Los Angeles Clippers fans remember watching Mo Bamba play in 28 games with the club last season, including two games where he started. But now, Bamba is having a hard time finding another permanent NBA job. Last Tuesday, he was waived by the Toronto Raptors.
This came just eight days after he was signed by the franchise, and after he appeared in only two games for the Raptors. It's tough to see any guy bounce around like he has and struggle to find a new home, but it's becoming impossible to deny that's the situation Mo is finding himself in.
Bamba's best season in the association had to have been his 2021-22 season with the Orlando Magic. That was when he averaged a career-high 10.6 points and 8.1 rebounds while shooting 48% from the field and 38% from three. He started 69 of 71 games and got on the floor for an average of 25.7 minutes per night.
Since then, his role has been up and down. He struggled to find much playing time with the Lakers in 2022-23, only able to find 9.8 minutes per night in nine games there. Then in 2023-24, he played 57 games and started 17 for the 76ers, but couldn't find the same opportunity with the Clippers or Pelicans last season. Now, he's looking for another contract following his release from Toronto.
Mo Bamba only played two games with the Raptors
Really, his ultra-quick stop with the Raptors makes his short stint with the Clippers feel even more telling in hindsight. LA never seemed fully committed to him, even while dealing with frontcourt depth questions throughout the season. Bamba had chances to carve out a niche, but a role was never established.
When a team built around veterans doesn’t trust you night to night, that usually says more than a box score ever could. Bamba’s shooting still intrigues teams on paper, but their hesitation has always been about everything else. Consistency and basketball IQ have kept him from sticking places, even in situations where the opportunity was there.
At this point, the league has given him plenty of looks. He's now been on six teams in eight seasons in the NBA. When that many teams arrive at similar conclusions, it's probably not a coincidence or some big mistake.
That doesn’t mean his career is over, but it does mean the next opportunity won’t come with an excessive amount of patience. For Clippers fans, Bamba’s path is a reminder of how quickly the league moves on. Potential only buys you so much time, and eventually teams need to see real production.