No player improved himself more or improved his standing in the NBA more than Mario Hezonja. Where he was at the start of the year is light years from where he ended the season.

Quite literally, Hezonja went from unplayable to a solid role player. That kind of growth deserves a ton of kudos and recognition. It spoke well of the job coach Frank Vogel and his staff did to invest in Mario Hezonja’s individual growth. And it speaks well of Hezonja’s work ethic.

All that will bode well for Hezonja as he continues his career. This season quite simply saved his career in many ways.

That is not to say Hezonja has reached his potential. He still has a long way to go. And most likely, he will never reach the All-Star potential some saw in him coming out of the draft. That is OK.

For now, Hezonja has at least established he will have a NBA future. He will have a place in this league somewhere. And he can deliver on that role. Perhaps with the chance to continue growing.