Orlando Magic giving Mohamed Bamba some more freedom to grow

The Orlando Magic have seen Mohamed Bamba struggle throughout the year. Wednesday he blossomed and showed the potential that has team excited.

When Mohamed Bamba is feeling confident and comfortable on the court, it is easy to see and feel. His long arms become menacing at the rim and the potential that made him the sixth overall pick becomes more than apparent.

Early in the fourth quarter with the Orlando Magic already dominating the Chicago Bulls, Shaquille Harrison tried to test the rookie. He took a fast-break drive toward the rim with Mohamed Bamba tracking him.

With a jump and an emphatic swat, Bamba sent the shot careening toward the stands. It was a confident and boisterous play from a rookie who still sometimes looks like he is taking this whole NBA experience in.

The young rookie has had a bit of a “deer in the headlights” look at times. At least observationally, it seems like Bamba is still thinking and trying to figure out what he needs to do. There are still the flashes of brilliance, but they are still very few.

So when Bamba gets his confidence rolling as he did in the Magic’s 112-84 win over the Bulls, it is hard not to feel that little twinge of excitement.

Bamba has looked the part of a young rookie this year. His play is inconsistent and his numbers are not encouraging. But these plays matter to him.

He said after the game, teammates are encouraging him to chase blocks and have the freedom to roam the paint. That is a lot of trust to put in a young player — even the usually stingy coach Steve Clifford seems to want Mohamed Bamba to play with more freedom. And that is liberating for a player trying to find his way.

Wednesday showed what Bamba can do when he is unleashed — albeit in a blowout game against largely second- and third-string players.

That block was just the beginning of a strong fourth quarter for Bamba. He would score on a dunk off a feed from Aaron Gordon on a pick and roll, showing some chemistry between the two franchise cornerstones.

In another instance, he got a post up on a smaller defender and turned over his right shoulder for a hook shot. It happened all in one motion and with the fluidity of a player of much older experience.

Then there were the offensive rebounds he gathered over players, dishing the ball back out to try to get more shots and reset the offense.

Bamba’s activity was present. And even if he was not blocking shots, he was challenging them with gumption, forcing change at the rim.

This is all anyone expected from Bamba. The next stage in his development as he continues to gain skills and experience. Bamba was meant to be a defensive difference maker.

Bamba finished Wednesday with 10 points, five rebounds and three blocks on 4-for-7 shooting. It was just the seventh time this season he has scored more than 10 points. He had a +10 plus/minus, marking just the 11th time this season he has had a positive plus/minus.

It was a good game for Bamba by almost every measure. The smile on his face after the game was evidence of that.

There is no secret this has been a rough year individually for Bamba.

Overall, he is averaging 6.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. He has done enough to stay in the rotation with little disruption — those 1.4 blocks per game in 16.7 minutes per game previews some kind of rim protection and defensive impact. But it is also abundantly clear how far he has to go.

The Magic understood when they drafted him they were getting a raw physical player with skills that were still developing. His slender frame has made it difficult for him to establish any kind of post position. He often gets pushed out from under the basket on offense and simply out of the way on defense.

In college, he got by on his athleticism and length. Those would help him in the NBA, but could not be all he relied on.

Bamba has settled often for jumpers seemingly to avoid contact in the paint. He has taken 69 of his 203 field goal attempts (34.0 percent) from outside 20 feet. His 3-point field goal percentage has dropped since a strong start to the season.

Worse still, he has struggled to make a positive impact on the floor. Even among a bench unit that has been especially rough this year, Bamba stands out.

The Magic have a -16.3 net rating with him on the floor, by far the worst mark among rotation players. Orlando has a 92.8 offensive rating with him on the floor.

Bamba has looked the part of a rookie in many ways. He has looked a bit lost on the floor, trying to understand the quicker game and more advanced reads he needs to make as a center. There is a sense, at least, of a lack of confidence. Like he is thinking too much on the floor rather than reacting.

Orlando Magic

When he is able to react and play on instinct, Bamba can make an impact. Just like he did Wednesday night. Those flashes and that presence make themselves felt.

As Orlando reaches the midpoint of the season, the team is still trying to figure out the way to get the most from Bamba.

Clifford has long praised Bamba for his willingness to learn and eagerness to absorb coaching. That is a good sign to hear about a young player. Bamba is perceptive enough to recognize he still has a lot to learn.

But that learning has not translated to the court. Some of it is his lack of physical stature and strength. Bamba has put a lot of work in the weight room already, but it will take more time to take a NBA pounding.

The other part is his comfort on the floor. And so the Magic saying they want Bamba flying around, maybe even breaking some defensive rules to play his game defensively, to give him that confidence and that freedom.

It might be what helps him find himself this rookie year and make a more positive contribution on the floor.

Bamba will still go through the ups and downs of his rookie year. He will have more struggles to come this year. Just like he will have more moments like this.

The goal, as Clifford continually says, is to see him improve as the year goes on. If he has more efforts like Wednesday, that goal will be well within sight.