Mo Bamba helps build basketball court in Cote d’Ivoire

Orlando Magic center Mo Bamba has spent a good chunk of his summer, encouraging everyone to show their work.

He began the summer challenging followers to show their sweat stains on the padding found behind baskets at most gyms as a sign of the work they were putting in. It is part of Bamba’s playful nature that he has gotten some of his teammates — most recently Markelle Fultz — to share and join in the cause.

Bamba has had his share of sweat stains posted to social media.

It has been a big summer for Bamba as he signed a two-year deal with the Magic, avoiding free agency albeit for just a year with that second year non-guaranteed. He will have a different role this season too most likely as Paolo Banchero likely slots into the starting lineup.

There is still a lot of work to bring this team together. And how much individual players like Bamba improve will be the big part of this season.

This is still the offseason though and Bamba is not just showing his work on the padding inside gyms around Orlando and the country. Bamba is showing his work elsewhere too.

Mo Bamba has spent his offseason showing his work in the gym. This week, he showed his work in the community unveiling basketball courts as he made his first trip to Cote d’Ivoire.

Bamba and his Mo Bamba Foundation announced Tuesday the opening of a new basketball facility at SOS Village in Abobo-Gare in Abijan, Cote d’Ivoire. Additionally, Bamba ran COVID vaccine awareness programs in the country as well as educational programs alongside the U.S. Department of State.

It is a way Bamba is giving back to his parent’s homeland as he arrived in the country for the first time and met with extended family members.

"“This is an extremely personal project and I’m proud of how it’s all reflected in the courts,” Bamba said in a press release through his agency Lenox Partners. “Everything down to the smallest of details represents an important part of my life, from my African roots to my Harlem upbringing, to honoring my family who made this all possible. Mahama helped us identify some incredible local artists and architects who perfectly captured all the intersections of my heritage and I’m so appreciative for all their hard work.”"

The facility will serve more than 200 children daily with FIBA-spec basketball courts and rehabilitated electricity and plumbing throughout the village it is located in. Bamba also collected 100 pairs of shoes from the Orlando Magic and his teammates (including larger shoes which can be harder to get)  for students to use.

Bamba said he will still be involved as the facility continues to build and grow and continue to work to expand programs at the facility.

This is a pretty significant investment in growing the game and giving an opportunity to children in the country where Bamba’s family came from. This is all very cool work from Bamba.

It has been a summer of showing his work. And while we wait to see what Bamba looks like on the court when training camp begins, Bamba has already accomplished a lot this offseason.