Mohamed Bamba leaves Orlando Magic anticipating more and more

Mohamed Babma had quite the debut. His play helped spark an Orlando Magic win and it is clear after one game just what kind of player he might become.

Mohamed Bamba was modest after the Orlando Magic’s 104-101 win over the Miami Heat on opening night. If not that, he seemed a bit disappointed with himself.

His statement play on this first night playing NBA basketball was something he thought he could have done better with.

The Magic drafted Bamba hoping to find someone who would provide a defensive spark. And so when Bamba came over and swatted a shot into the second row, it was exactly what the team imagined. Just not what Bamba imagined. He said he typically tries to block those and keep them in inbounds to start a fast break for the team.

Maybe that was all tongue in cheek. It was an admission from a young player that he still has a lot to learn and a lot to grow. And that part is absolutely true no matter how impressive Bamba played.

The fans did not care. That block, something Magic fans have not seen since Dwight Howard was roaming the paint at the Amway Center, was a statement in itself. It sent the Amway Center into euphoria. The fans were chanting the rookie’s name.

Sometimes a block has to send that kind of message.

The message throughout Bamba’s nearly 25 minutes on the floor in the season opener was undeniable. The supposedly raw young big man was going to play. And he was going to make an impact. Bamba would make mistakes, but he would find a way to recover and impact the game every minute he was in.

Bamba’s debut was a preview of what the Magic think he can become this year and what he can continue to grow into. He is far from a finished product, but already it looks like it is going to be hard to keep him off the floor with all the good things he does.

As the Magic began to pull away in the fourth quarter, it was Bamba at the center of all things. The rookie center was doing it all. He was blocking shots, cleaning up misses, running the floor and hitting 3-pointers.

Bamba finished the night with a stat line that may become familiar this year. He scored 13 points, grabbed seven rebounds and blocked two shots. It was a performance that does not stand out on the box score as a dominant one. But throughout his time on the court, it was impossible not to notice Bamba and recognize the energy he brought to the game.

Sure, Bamba still got muscled around some on the block. He is going to have to continue adding strength — work that is likely to come in the offseason. Bam Adebayo moved Mohamed Bamba around the post as he tried to bully him to the rim.

But what remains impressive about Bamba is his willingness to take that contact and keep coming back. He did not give up on plays even as more physical players tried to push him around. That will continue throughout the season. And Bamba is going to have to continue fighting. That should give him opportunities to make plays in recovery. This is the power of his length.

Bamba was always willing to fight back and push back as best he could. He still has a lot to learn as a rookie, but he was not going to back down from the challenge or figure out a way to make an impact.

It was lost on no one just how impactful Bamba was. Especially when compared to Nikola Vucevic, who had a difficult game on both ends of the floor.

Orlando Magic

Much of the debate after the game was centered on Steve Clifford’s decision to finish the game with Nikola Vucevic. And it was a fair debate to have with Bamba playing so well. More likely than not, Clifford saw a tired player in Bamba and went back to a trusted veteran (for better or worse).

But if Bamba plays the way he played Wednesday, it will be tough to keep him out of the lineups. Perhaps Clifford has to adjust his rotation on some nights to ensure he has the option on who he wants to play. The decision to play Bamba and Vucevic together already seems an admission that Bamba is too good to limit his minutes. Clifford is already trying to devise ways to get him on the floor.

If Bamba’s big job early in the season is to establish trust. It appears he has a growing trust with his coaches. And he is demanding more playing time with his impact and talent.

Really the whole thing is an acknowledgment that Bamba might be further along and more ready for the rigors of the NBA than previously believed. The Magic’s cautious approach with Bamba to bring him along at the right pace could quicken considerably if Bamba can continue to show this kind of impact.

Regardless of how immediately Bamba makes himself comfortable in the NBA, the opener showed all the promise Bamba has and exactly why the Magic seem so high on him and his ability. It is hard not to see it.

That fourth quarter run especially was noticeable. Bamba was a catalyst it seemed for everything. From his defensive plays like that gigantic block to his offensive plays like the 3-pointer he made or the putbacks he had.

The Magic had to feel really good with his debut. The fans certainly wanted more.