Bamba preps for Summer League
Texas standout signs first contract Monday, practices with Magic next day.
Mo Bamba made it official Monday night, taking another step in his journey from New York’s blacktops to the 20,000-seat arenas of the NBA.
Bamba pored over a document in front of him, studied the wording and — pen in hand — signed his first professional contract.
“I’d say that was probably the ‘it’ moment,” Bamba recalled. “The draft was also a good shining moment; it was kind of the ‘it’ moment. But signing that contract and seeing all the language and reading it and going through it? It was like, ‘Oh, this is real.’ “
Another jolt of reality followed Tuesday morning. Joined by roster hopefuls and second-year players, Bamba practiced with the Orlando Magic for the first time. Led by new Magic coach Steve Clifford, the workout went briskly, lasting just under two hours.
But despite its speed, the session also cemented Bamba’s new life: He’s a pro now, with a new set of expectations and responsibilities.
Clifford and Orlando’s assistant coaches spent those precious hours at UNLV’s Cox Pavilion hammering home a combination of basic fundamentals and little details. Time is short. The Magic will begin their NBA Summer League schedule Friday, and Clifford and his coaches hope to set a foundation that will remain in place for training camp in late September.
“You can’t play well unless you’re organized,” Clifford said Tuesday morning.
A standout center during his