Thank You, Mario Hezonja
Mario Hezonja‘s short career with the Orlando Magic is over. It was a stint that lacked opportunity. When given the opportunity, Hezonja impressed, but it was too late.
When the Orlando Magic selected Mario Hezonja in 2015 with the fifth overall pick, there were mixed reactions, to say the least. Some fans were intrigued with the 6-foot-8 athletic guard out of Croatia who was gifted with loads of potential to become a superstar in this league.
The transition from overseas to the NBA was not easy for Hezonja. It took him a while to find his footing in the NBA. Playing time quickly became scarce and injuries slowed him down. He got caught in a franchise that was unsure how to use him, how to develop him and what its goals even were.
Hezonja is clearly not the one fully to blame for his Magic tenure ending after just three years.
His rookie year coach, Scott Skiles, was not easy on him. Hezonja spent the majority of his rookie campaign showing glimpses and flashes of immense potential. He struggled to obtain playing time, but he was very solid. He finished that year averaging 6.1 points per game with a 51.3 percent effective field goal percentage.
Highlighting his difficulties that first year and the attitude from Skiles was a late-season game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Hezonja recorded five steals and scored 19 points. But when someone asked Skiles about Hezonja’s steals, he seemed to scowl and suggested if he had not gotten those steals Hezonja would have been in trouble.
That bravado and confidence from Hezonja were what made him a media darling and an attractive player. But he clearly needed some maturity to smoothe out his rough edges.
He was still a rookie and had time to grow.
But things went south during Hezonja’s second year.
The Magic changed coaches, hiring another defensive enthusiast in Frank Vogel. And that was not an easy season for Hezonja.
Orlando also changed its goals, trying to force itself from rebuilding team to Playoff team. The organization pushed all in on several veteran players and had open Playoff goals. The Magic said the time for growth and development were over. Wins mattered more.
Hezonja was not ready for that physically or mentally.
He spent the majority of the season dealing with a knee ailment. Vogel quickly took him out of his rotation, botting him from the regular rotation after eight games. Hezonja was riding the bench, playing in just 14.8 minutes per game across 68 games.
When he got playing time at the end of the season after those Playoff dreams died, Vogel played him out of position, just trying to cover for his defensive shortcomings.
The Magic never gave Hezonja ample opportunity.
Change was the feature of his third season. New management had new ideas and no relationship with him. Hezonja had to prove himself all over again in a short period.
He did not do enough. New president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman and general manager John Hammond declined Mario Hezonja’s team option for the 2019 season, turning him into an unrestricted free agent this summer.
The writing was on the wall for both Hezonja and Magic fans throughout the season. This was simply going to be another prospect the Magic failed to develop. Another one turned loose to another team and another environment. This team would end up being the New York Knicks, who signed Hezonja to a one-year deal earlier this week.
Frustratingly for the Magic, Hezonja showed flashes on both ends last year after the Magic had made their decision. He finished with 15.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per 36 minutes. He also showed glimpses on the defensive end finishing with 1.8 steals and 0.7 blocks per 36 minutes.
Hezonja finished with a career-best 9.6 points per game, hitting on 33.7 percent of his 3-pointers and a 51.5 percent effective field goal percentage. He proved at least he belongs in the league. His own coach, Vogel, admitted late last year that Hezonja did not look like much of a player early on in the season.
As Hezonja donned a Knicks polo and Knicks gear for the first time in Las Vegas earlier this week as he was introduced to the media, he told Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel he felt disappointed with how his tenure with the team ended.
He expressed regret of how the team ended its season and its inability to take the step up and win consistently. And he expressed sadness he was leaving Orlando and fans. He said he appreciated the support from Magic fans who still saw the best in him.
All in all, Magic should be very apologetic to Hezonja. The Magic declined his team option based off of limited opportunities. He was nothing short of being a great teammate in return.
With more opportunity, Hezonja showcased to the world that he belonged in the NBA.
It is definitely hard for this franchise and its fans to say goodbye to another top-5 draft pick. But signing with the Knicks is definitely a good move for Hezonja’s career. Orlando failed to develop him and let him play through and learn from his mistakes.
Hezonja is a player who works hard both on and off the court — he is a previous winner of the Magic’s Iron Magic award for weight room work. Magic fans and teammates will surely miss him.
They fell in love with him from the moment he bounced the ball off the floor for Aaron Gordon to finish in a preseason game to the moment he got his opportunity and shined in his final season. Hezonja will always be the guy who could win the 3-point and dunk contests.
He never realized that talent and potential in Orlando.
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So long, Mario. Sorry it did not work out in Orlando. Good luck in New York.