Before I get things started, let it be known that I am a huge fan of Jonathan Mogbo's game, as well as any player archetype that incorporates his versatile, Swiss-Army knife-like style. When the season was in its early stages, Mogbo emerged as one of the NBA's top rookies from the 2024 class, as the top-end talent from that pool struggled to find their footing at the pro level.
Mogbo was proving to be an anomaly, quickly setting himself apart from a mediocre pack. He wasn't posting star-studded box score stats per se, but he was demonstrating his ability to be a difference maker in the small sample size of minutes he spent on the court.
With the Raptors set on a rebuild and figuring out what they could squeeze out from their new cast of rookies, Mogbo held a firm role in the rotation for a while.
Mogbo would then spend some time with the Raptors 905 to fine-tune his talents before returning to the main roster when minutes became available. He would quickly get back to where he started, serving as a backup forward, and when the team’s big man depth was depleted, he took on the role of a small-ball five.
In 48 games played thus far in his rookie season, Mogbo is averaging the following statistical numbers: 5.4 points on 45.5% shooting from the field, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists, in just over 18 minutes of action per game.
Now we get to the tough question: how will Mogbo carve out his true niche for the Toronto Raptors as they look to return to playoff relevancy sooner rather than later? Beyond a shadow of a doubt, Mogbo is a talented player with a myriad of skills, but the reality is that in this modern NBA landscape, you’re either really good at one thing or your balanced abilities at all levels are rendered low in the pecking order.
Where does Jonathan Mogbo fit in the Raptors' long-term vision?
It doesn’t help that Toronto is forcing Mogbo to play out of position, which is largely stunting his growth and ability to showcase his best self. I don’t think it’s fair to expect Mogbo to quickly become a superstar forward at this stage, but if he wants to be a major player in the Raptors’ future rotation, he will need to develop a better outside shot with the right guidance and mentorship.
It's not like Mogbo hasn't been shooting the three-ball either. His 29.8% from beyond the arc might not be pretty, but that element was completely missing from Mogbo's collegiate game, and it's clear he's trying to find his rhythm from deep. Think about it, though: how many wing players who can't shoot get a consistent role in the NBA? Not very many, right?
Just off the top of my head, I can think of ex-Raptors from years past who fit that category: Juancho Hernangomez, Stanley Johnson, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, just to name a few. Sure, Mogbo easily eclipses this cast by a mile, but you get the idea. Those guys got minutes for a bit until their inability to become quality 3-and-D wings became awfully apparent.
One thing is for sure: once the Raptors finally sort out their big-man depth and secure a bull-strong backup center (perhaps it could be Orlando Robinson), they need to put an end to this small-ball five experiment with Mogbo.
I believe Mogbo has the potential to become a significant glue guy for a contending Raptors core, but he will need to be polished and refined by the Raptors' coaching staff to reach that goal. For now, this final stretch will be absolutely critical to his long-term standing within the Raptors' hierarchy.