I think the goal for Mo Bamba’s career should be to excel so well at one particular skill (dunking, blocking shots, shooting hook shots, hitting threes, etc.) that one could unironically describe his single-minded focus as him having the “Bamba Mentality”. The unironic part is important. I could say that Bamba has the Bamba Mentality right now, but it wouldn’t be true, it would just be a joke. We’ll know Bamba has made it in the league when you can say he has the Bamba Mentality and it’s not a joke, but truth.
I’m thinking the easiest way to develop a Bamba Mentality would be for Bamba to focus on defense. If his overwhelming desire to prevent the other team from scoring becomes his calling card, that will be his Bamba Mentality. That doesn’t mean he can’t keep shooting threes, it just means that shooting threes can’t be the main identifying feature of his game.
Even though he doesn’t yet have the Bamba Mentality, I do think it is appropriate for Mo Bamba’s nickname to “The Black Bamba” starting right now. He’s black, and he’s Bamba. He fulfills both requirements of the nickname.