In the NBA universe, 2015 may seem like a lifetime ago. So as 2016 comes to an end, we take a look back at what could have been. The 2015 NBA Draft produced several legitimate talents. No.1 overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns is dominating on a nightly basis. Latvian big-man Kristaps Porzingis, the No.4 overall pick, appears to be the future of a struggling New York Knicks franchise. Towns and Porzingis are clearly future stars in the association. Now we could sit here all day and break down this talent packed draft, but today we are focusing on one kid in particular. Mario Hezonja is a talented shooting guard, out of Croatia. Since being drafted No.5 overall by the Orlando Magic, Hezonja has struggled to make his mark in the NBA.
How did we get here?
At the age of 17, Hezonja signed his first professional contract with FC Barcelona. In his first year in Spain, Hezonja was nominated for the FIBA Europe Young Player of the Year Award. An award won by future NBA center Jonas Valanciunas. However the nomination was enough to show Hezonja has tons of potential. By the 2013-14 season, Hezonja became a regular starter. 2015 was the year Hezonja made a name for himself. The talented Croatian guard put up several strong performances, including a standout game against La Bruixa d’Or Manresa. In an outstanding shooting display, Hezonja shot an incredible 8-8 from beyond the arc. In his final season in Spain, Hezonja averaged 7.7 points and 2 rebounds in 22 appearances. After such an impressive year, Hezonja felt it was time to take the next step. After agreeing a buyout with FC Barcelona, Hezonja officially declared for the NBA draft.
Born in Dubrovnik, Trained in Barcelona, Exposed in Orlando
When you’re drafted No.5 overall, expectations are always going to be sky-high. Hezonja felt this first hand, after the Magic made him one of the top draft picks in 2015. With a wealth of international experience, Hezonja entered the league with a strong belief in himself. In fact, Hezonja was being accused of being over-confident and rather cocky. In an interview with Sportando, Hezonja made his feelings as a rookie entering the NBA very clear.
“Respect?, No. I never had respect to anybody on a basketball court. I don’t care. Whether it’s a veteran or a young player standing in front of me, I always have the same goal. I want to run over everybody.”
Full of confidence, a top-draft pick and ready to “run over everybody”, what could go wrong? Hezonja would go on to play 79 games his rookie year, averaging 6.1 points in the process. Including a 19 point performance against the Milwaukee Bucks and a 21 point game in a win over the Chicago Bulls. Now, Hezonja’s stat line is no reason to overreact. As a young European guard, it is understandable Hezonja would need some time to adjust to the NBA game. Magic fans were likely underwhelmed by the rookie, but Hezonja would have a chance to redeem himself.
Frank Vogel Doesn’t Appear to be a Fan
This summer was one of change in Orlando in terms of both roster and personnel. The team brought in a new head coach in Frank Vogel, and made several roster moves through free agency and trade. Whilst the Magic were focusing on rebuilding the franchise, Hezonja was playing in the NBA Summer League. Averaging 13 points in just two games might be a small sample size, but any progress was good progress for the young Croatian. When the 2016-17 season came around, a new look Magic team looked to turn the corner. Unfortunately, despite the many changes, it was not meant to be. The Magic became the epitome of inconsistency. Starting the season 0-3, recovering to 3-3 and then falling back to 3-6, all within the first nine games.
As the season began, it became clear that Hezonja wasn’t in Vogel’s long-term plans. Hezonja would play 16.3 minutes on average in October. This would be the most we would see of Hezonja from November on. When November began the Magic still hadn’t won a game. Hezonja was beginning to see less time on the court, even with the Magic struggling. Playing just 11.7 minutes throughout November, Hezonja was being frozen out by Vogel. The situation would only get worse.
The D-League Looms for Hezonja
https://twitter.com/MagicInsider/status/807297183670239232
So far in December, Hezonja has seen just 8 minutes on the court. Brian K. Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel reported on Friday, the Magic are now considering sending Hezonja to the D-League. This would be a huge blow to Hezonja’s long-term future in Orlando. The Magic are under a lot of pressure to make the playoffs this season. If Vogel wants to make a move to help the team make a playoff push, it’s very likely Hezonja could be traded. It’s difficult to fully understand as to why Hezonja never made his expected impact in Orlando. For Hezonja, it wasn’t through lack of confidence or effort. At just 21 years old, there remains to be plenty of time for the young swingman to land on his feet and fulfill his hefty potential.
Main Image
By 350z33 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
