Any player taken with a top-five pick in the NBA Draft carries with him the expectation to be great. There is no escaping that narrative, even if it is a particularly weak draft or a player is pegged as a project. Pressure only increases as a player with this pedigree struggles.
Mario Hezonja was caught in this storm. He is undoubtedly incredibly talented. That potential is what got him drafted fifth overall in the first place.
The pressures of being a raw prospect on a team seeking to compete for real has stunted Hezonja’s growth on one hand.