By John Denton
Feb. 8, 2017
ORLANDO – Back on the bench because of foul and turnover trouble after getting the nod to start Tuesday night’s second half, Orlando Magic forward Mario Hezonja barked at himself in disgust.
Despite being brought along slowly in his first two NBA seasons, Hezonja is still a young player with loads of confidence. But for maybe the first time since he was selected fifth overall in the 2015 NBA Draft, Hezonja allowed a bit of doubt to creep into his psyche. So much inactivity over the past two seasons has had the 6-foot-8, 220-pound small forward curiously questioning himself and searching for his mojo.
``I was just thinking about it on the bench (on Tuesday) how crazy it is that I’m out of rhythm,’’ Hezonja said following the Magic’s 128-104 loss to the Houston Rockets.
``Confidence is not my problem, but for me it’s about having rhythm and having (consistency),’’ he continued. ``It can be confusing and I’ve never been (confused) like that. That might be a little part of what’s going on. I want to be myself, help the team and help myself get through these situations.’’
The situation that Hezonja could find himself in going forward is one where he is given steady minutes in the rotation with the Magic (20-34). Already without Jodie Meeks (thumb surgery) and Jeff Green (maternity leave), Orlando forward Aaron Gordon left Tuesday’s game because of a sore right foot. He left Houston’s Toyota Center on Tuesday in a walking boot unsure of his fate, but confident that the injury was nothing like the fractured left foot that set him back during his rookie season two years ago. Gordon, who was scheduled to get an MRI on his foot Wednesday afternoon, is officially listed as questionable for Thursday’s game at the Amway Center against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Enter Hezonja, who could be in line for major minutes as soon as Thursday night.
The 21-year-old Hezonja showed flashes of his enormous potential in Tuesday’s second half in Houston when he made three of six shots, including a 3-pointer, and had seven points in 14 minutes. However, the native of Croatia also committed three fouls and turned the ball over three times – signs that he was struggling both his lack of rhythm and somewhat shaky confidence.
Some of that could have come from the 17 DNP-CDs – Did Not Play – Coach’s Decision – that he’s gotten throughout this second season in the NBA for him. Prior to playing 12 minutes of garbage time in Saturday’s lopsided loss in Atlanta, Hezonja had failed to play in the previous four games. Orlando has dropped seven of the last nine – a skid that has threatened any chance it has of pushing into the playoff picture – and Hezonja didn’t even get into the two games that the team won against Toronto.
``Mentally, I’m fine, but it does really (stink) that we’re losing,’’ he admitted.
For Magic head coach Frank Vogel, there’s a cause-and-effect scenario going into his decision to use or not use Hezonja, who is averaging 3.6 points on 35 percent shooting and 29.9 percent 3-point accuracy in 37 games. Is the small forward lacking rhythm, confidence and shooting touch because he hasn’t played? Or has he not played because he hasn’t displayed the confidence, defensive grit and shot-making abilities needed to succeed on the highest level of basketball?
Hezonja is hopeful that he’s in line for added playing time now with the short-handed Magic hit hard by injuries.
``First of all, it (stinks) that with the injuries that we can’t be fully healthy as a team,’’ he said. ``I hate that (the opportunity) might come because of injuries. I just want to do my best to help the team and help myself.’’
Hezonja hopes to prove to the Magic’s coaching staff that he can hold his own defensively against both smaller and bigger foes, saying: ``Even if the guy is a better player than me I’m just going to get more competitive. … I want to compete, I want to challenge them and I want them to challenge me because that’s how you get better.’’
Hezonja has gotten sporadic advice from center Nikola Vucevic, who has talked to him about biding his time and continuing to work so that when his opportunity does come he’s ready. Also, close friend Elfrid Payton has stayed close to Hezonja as a sounding board for him since he arrived in Orlando two years ago. However, Hezonja said it’s up to him – and only him – to fight through the battles of trying to earn his stripes with the Magic.
``I wish I could rely on somebody, but there’s nobody in this situation but myself,’’ he said. ``That’s just how it is in this business. Of course, there’s family and a lot of players that I know, but at the end of the day you have to go out there and do it yourself.’’
After playing 79 games (nine starts) and averaging 6.1 points and 1.4 assists while shooting 43.3 percent and 34.9 percent from 3-point range last season as a rookie, Hezonja was thought to be an X-factor this season for the Magic. Somewhat because he’s failed to crack the regular rotation, the Magic have been woefully short when it comes to shooting and wing playmakers – two things that Hezonja was supposed to bring to the team. GM Rob Hennigan said recently that he still has a strong belief that Hezonja can be a solid contributor to the team.
``With Mario, he’s been the one player who is really frustrated with how the season has gone,’’ Hennigan said. ``Quite frankly, we expected more from Mario this season, but in fairness to him he’s a young player who is still trying to figure out the NBA game. We’re confident that he will, but his production hasn’t been where we all expected it to be. But that’s OK because he’s fighting, he’s terrific in practice and in trying to absorb what we’re trying to do. He’ll continue to get good playing time here the rest of the season.’’
His swagger seemingly unbreakable, Hezonja still has confidence in his future – even if that future doesn’t come until next season following another summer of offseason drill and strength work.
``Next year is probably going to be my rookie year. That’s how I look at it,’’ Hezonja said of getting to show the NBA his potential as a player. ``I’m not going to back down or take a step back and, if I have to, I’m going to push my head through the wall for the opportunity.’’
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