Not a fan of him as a magic player, but as a person he’s such a great guy
MagicInOrlando
I love Mo Bamba the person and wish it would’ve clicked here. Hopefully he figures it out in LA.
kellyyarm
wasn’t a fan of him as a player but he was such a nice person. the guys seemed to really like him, i hope he goes and plays hard in la
MassiveThroat942
Him sticking his tongue out at Rivers will live rent free in my head for a long time.
Thank you for the lasting memories.
teh_drewski
I wish it had gone better for him here, has always seemed like a dude
jarethcutestory
Guy is a massive W as a person. Wish it coulda worked out here. Hopefully he figures it out in LA cause the league is better with him in it.
LR_Mango
Wish him all the best. I strongly believe he would have gotten more love in this sub without sincerelyfan annoyingly overpacing. However, seems a really nice person and I hope he get a shot at a ring.
ItsThatCoolGuy
Classy note. All the best
SincereFan
This honestly makes me depressed. I truly think Mo was a winning player and was given a raw deal on this team. He was given unrealistic expectations from the get-go from Clifford. He was put behind Khem Birch despite having better defensive and offensive numbers but Mo clearly did have more lapses as a rookie which I understand is annoying, but he was a rookie and should have been given time to grow. Especially with the players this team had who were willing to teach on the court.
Khem Birch isnt terrible but MO was doing so much more in the minutes he played some games. Mo just felt like a great prospect that was never explored from Clifford. And then he had injuries and the likes which further slowed his development.
Last season was the only true season that Mo was allowed to develop, and it was completely positive. MO looked fantastic; he had defensive numbers that put him closer to top 10 defender in the league than top 20. He was a leading rim protector and showed growing offensive potential as a top 3pt shooting center (top 5) with high volume something along the lines of 38% on 5 3PA per game. Mo was a knockdown 3pt shooter with high level defense and was fitting in perfectly with Wendell. We saw the future and the future looked bright and growing. Everybody knew last season was a tank year. The Magic intentionally tanked and was better than the record.
Somehow this season the coach and players in their embracing of Bol completely imo skipped steps. Bol was instantly put into the SL (which was clearly a mistake since the coach decided to axe that and put Bol into a limited role player position). Bol was granted the SL position with no type of system of accountability. Bol was allowed to fail. He had so many games of being a liability and a blackhole that was given a blanket statement from fans of “this is essentially his rookie year” while Mo was also barely allowed to get pt. It was unfair treatment, but the world is unfair, and the team clearly had a plan. I just don’t understand their plan honestly. Bol, I guess made some excitement but now it feels like more and more people have high expectations of Bol and when he doesn’t do it or fail like usual, they are even more disappointed.
Mo should have started from the beginning of this season, and I truly think this team not only wins more but Paolo and Franz develop quicker and better. Bol was truly that bad early on. He was such a liability it caused problems for everybody. It’s even worse after thinking about the fact that Mo was good in his limited minutes and usage. He was the main facilitator at the top of the arc, he had the best p/m on this team majority of the year, was the top 2 best shooter (maybe its G Harris), has the best defensive metrics for bigs, and has the best differential.
Mo this year came so much better than last but nobody but a few who actually pay attention noticed it. Mo has not been a disappointment to me as a fan of the Magic, I have been disappointed in the Magic FO that have not been able to find a balance to developing young players and their team. So much favoritism happens on this team it’s ridiculous. Suggs rookie year start was plagued with Cole isoing and shooting 100 shots and only passing to Suggs once the shotclock was down to 3 secs. It’s bad optics the way this team allowed some players to be on no leash and others on a short leash.
I remember one specific game this year that had Cole at -20 in like 10 mins and the rest of the bench around -15. Mo had like -12 in 8 mins. Mo got benched the rest of that game. Cole did not despite at the time it was the perimeter getting torched, players were shooting lights out and then blowing by Admiral and Cole on every switch easily attacking the rim. Mo somehow took the brunt of the blame online. Cole ended game like -22. How is that fair. Its not.
Mo will be great on the Lakers. It’s just going to be disappointing when fans here act surprised the same way they did with VO. Mo was never given any opportunities and its not because there were none to give considering the amount of shots Bol/Moe/ and even KH were allowed to take every night. Its not about Mo being assertive since MO does call for the ball low post, since MO does cut, since Mo does call for lobs, since Mo does move along the perimeter and finds open gaps in his teammates eye’s path for an open shot. Mo was just ignored.
Maybe its Mo’s fault his teammates sometimes refuse to pass to him. I have noticed also many times that Paolo/Cole go above and beyond to get Mo the ball but it usually takes a bit of time which again maybe thats Mo’s fault. Mo has things he needs to work on. But he wasn’t the problem. His plus minus, his fg percentage, his defensive field goal percentage, his lineup data, his advanced stats, all support that Mo wasn’t the problem. I honestly think he was the solution for many of the losses. However, the team made a choice. They chose Bol’s potential (still feel like MO has more but Bol does seem like a super potential player) and flair/media clicks over Mo. They also chose Moe’s hustle-like style, high energy and loudmouth offense with a splash of nepotism, over Mo. I can understand it. I personally think they all actually work best together but I would have started Mo.
It’s understandable but I dont blame MO at all. He didn’t work out but not because of his fault. Others were prioritized for politics and sadly fans eat that up even if its to the detriment of the team right now. Maybe it works out in the future. Bol and Moe are great prospects and I do like them. I think Mo is straight better than both right now. Mo starts for the Lakers a team that will contend. I am sure Magic fans will credit Lebron for any breakout by Mo and honestly, I would not doubt that having Bron and AD will make Mo get easier and better looks but the potential is the same and the breakout could have happened here as it will happen there. Mo will be a superstar and sadly I was hoping it will happen here but I do believe that he will one day come back to Orlando. I truly enjoyed watching Mo play these many years, his playstyle is fun for me, he is a perma lob threat, he is a good defensive big, and he has times of being a complete monster offensively on the court. Mo has been a great pick to me. I truly think his career is just starting and he will end up being a player talked about for many years. I still see AT great potential. I will continue to watch Mo play on the Lakers (a team I actually dislike) and I will root for him as an individual to win some accolades but I do hope he returns very soon.
cryptomultimoon
Good luck Mr. Bamba I look forward to seeing you become the player you are capable of being.
WillDawson
No Bamba No Problems
SpideyUdaman
Always hoped the best for him here. I like the dude and contrary to popular belief, I never thought he was a bad player here. Sucks to see him leave since he’s likeable. But hope the best for him always. Appreciate his time here.
Time will come when the shek Wes song will be playing on the regular.
AlexTheCool1557
I got hooooeeess
DrBigChicken
Respect
jimmystt6
Thank you for everything Mo, It was a pleasure getting to know you and seeing you. It was not the same without seeing you out there tonight. You will always be loved and have a home here and we will make sure Austin Rivers knows this is not his city. Now go rule L.A. and enjoy the next chapter friend!
Szproti
At least he left with a fight.
CoolHandCliff
The last time I saw Bamba in a Magic jersey he was throwing haymakers at Austin Rivers. In my mind he redeemed himself entirely and dipped out on top. Legend.
17 Comments
Not a fan of him as a magic player, but as a person he’s such a great guy
I love Mo Bamba the person and wish it would’ve clicked here. Hopefully he figures it out in LA.
wasn’t a fan of him as a player but he was such a nice person. the guys seemed to really like him, i hope he goes and plays hard in la
Him sticking his tongue out at Rivers will live rent free in my head for a long time.
Thank you for the lasting memories.
I wish it had gone better for him here, has always seemed like a dude
Guy is a massive W as a person. Wish it coulda worked out here. Hopefully he figures it out in LA cause the league is better with him in it.
Wish him all the best. I strongly believe he would have gotten more love in this sub without sincerelyfan annoyingly overpacing.
However, seems a really nice person and I hope he get a shot at a ring.
Classy note. All the best
This honestly makes me depressed. I truly think Mo was a winning player and was given a raw deal on this team. He was given unrealistic expectations from the get-go from Clifford. He was put behind Khem Birch despite having better defensive and offensive numbers but Mo clearly did have more lapses as a rookie which I understand is annoying, but he was a rookie and should have been given time to grow. Especially with the players this team had who were willing to teach on the court.
Khem Birch isnt terrible but MO was doing so much more in the minutes he played some games. Mo just felt like a great prospect that was never explored from Clifford. And then he had injuries and the likes which further slowed his development.
Last season was the only true season that Mo was allowed to develop, and it was completely positive. MO looked fantastic; he had defensive numbers that put him closer to top 10 defender in the league than top 20. He was a leading rim protector and showed growing offensive potential as a top 3pt shooting center (top 5) with high volume something along the lines of 38% on 5 3PA per game. Mo was a knockdown 3pt shooter with high level defense and was fitting in perfectly with Wendell. We saw the future and the future looked bright and growing. Everybody knew last season was a tank year. The Magic intentionally tanked and was better than the record.
Somehow this season the coach and players in their embracing of Bol completely imo skipped steps. Bol was instantly put into the SL (which was clearly a mistake since the coach decided to axe that and put Bol into a limited role player position). Bol was granted the SL position with no type of system of accountability. Bol was allowed to fail. He had so many games of being a liability and a blackhole that was given a blanket statement from fans of “this is essentially his rookie year” while Mo was also barely allowed to get pt. It was unfair treatment, but the world is unfair, and the team clearly had a plan. I just don’t understand their plan honestly. Bol, I guess made some excitement but now it feels like more and more people have high expectations of Bol and when he doesn’t do it or fail like usual, they are even more disappointed.
Mo should have started from the beginning of this season, and I truly think this team not only wins more but Paolo and Franz develop quicker and better. Bol was truly that bad early on. He was such a liability it caused problems for everybody. It’s even worse after thinking about the fact that Mo was good in his limited minutes and usage. He was the main facilitator at the top of the arc, he had the best p/m on this team majority of the year, was the top 2 best shooter (maybe its G Harris), has the best defensive metrics for bigs, and has the best differential.
Mo this year came so much better than last but nobody but a few who actually pay attention noticed it. Mo has not been a disappointment to me as a fan of the Magic, I have been disappointed in the Magic FO that have not been able to find a balance to developing young players and their team. So much favoritism happens on this team it’s ridiculous. Suggs rookie year start was plagued with Cole isoing and shooting 100 shots and only passing to Suggs once the shotclock was down to 3 secs. It’s bad optics the way this team allowed some players to be on no leash and others on a short leash.
I remember one specific game this year that had Cole at -20 in like 10 mins and the rest of the bench around -15. Mo had like -12 in 8 mins. Mo got benched the rest of that game. Cole did not despite at the time it was the perimeter getting torched, players were shooting lights out and then blowing by Admiral and Cole on every switch easily attacking the rim. Mo somehow took the brunt of the blame online. Cole ended game like -22. How is that fair. Its not.
Mo will be great on the Lakers. It’s just going to be disappointing when fans here act surprised the same way they did with VO. Mo was never given any opportunities and its not because there were none to give considering the amount of shots Bol/Moe/ and even KH were allowed to take every night. Its not about Mo being assertive since MO does call for the ball low post, since MO does cut, since Mo does call for lobs, since Mo does move along the perimeter and finds open gaps in his teammates eye’s path for an open shot. Mo was just ignored.
Maybe its Mo’s fault his teammates sometimes refuse to pass to him. I have noticed also many times that Paolo/Cole go above and beyond to get Mo the ball but it usually takes a bit of time which again maybe thats Mo’s fault. Mo has things he needs to work on. But he wasn’t the problem. His plus minus, his fg percentage, his defensive field goal percentage, his lineup data, his advanced stats, all support that Mo wasn’t the problem. I honestly think he was the solution for many of the losses. However, the team made a choice. They chose Bol’s potential (still feel like MO has more but Bol does seem like a super potential player) and flair/media clicks over Mo. They also chose Moe’s hustle-like style, high energy and loudmouth offense with a splash of nepotism, over Mo. I can understand it. I personally think they all actually work best together but I would have started Mo.
It’s understandable but I dont blame MO at all. He didn’t work out but not because of his fault. Others were prioritized for politics and sadly fans eat that up even if its to the detriment of the team right now. Maybe it works out in the future. Bol and Moe are great prospects and I do like them. I think Mo is straight better than both right now. Mo starts for the Lakers a team that will contend. I am sure Magic fans will credit Lebron for any breakout by Mo and honestly, I would not doubt that having Bron and AD will make Mo get easier and better looks but the potential is the same and the breakout could have happened here as it will happen there. Mo will be a superstar and sadly I was hoping it will happen here but I do believe that he will one day come back to Orlando. I truly enjoyed watching Mo play these many years, his playstyle is fun for me, he is a perma lob threat, he is a good defensive big, and he has times of being a complete monster offensively on the court. Mo has been a great pick to me. I truly think his career is just starting and he will end up being a player talked about for many years. I still see AT great potential. I will continue to watch Mo play on the Lakers (a team I actually dislike) and I will root for him as an individual to win some accolades but I do hope he returns very soon.
Good luck Mr. Bamba I look forward to seeing you become the player you are capable of being.
No Bamba No Problems
Always hoped the best for him here. I like the dude and contrary to popular belief, I never thought he was a bad player here. Sucks to see him leave since he’s likeable. But hope the best for him always. Appreciate his time here.
Time will come when the shek Wes song will be playing on the regular.
I got hooooeeess
Respect
Thank you for everything Mo, It was a pleasure getting to know you and seeing you. It was not the same without seeing you out there tonight. You will always be loved and have a home here and we will make sure Austin Rivers knows this is not his city. Now go rule L.A. and enjoy the next chapter friend!
At least he left with a fight.
The last time I saw Bamba in a Magic jersey he was throwing haymakers at Austin Rivers. In my mind he redeemed himself entirely and dipped out on top. Legend.