ORLANDO – It’s not the manner with which he wanted it to come, but Orlando Magic small forward Mario Hezonja got his first start of the season on Thursday.
Hezonja, the fifth pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, was moved into the starting lineup to replace forward Aaron Gordon, who has a bone bruise in his right foot.
Magic coach Frank Vogel could have opted for veteran Jeff Green at small forward, but instead he decided to reward the work and patience of Hezonja. The Croatian swingman has had to bide his team as he’s been out of the rotation much of the season because of a logjam at the small forward.