After playing sparingly during his rookie season with the Orlando Magic, center Mo Bamba is determined to make a more definitive impact in his sophomore campaign. One of the major knocks against Bamba was his wiry frame, which doesn’t bode well in matchups against some of the league’s more physically imposing bigs.
As a result, Bamba has devoted himself to improving his body and has gained 20 pounds of muscle already according to OrlandoMagic.com’s John Denton.
.@OrlandoMagic C Mo Bamba on him adding 20 pounds of bulk: "I’m roughly 240 (pounds) now and honestly it feels good to play at this weight because your bumps are more (effective) and you’re getting to spots easier. Trust me, there’s still a ways to go, but it feels good.’’
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) July 2, 2019
Now with Mo Bamba pushing 240 pounds, it’s fair to expect an uptick in his playing time, even after the club opted to re-sign Nikola Vucevic. While Vucevic remaining on the roster will restrain Bamba from enjoying a full-blown breakout, he should have a greater impact for a Magic team who surprisingly squeaked into the playoffs in 2018-19.
With a 7-foot frame and a ridiculous 7-foot-10 wingspan, Bamba was one of the most enticing prospects out of last year’s draft class. His weight was one of the biggest knocks agsinst him, but hopefully the 20 pounds he gained helps him match up better against NBA centers.
The thing that makes Bamba such an exciting prospect is just how much he brings to the table. With his incredible size and above-average agility, Bamba is a menace around the basket on both ends of the court. The Texas product has also diligently been working on his outside stroke since entering the league, making Bamba a complete player and a name to monitor this upcoming season.
