Mohamed Bamba shows he won’t back down in preseason debut

Mohamed Bamba got muscled around a bit in his Orlando Magic preseason debut. But he also showed he won’t back down and will keep attacking.

It was hardly clean. Mohamed Bamba rolled to the rim, leaving Dario Saric behind him and saw an open lane in front of him. The only person between him and the basket was Joel Embiid rotating over to stop him.

Bamba was not giving up the opportunity to show up his friend.

The result was. . . it was not quite a dunk. It was not quite much of anything.

Bamba took off and Embiid met him, getting a hand on the ball. But Bamba had the strength to muscle the ball into the basket. It was two points but a statement too.

One the two could go back and forth over on Instagram after the game:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BoaizZEF71W/?taken-by=therealmobamba

The call back to the two player’s training days in the summer was certainly not lost on anyone. Embiid in that summer pick-up game gave Bamba a hard shove and Bamba held serve. Embiid still got his lick in, jamming it over him and shouting an expletive-filled welcome to his new buddy. It is all in the good-nature for Embiid.

So too was this moment, even as they exchanged barbs on social media after the Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Orlando Magic 120-114 at Wells Fargo Center on Monday.

Bamba had his rookie moments — like picking up three fouls in his first few minutes on the floor as Embiid toyed with him in the post. Bamba looked every bit the scrawny center that had everyone concerned about him and his early career.

Embiid pushed him around and outmaneuvered him. No initial knowledge of coverages and study could prepare him for the reality of a NBA floor.

Those early moments of difficulty did not phase him. He came right back at Embiid getting better and stronger as the game went on.

Bamba finished his unofficial NBA debut with 12 points on 4-for-5 shooting, making two 3-pointers. He hit the two 3-pointers but also worked around the basket effectively. Or with enough promise. This was not a game to make conclusions about his production levels.

This was a game to show that he could hold his own and fight back when needed. There will surely be moments like those early ones where Embiied bullied Bamba out of the way and he could do nothing but foul.

If the Magic wanted to measure and judge their rookie in this game, it was to see how he responded to the physicality of the game and how he responded to getting pushed and shoved around. In that sense, Bamba showed plenty of resolve and willingness to fight back.

Bamba showed this throughout Summer League. Often willing to get physical even if his body was not quite ready for the punishment and he ceded some ground to stronger players. Bamba still has to build and judge his own strength for these situations.

But one thing is clear, Bamba is not going to back down.

That might have been something coach Steve Clifford wanted to see from the team overall. After getting off to a slow 12-2 start where the team gave up offensive rebounds and seemed to get pushed around, the Magic seemed to respond and fight back. They brought the deficit within striking range.

Still, it was preseason. The 76ers looked much more organized and were clearly more talented. The Magic still have a lot of work to do and a long way to go. Orlando fouled a lot, giving up 36 free throw attempts and there were plenty of miscues offensively.

It was certainly the first preseason game. For everyone.

Most especially for Bamba. He looked a bit nervous and searching for his way. The defensive impact that was promised certainly was not there. Bamba looked a bit late on his rotations and again overpowered when Embiid decided to flex his might.

But that part is not the important part. He will grow and learn where to be and gain confidence in his abilities on the court. This is part of the confidence-building process.

So when he flared for a 3-pointer and drained it or drove the lane for that jam over Embiid it was a sign that he certainly does belong. And more importantly that he was willing and able to shake off any poor play and find a way to contribute.

This is a positive sign of growth from the rookie.

He will have plenty of games just like this one throughout his rookie year. This will be a year of growth and development. The team is rightfully bringing him along slowly, testing him in various small ways like throwing him in against Embiid in a preseason game.

For this first test, Bamba seemed to pass muster. He did not back down from the challenge.