Choosing flashy Croatian forward Mario Hezonja fifth overall in last month’s NBA Draft was a risk. But if the opening days of Summer League are any indication, it’s a risk the Orlando Magic were completely justified in taking.
Hezonja is already building his campaign for Rookie of the Year in early July. In the Magic’s Summer League game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday, Super Mario rose up for a massive tomahawk jam that sent shockwaves all the way to Zagreb.
Mario Hezonja. Wow. pic.twitter.com/jyQE8VQMvy
— Zachary Bennett (@ZacharyBD) July 6, 2015
Here is another angle of the stuff:
Not bad. pic.twitter.com/xNCf2MGV56
— Zachary Bennett (@ZacharyBD) July 6, 2015
And did I mention the staredown at the end?
#SuperMario just did this! 👀#PureMagic #NBASummer https://t.co/fULVnZAgXE
— Orlando Magic (@OrlandoMagic) July 6, 2015
Hezonja’s impressive Summer League showing continues after hitting a game-winning 3 against the Clippers in Saturday’s opener.
Hezonja has been known to play the game with a bit of swagger, to say the least. But as we’re all witnessing firsthand, he definitely has the game to back it up.
Orlando’s young 6-man core of Elfrid Payton, Victor Oladipo, Hezonja, the newly re-signed Tobias Harris, Nik Vucevic, and Aaron Gordon (who is dropping 20-10 stat lines and flashing a consistent 3-point shot in Summer League, himself) is as exciting as any. New head coach Scott Skiles is definitely more of a veteran-oriented guy. But with summer performances like these, Hezonja just might be forcing his way into significant playing time this coming season.
Look out, Toni Kukoc: There’s a new Croatian sensation in town and his name is Mario Hezonja.
Image via Bleacher Report NBA
