Orlando Magic did not waste Mohamed Bamba’s rookie season

Mohamed Bamba’s rookie season was an up-and-down journey that left some underwhelmed. But it was hardly a waste for a player who needed a lot of learning.

Mohamed Bamba is a presence over everything the Orlando Magic does.

The sixth overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft immediately installed himself as one of the key players or the Magic’s future.

A physical outlier with a NBA Draft Combine record 7-foot-10 wingspan, he was meant to be the catalyst to the team’s defense. A brick wall that no one could get by and deter shots at the rim in the way Magic fans became used to when Dwight Howard was roaming the paint.

The skinny 20-year-old center would need time to develop and grow. He had to put on weight and improve as a basketball player overall, as every rookie does. Being a center, the learning curve always seemed a bit steeper.

But the team seemed like it had its future set at center. Especially heading into an offseason of uncertainty with Nikola Vucevic‘s free agency ahead. Things felt ripe for change.

The season for Mohamed Bamba and the Magic went in many unexpected directions. Bamba struggled a bit on the floor, showing flashes of the defensive presence and offensive ability he can have but struggling with the speed and precision necessary for the NBA.

And then an injury struck that kept him out for the team’s playoff run, forcing him to watch from the sidelines.

In some respects, Bamba’s rookie season was a frustrating one. He struggled to perform on the court and missed the most important part of the season.

In other respects, it was the perfect learning experience for him.

"“Definitely had my ups and downs,” Bamba said in assessing his season. “There is just so much to learn from and so much to grow from. Just really looking forward to next season and the summer.”"

Bamba had to learn the league as a young player perhaps not completely physically ready for the rigors of the league. And then as a learning experience studying players off the court as he watched his team make the playoff push.

His struggles on the court were somewhat expected but so was the zeal of his attack to his off-court work.

Bamba averaged only 6.2 points per game and 5.0 rebounds per game in 16.3 minutes per game. Bamba was inserted as the backup center and struggled in those lineups.

The team was at its worst with Bamba on the floor — -15.2 net rating. But he was starting to come around. He had that natural shot-blocking ability 3.0 blocks per 36 minutes.

Just before his injury, the Magic could see hints Bamba was turning a corner. He was, as coach Steve Clifford often liked to say better in January than he was in November, even if the effects were not clear or measurable yet.

But he complained of some foot discomfort in January. After a brief return, it did not dissipate. Bamba was diagnosed with a fracture in his left tibia and shut down for what turned into the remainder of the season.

It is still not clear if the team would have still had their massive turnaround with Bamba in there. No one will ever know because the injury stopped all that. And the Magic had to find a new way to keep him engaged and keep his progress up.

"“I really believe we will look back at this injury with Mo and look at it as a blessing,” president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said at the team’s exit interviews. “What Mo hasn’t been able to show everybody is the gains he has made internally. He has used this time very productively. He has worked hard with our conditioning people. He has shown a lot of signs internally to us that he is ready to ramp up.”"

Mohamed Bamba’s year was similar to Jonathan Isaac‘s rookie year in that way. Orlando had to focus on getting him right behind the scenes rather than throwing him out on to the court.

Clifford devised a way to keep him engaged with the team and with the gameplan. They would meet regularly to discuss his observations of the team and opposing big men. Bamba would take notes and watch everything, absorbing lessons from around the league.

Clifford complimented Bamba’s engagement and willingness to stay engaged even though he was not playing on the court. That takes a lot of maturity from a young player to do.

"“I don’t think he could have handled it any better,” Clifford said. “After every game, Mo made detailed notes on the other team’s centers and then detailed notes on what he thought was good and bad about how the team played. He was very serious about it and put a lot into it. It helped him even more to understand more the value of knowing centers in the league and the guys he is going to be playing against for years to come.”"

How that will translate when he gets back onto the court is the bigger mystery.

Bamba was slowly getting back onto the court taking stationary jump shots by the time the playoffs rolled around. The team had him in the weight room building strength — a must for him regardless of the injury — well before that.

The Magic would not put a timetable for his return during exit interviews. But Josh Robbins of The Athletic reported last week Bamba has been cleared for all on-court activities. Barring any setback, it is safe to assume the next time Magic fans will see him play basketball is during Summer League in July.

Still, it was tough for Bamba to sit and wait. There is no substitute for experience. And that part was missing.

Bamba said his favorite moment of the season was not his stellar opening night performance, but rather the team clinching its playoff spot in Boston. That was a game Bamba watched from the sidelines and enjoyed with his teammates.

It is clear how hungry he remains to get back out onto the court.

"“It was tough,” Bamba said. “You’re on the team, but you’re not out there going to war with your brothers and your teammates. But after a while, I got into the rhythm of just trying to be one of the first guys to the gym and one of the last guys to leave and always being around and being a part of what we’re doing.”"

Bamba will be back in the gym this season — already posting from the Amway Center practice court after his 21st birthday.

He has to put on weight, something he already says he is doing. With that, he can probably get into the post more and work closer to the basket. And then he can step out and hit his jumper more consistently.

Bamba is still just scratching the surface on what he can do as a player.

His rookie year was not all that he expected or anyone expected. But he still learned a lot about the league. It was hardly a waste.