I think Jonathan Mogbo reaches another level of confidence, or perhaps the stars just align when he plays at Barclays Center, because the burly forward had another breakout game against the Brooklyn Nets.
It was just over a week ago when Mogbo arguably emerged as the Raptors' best player in their blowout 116-86 victory over the Nets. This time around, he found a way to not only surpass his last outing, but he also contributed to the victory once again (even if those in Tank Nation hate to see it).
Mogbo played 30 minutes against Brooklyn on April 6, where his stat line read as follows: 17 points on an impressive 88.9% field goal efficiency, 11 rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and two blocks.
He achieved these numbers without displaying lapsed court vision, finishing the game with zero turnovers—a significant improvement from his unfortunate six turnovers on April 3 against the Portland Trail Blazers.
Despite Mogbo's versatile skill set and strength, would you believe that this 17-point, 11-rebound performance marks the 23-year-old's first NBA double-double?
Throughout the year, I've noted how Mogbo's performances can fluctuate. His presence on the court certainly helps as a big body to grab rebounds and ability to operate near the basket, but he's far from being a fully polished NBA talent. While he has solid skills that serve as a great building block, there is still much work ahead to elevate Mogbo's potential at the pro level.
However, it's important to remember that no rookie—or even NBA veterans, for that matter—follows a linear path to success. Growth takes time, consideration, and a bit of trial and error.
Raptors rookie Jonathan Mogbo is picking up steam with his game
The ideal scenario, of course, is to limit weak showings or poor performances, as these can significantly impact a player’s ability to maintain consistent minutes or lead the team to look in a different direction. This is something I’ve already mentioned could be a concern for Mogbo if he doesn’t turn things around.
But he's had the fortunate role of being one of the Raptors' key pet projects as they focused on young talent in the 2024-25 season's latter half. In Mogbo's last 10-game sample, he's demonstrated that while he's still a work in progress, there is a potential light at the end of the tunnel if Toronto continues to work with him on refining his skills.
Mogbo has been averaging 27.1 minutes of playing time during this stretch, posting solid numbers: 9.2 points on 49.4% shooting from the field, 7.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. It may still be years before Mogbo's three-point shot becomes a reliable weapon, especially since he's not taking many attempts lately, with his percentage sitting at just 18.2% over the last 10 games.
The moral of the story is not to lose faith in a young player's journey, even when it has its ups and downs that could serve as warnings about their trajectory. The growth in Mogbo's game is clear, and he needs to keep working to ensure it becomes undeniable that the Raptors have a promising talent on their hands.