Mo Bamba’s NBA Journey: From High Lottery Pick to Roster Cut
The Utah Jazz have recently waived former lottery pick Mo Bamba, along with Pedro Bradshaw and Sean East II, just days before the team’s season opener against the LA Clippers on Wednesday. This latest setback marks another challenging chapter in Bamba’s once-promising NBA career, which began with such high expectations when he was selected sixth overall in the 2018 NBA Draft. The 7-foot center, now 27 years old, finds himself at a crossroads as he searches for his next opportunity in a league that once viewed him as a potential cornerstone player.
Bamba’s draft position in 2018 now looks particularly painful in hindsight, as he was selected ahead of several players who have since developed into stars. Most notably, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, chosen five spots later at number 11, has blossomed into an MVP-caliber player with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Other talents who were drafted after Bamba include Jalen Brunson (33rd), who earned All-NBA Second Team honors with the Knicks; defensive stalwart Mikal Bridges (10th); and quality starters like Miles Bridges (12th) and Michael Porter Jr. (14th). The 2018 draft also produced solid rotation players such as Wendell Carter Jr., Collin Sexton, Donte DiVincenzo, Kevin Huerter, Grayson Allen, Anfernee Simons, and Mitchell Robinson—all of whom have carved out more consistent roles than Bamba has managed to establish.
Unfortunately, Bamba now finds himself in the company of other high picks from his draft class who haven’t lived up to expectations. Marvin Bagley III (2nd), Kevin Knox II (9th), and Jerome Robinson (13th) have similarly struggled to justify their draft positions. Robinson has already exited the NBA entirely, while Bagley and Knox have become journeymen, bouncing between teams in search of a stable role. What makes Bamba’s situation particularly frustrating is that he possesses many of the attributes teams look for in a modern NBA center: mobility for his size, the ability to reach the rim effectively, and perhaps most importantly, three-point shooting capability, as evidenced by his career 35.6% mark from beyond the arc.
The trajectory of Bamba’s professional journey tells a story of unfulfilled potential. He spent his first four-and-a-half seasons with the Orlando Magic, the team that drafted him, before being traded to the Los Angeles Lakers midway through the 2022-23 season. Despite joining a Lakers team that would eventually reach the Western Conference Finals, Bamba failed to earn significant playing time under head coach Darvin Ham. His career continued its nomadic pattern as he moved to the Philadelphia 76ers for the 2023-24 season, then split the following year between the LA Clippers and New Orleans Pelicans. Throughout his career, Bamba has averaged 6.8 points on 47.7% shooting from the field (35.6% from three), 5.4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in just under 17 minutes per game—respectable numbers, but not what was expected from such a high draft selection.
Most recently, Bamba’s stint with the Pelicans showed signs of his declining role in the league. He appeared in only four games for New Orleans, attempting just one three-pointer per game and failing to connect on any of them. This limited opportunity with the Pelicans preceded his signing with Utah, where he hoped to revitalize his career. However, the Jazz’s decision to waive him before the season even begins suggests the team did not see enough during training camp and preseason to warrant keeping him on their roster. Now, as teams finalize their rosters for the 2025-26 season, Bamba must hope that another organization sees value in his combination of size and shooting potential.
The story of Mo Bamba serves as a sobering reminder of the unpredictable nature of professional sports careers. While being selected sixth overall in the NBA Draft once signaled a bright future ahead, Bamba now finds himself fighting just to maintain a place in the league. As the Utah Jazz move forward without him, preparing for their season opener against the Clippers, Bamba enters a period of uncertainty. At 27, he still has time to redefine his career narrative, but with each team that moves on from him, the challenge grows greater. Whether Bamba can overcome this latest setback and find a meaningful role in the NBA remains to be seen, but his journey from lottery pick to roster cut illustrates the thin line between promise and disappointment in professional basketball.
