Orlando Magic: Best candidates for 2018-19 NBA awards
By Chris Murch
Defensive Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year: Mohamed Bamba
Both of these choices should come as no surprise. Mo Bamba was a surprise slide to the Magic at No. 6 in the draft and might have the most potential out of everyone in this draft class. He is also one of the longest players in NBA history and averaged a healthy 3.7 blocks per game in his lone year at the University of Texas to go along with 10.5 rebounds.
Starting with his defense, it will be his calling card in year one. This will be the reason he potentially stays on the floor for long stretches and becomes the Magic’s starting center of the future.
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Bamba has all the makings of a rebounding and blocking machine. While there have been comparisons to Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert due to similar length, the NBA really has never seen anyone like Mo before. He looks to be more athletic than Gobert and better offensively as well with an inside-out game. I anticipate a lot of big-to-big switching from Orlando this season and Bamba looks like he could be an effective mid-range defender as well, guarding 3-5.
Getting shots up against Bamba in the paint will be a fool’s errand. With his 7’10” wingspan, it’s going to take a floater up the stratosphere to get over his outstretched limbs. His rim protection will be the best in Orlando since Howard in 2012 and could be the best in the league in a few years. Bamba is the prototypical DPOY candidate and he could show early signs of it this season.
The rookie record for average blocks is 5.0 per game from Manute Bol in the 1985-86 season. While it would be a stretch to think that Bamba could match this, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s swatting around 2-2.5 a game.
If Bamba gets the minutes a lot expect him to, then a big year rebounding and blocking the ball could surface. If this happens, don’t be surprised to see him creep up those DPOY rankings and nab some votes at the end of the season.
As far as ROY voting is concerned, Bamba could be in a good spot. While Deandre Ayton and Marvin Bagley III will be higher focal points on their respective teams and thus get more minutes and points, Bamba could be the best defender of every rookie. This gives him an advantage come voting time. If he dominates the paint on a nightly basis, this could sway some voters.
Bamba seems to have been working hard on his game this offseason. He averaged 12.9 points per game on 54 percent shooting last season at Texas, shooting 27.5 percent from 3.
In videos from this offseason, Bamba seems to really be developing his outside game more to go along with adding strength for post play. If his offense comes around quicker than expected, watch out. If Bamba can be a 15-point, 10-rebound, 2-block a game guy in 2018-19, it would be hard to not have him finish in the top three for ROY voting.