There was a time when the prospect of Mario Hezonja having to defend LeBron James would mean sending an immediate double team and hoping for the best. Defense is not exactly why the Orlando Magic drafted Hezonja with the fifth overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.
In some ways, defense is what held Hezonja back as a rookie under then-coach Scott Skiles. With defensive-minded coaches facing playoff pressure, it was tough to throw a rookie out there who struggled with defensive responsibilities. Yet, he needed the experience to learn what to do in these situations.