When an NBA team drafts a player, there is a lot of hope, and expectations that fill the prospect for the future of that player and of the organization. Now, throw in being the overall sixth pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, and I give you Mohamed Fakaba “Mo” Bamba. Mo Bamba was drafted out of the University of Texas (in recent years been known as an NBA center pipeline) as a raw prospect for the Orlando Magic. Standing at 7’1” tall with a 7’10” wingspan, you read that right, Mo has the potential to cause havoc on the defensive end for opposing teams.

Mo was drafted as a long term project, someone who had gaps in his game but because of his size was expected to thrive in the NBA setting. Although Bamba got off to a slow start riddled with injury and shortcomings, Mo has been showing signs of being one of the NBA’s elite defensive players, just in his second year as an Orlando Magic. Compared to last season, the game seems to have slowed down for Mo, most evident during the month of February where Mo has averaged 2.2 blocks per game ranking Mo 8th in the league. Ranked in the top 10, Mo is the only player averaging less than 23 minutes per game. Against the rest of the league, Bamba ranks 2nd amongst second-year players in Defensive Rating, with a defensive rating of 116.7 for the month of February.

The struggle for Bamba has been getting on the court experience for extended periods of time, which should be expected being that Mo is a second-year player who is playing behind a one-time All-Star in Nikola Vucevic. Without question, Vucevic is currently the better all-around player but Mo has become a stronger presence defensively for this Orlando Magic team, which should see him earn more minutes in the near future. Currently, Mo’s playing minutes have been capped at 20 minutes per game, averaging while 14.9 minutes per game. While averaging such limited minutes Mo’s stats for the month of February are showing signs of his development. Bamba is averaging 12.8 minutes a game, shooting 55.3% from the field and 46.7% from the three-point line, shooting 75% from the free-throw stripe and pulling down 4.3 rebounds and 2 Blocks. During Mo’s fantastic stretch the Magic have won six out of eleven games, tallying a record of 4 wins in 5 games which the team last accomplish in November.

Mo Bamba seems to be settling into his role as a floor-spacing rim protector with the second unit. With more time developing, Mo’s confidence will grow as well as his role expanding. Bamba was a top 10 lottery pick for a reason. More time on the court will only help improve Orlando’s big of the future at rim protection and floor spacing within the offense. Mo Bamba will be an elite shot-blocker in this league for years to come, this is only the tip of the iceberg for Mo and the Magic.