Mario Hezonja has been a slight obsession for Orlando Magic fans, and really fans throughout the NBA. The supremely confident 20 year old made himself a legend with daring acts of youthful bravado that seemed to occur again and again.
Hezonja has been quite a different player when he came to the Magic though. He is one that has a lot of confidence, but a lot of humility too. Talking to him would reveal a player who recognizes how much work he has to put in to make it as a NBA level and an understanding he is not ready to make an immediate impact.
The Magic never expected Hezonja to be a major contributor right away. They drafted him for his potential as a shooter and playmaker, but knew it would take him time to get used to NBA speed. For Scott Skiles, he knew he had to play better defense.
This moment and this month has proven a big one for Hezonja. Things are clicking for him as the team heads to the All-Star Break.
In February, Hezonja is averaging 9.2 points per game and 3.2 rebounds per game in 22.0 minutes per game. All of those are highs for his season. He is shooting 42.9 percent from the floor and 52.0 percent effective field goal percentage. He is still largely shooting spot-up 3-pointers and not attacking.
But the confidence has clearly grown and he is clearly getting better. Slowly but surely he is emerging and becoming a reliable rotation player and showing flashes of his talent. This has been his breakthrough moment.
Over at Hardwood Paroxysm, I wrote about Hezonja’s moment:
The Magic have held a tight leash to him, perhaps too tight a leash at some points. He has been inconsistent as any rookie typically is. Hezonja is still just 20 years old and prone to mistakes. After making that big shot, he followed it up with both a good and a bad play. With the Magic clinging to a lead, Hezonja saved an errant inbounds pass from going into the backcourt, dribbled toward the corner near the 3-point line, got trapped and threw a wild pass into the lane which was taken away. The Hawks got a chance to steal back the game from the Magic.
These are typical rookie plays. But the sense around the league was that Hezonja was beginning to come into his own. Everyone scoffed at the pass and just wanted the kid to shoot the ball. That would certainly have gotten an earful from his demanding coach. It is still about making the right play.
Now though NBA Twitter is getting its wish. Hezonja is playing. They are beginning to see Hezonja play with that legendary swagger. It is all coming to the surface as Hezonja’s comfort in the league and his role has increased. It may have taken a while — and plenty of frustration with Skiles — but Hezonja is coming for the NBA now.
Hezonja is still clearly a rookie. He is not pushing Tobias Harris, Victor Oladipo or Evan Fournier out of the starting lineup any time soon. He just is not that quality of a player yet.
But he will get there. There seems little doubt he will be an important part of the Magic’s future — perhaps one of the few players the Magic will deem untouchable at next week’s trade deadline.
Tonight, Hezonja will be participating in the BBVA Compass Rising Stars Game as one of the top rookie and sophomore players in the league. The format of the game — U.S. vs. World — may have helped Hezonja get into the game.
He still is not among the very best rookies in the league, as Brett Roberts of Orlando Magic Daily noted in his rookie rankings.
Of course, players like Hezonja are not drafted for what they will do their rookie year, but what they will do further down the road.
Heading into this honor and this All-Star Break, Hezonja is beginning to show just what he can be for the Magic.
mario and gordon are staying in orlando, better!!!
Philllip, he shined in the all star game in usa vs world…and before that his games been coming on, especially a few games vs all star break..i saw team loose to spurs taking hezonja out of game and putting oladipo in…the team offense and moving the ball seems to flow better when hezonjas in the games…i do think he may unseat oladipo soon, harris already is starting to loose skiles trust…frye already has and gordon and hezonjas gaining skiles trust more and more..i can see mario starting in second half of this season…he should!
I think it is very possible Hezonja is being groomed to replace Oladipo or Harris. The Magic really do believe in Hezonja. He is probably the most untouchable guy on their roster. But he is still growing and learning. I do not think he is quite ready to take over the starting job yet. Should see his role and responsibilities increase too.
Philip, what are your thoughts on Vucevic, as relates to a trade? I personally feel we should keep him, but I’m biased. Ideally(a word incompatible w/trade deadlines after a 2-12 January), I see the core untradeables as follows: Vuc, Gordon, Hezonja, Oladipo, Fournier(and I’d really like to keep Jason Smith as well). Thoughts?
Been writing a lot about that over at Orlando Magic Daily, our sister site here.
I think Vucevic is really difficult to move. You have to have his replacement at center in place before making that trade or moving him. But I think it is tough because I think he holds the team back in a lot of ways.
There really are no untouchable players on this roster. For the right deal, anyone can get moved. But Gordon, Hezonja, Oladipo are definitely the most untouchable players. Payton, Harris and Vucevic are in that next group. Fournier is 50/50 thanks to his free agency.