TORONTO – As Jonathan Mogbo clocked out of the sport for the final time, Scotiabank Area announcer Herbie Kuhn introduced that he was the primary NBA rookie to finish a triple-double this season and your complete Toronto Raptors bench swarmed the 23-year-old ahead.
Mogbo had 17 factors, 11 assists and 10 rebounds in 38 minutes of play — probably the most of any of Toronto’s starters — because the Raptors routed the Charlotte Hornets 126-96 on Wednesday.
It wasn’t simply the primary triple-double of Mogbo’s NBA profession, however his first at any stage of aggressive basketball.
“It was a number of stuff occurring, however it was nice to see everyone pleased,” he stated. “I used to be brief, shy a pair occasions in faculty. I by no means obtained it.
“To lastly get it within the NBA, I wouldn’t anticipate it. Simply blessed and grateful for my teammates.”
Mogbo truly gave his teammates’ celebration of his triple-double equal weight to really carrying out the feat.
“I wouldn’t say both was a greater feeling,” he stated. “Simply seeing my teammates pleased for me on the finish of the day is nice, placing smiles on peoples’ faces, it felt good.”
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Head coach Darko Rajakovic stated the response on the Raptors’ bench was a tribute to how properly revered Mogbo is.
“Folks which can be contained in the group understand how a lot work he put on this 12 months and are actually happy with the child,” stated Rajakovic, who opened his post-game information convention by asking reporters “so are you going to ask me about JMo’s triple-double?”
“It was nice to see him go on the market and carry out that manner. But in addition it was nice to see his teammates, how they celebrated with him they usually had been pleased for him tonight.”
Mogbo was averaging 5.9 factors, 4.7 rebounds and two assists over 19.6 minutes per recreation heading into Wednesday’s residence finale. He’s seen his utilization climb, nonetheless, as Rajakovic rested his starters with Toronto eradicated from the playoffs and the common season winding down.
“It’s been an excellent journey,” stated Mogbo. “Simply each day, making an attempt to not take something as a right.
“It’s a blessing to be right here on the finish of the day. So simply take it daily.”
Toronto chosen Mogbo within the second spherical, thirty first general, of this previous summer season’s NBA draft. Mogbo performed his last 12 months of NCAA basketball on the College of San Francisco the place he primarily performed as a centre.
The Raptors have had him on the wings, together with on Wednesday evening, as Rajakovic tries to spherical out his recreation.
“I feel it’s crucial for him to not distinguish these two positions,” stated Rajakovic. “I feel typically it’s like overthinking, ‘Oh, I’m now doing one thing totally different.’
“He nonetheless must be in pick-and-rolls, setting screens, and rolling. He nonetheless must run the ground. He nonetheless must be very efficient slicing to the rim. He simply must translate his recreation from place 5 to place 4 and simply to be himself on the market.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed April 9, 2025.
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