Magic rookie Mo Bamba benched for tardiness

Orlando Magic rookie Mo Bamba was benched on Monday night for a violation of team rules that he later explained.

Bamba, the No. 6 overall pick in the draft, did not play in a Magic game for the first time all season. Orlando lost 101-76 to the Dallas Mavericks.

Magic head coach Steve Clifford said Bamba was benched for a violation, while Bamba said that he has to “be on time,” suggesting he was benched for tardiness.

“Just got to be on time,” Mo Bamba said when asked about his violation of team rules. “Yeah, it’s just a bad on my part. I need to be better.” https://t.co/Edt7nPkPCN

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) December 11, 2018

The 20-year-old big man is averaging 6.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 17 minutes per game this season.