Croatian guard Mario Hezonja set to start Summer League with Magic

If you were to ask the average person where Croatia is on the map, they probably couldn’t tell you but in Orlando there will be a lot of talk about the little known European nation because one of their best players has been drafted by the Orlando Magic, his name is Mario Hezonja.

Standing at 6’8 and 218-pounds, the guard-small forward has spent the past two seasons playing in the Spanish ACB League with European powerhouse FC Barcelona. Last season in Spain, he shot 39.2 percent from three-point range in 31 regular season games. He further proved himself as a shooter in Euroleague action when he shot 38.2 percent from behind the three-point line in 22 games.

“I’m trying to do my best on everything that I can do and do it at the highest level.” Herzonja stated after being drafted. “For me, I hope to get all of the details of my game up to the highest level. Playing with that confidence, that’s just me. That pushes me every day to go even harder and it prepares me for the great things ahead. (The swagger) is basically just me and who I am.”

Herzonja has high confidence of becoming an elite player in the NBA and he’s been a professional player since he was 17 years old, first in his native Croatia and later in Spain. Magic scout Marti Artigas lives in Barcelona and has extensively scouted Hezonja for the past three years in Spanish League and EuroLeague play.

The Magic are hoping that Herzonja could be a breath of fresh air for the franchise and help them up their game and enter the playoffs after being out for the past three seasons.

Fans are hopeful Mario Herzonja can bring Orlando a magical experience in the upcoming season and it will start with the Summer League which starts on July 4.