Mo Bamba facts for kids
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Bamba with the Orlando Magic in 2019.
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| No. 4 – Los Angeles Clippers | ||||||||||||||
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| Center | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
| Born | May 12, 1998 New York City, New York, U.S. |
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| Nationality | American / Ivorian | |||||||||||||
| High school |
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| Listed height | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) | |||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 231 lb (105 kg) | |||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||
| College | Texas (2017–2018) | |||||||||||||
| NBA Draft | 2018 / Round: 1 / Pick: 6th overall | |||||||||||||
| Selected by the Orlando Magic | ||||||||||||||
| Pro career | 2017–present | |||||||||||||
| League | NBA | |||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||
| 2018–2023 | Orlando Magic | |||||||||||||
| 2023 | Los Angeles Lakers | |||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Philadelphia 76ers | |||||||||||||
| 2024–present | Los Angeles Clippers | |||||||||||||
| 2024 | →San Diego Clippers | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||
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Medals
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Mohamed Fakaba Bamba (born May 12, 1998), known as Mo Bamba, is a professional basketball player. He plays as a center for the Los Angeles Clippers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Bamba also played college basketball for the Texas Longhorns. He is known for his impressive height and long arms, which help him block shots and grab rebounds.
Contents
Early Life and Basketball Beginnings
Mo Bamba was born on May 12, 1998, in Harlem, New York. His parents, Lancine Bamba and Aminata Johnson, moved to the U.S. from the Ivory Coast. His grandparents were from Mali.
Mo Bamba became interested in basketball when he was six years old. The sport was very popular in his hometown, which inspired him to start playing. His older brother, Sidiki Johnson, also played college basketball.
High School Basketball Journey
For eighth and ninth grade, Bamba attended Cardigan Mountain School. This was an all-boys boarding school located in Canaan, New Hampshire.
After Cardigan, Bamba moved to Westtown School in Westtown, Pennsylvania. During his junior year, he averaged 14 points, 11 rebounds, and six blocks per game. He was chosen to play in the 2017 McDonald's All-American Boys Game and the Nike Hoop Summit, which feature the best high school players.
Bamba was considered one of the top high school basketball players in his class. Many top colleges wanted him to play for them. He chose to attend the University of Texas for his college career. Before he played his first game, there were some questions about his eligibility, but the NCAA confirmed he was allowed to play.
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mo Bamba C |
Harlem, N.Y. | Westtown School | 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) | 216 lb (98 kg) | May 18, 2017 | |
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 96 |
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| Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 2, 1 (C) Rivals: 2, 1 (C) ESPN: 3, 2 (C), 1 (NY) | ||||||
Sources: |
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College Career at Texas
Mo Bamba made his college debut on November 10, 2017. He scored 15 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Texas Longhorns. In another game, he had 13 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks.
On December 30, Bamba had an amazing game with 22 points, 15 rebounds, and eight blocks against Kansas. He also set a new personal best with 25 points and 15 rebounds in a win over Ole Miss. Later, he grabbed 18 rebounds in a win against Oklahoma.
At the end of the season, Bamba was recognized for his strong defense and overall play. He was named to the Big 12's All-Newcomer Team and All-Defensive Team. He also made the All-Big 12 Second Team. He averaged 12.9 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 0.5 assists per game.
After his freshman year, Bamba decided to leave college early to enter the 2018 NBA draft. He was expected to be one of the top players chosen.
Professional Basketball Career
At the 2018 NBA combine, Mo Bamba showed off his incredible physical abilities. He measured 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) tall with a 7 ft 10 in (2.39 m) wingspan. This wingspan was the longest ever recorded at the combine! He also ran very fast, even faster than some NBA stars.
Orlando Magic (2018–2023)
On June 21, 2018, the Orlando Magic picked Bamba as the sixth overall player in the 2018 NBA draft. He signed his first professional contract on July 3, 2018. His NBA debut was on October 17, 2018, where he scored 13 points and had seven rebounds.
On May 3, 2021, Bamba scored 22 points and had 15 rebounds in a game against the Detroit Pistons. On October 29, 2021, he grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds. On January 19, 2022, he scored a career-high 32 points, including seven three-pointers, against the Philadelphia 76ers.
In July 2022, Bamba re-signed with the Magic. During his time with the Magic, he was suspended a few times by the NBA for his involvement in on-court incidents.
Los Angeles Lakers (2023)
On February 9, 2023, Bamba was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a four-team trade. He played a few games before getting a left ankle injury in March. He returned to play in April.
The Lakers decided to waive Bamba on June 29, 2023.
Philadelphia 76ers (2023–2024)
On July 9, 2023, Bamba signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. The team's star player, Joel Embiid, reportedly encouraged Bamba to join the team.
Los Angeles Clippers (2024–present)
On July 6, 2024, Bamba signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Playing for His Country
Because his parents are from the Ivory Coast, Mo Bamba can play for the Ivory Coast national team. He was on the list of players for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. He was also considered for the 2024 Summer Olympics team, but he has not yet played in an official game for the national team.
Career Statistics
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
NBA
Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | Orlando | 47 | 1 | 16.3 | .481 | .300 | .587 | 5.0 | .8 | .3 | 1.4 | 5.1 |
| 2019–20 | Orlando | 62 | 0 | 14.2 | .462 | .346 | .674 | 4.9 | .7 | .4 | 1.4 | 5.4 |
| 2020–21 | Orlando | 46 | 5 | 15.8 | .472 | .322 | .682 | 5.8 | .8 | .3 | 1.3 | 8.0 |
| 2021–22 | Orlando | 71 | 69 | 25.7 | .480 | .381 | .781 | 8.1 | 1.2 | .5 | 1.7 | 10.6 |
| 2022–23 | Orlando | 40 | 6 | 17.0 | .495 | .398 | .686 | 4.6 | 1.1 | .3 | 1.0 | 7.3 |
| L.A. Lakers | 9 | 1 | 9.8 | .407 | .313 | .545 | 4.6 | .4 | .1 | .6 | 3.7 | |
| 2023–24 | Philadelphia | 57 | 17 | 13.0 | .490 | .391 | .680 | 4.2 | .7 | .4 | 1.1 | 4.4 |
| Career | 332 | 99 | 17.2 | .478 | .361 | .681 | 5.5 | .9 | .4 | 1.3 | 7.0 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | L.A. Lakers | 3 | 0 | 3.4 | .000 | .000 | — | 1.0 | .3 | .0 | .3 | .0 |
| Career | 3 | 0 | 3.4 | .000 | .000 | — | 1.0 | .3 | .0 | .3 | .0 | |
College
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | Texas | 29 | 28 | 30.2 | .603 | .280 | .678 | 10.4 | .5 | .8 | 3.7 | 12.9 |
Personal Life
While growing up in Harlem, Mo Bamba was friends with the rapper Sheck Wes. Their friendship later inspired the popular song "Mo Bamba".
See also
In Spanish: Mo Bamba para niños
