft pick. You can follow him on Twitter @andrewmillerssc and check out his work over at Hook ‘Em Headlines. You can also read his post on why he thinks Bamba will succed with the Magic here.