Magic Coach Jamahl Mosley Stresses Necessity of Power Forwards

Orlando Magic coach Jamahl Mosley recently spoke on the insurgency of the 4-man in professional basketball today.

The Orlando Magic have one of the more versatile depth charts in the NBA. Equipped with a wealth of forwards that have size, agility, shooting and switch-ability, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley has been gifted the luxury of playing an assortment of players in different lineups.

Recently, Mosley commented on the heightened importance of the power forward in today's NBA, shared to the official NBA Twitter:

Big value at power forward.@OrlandoMagic Head Coach Jamahl Mosley explains why the “4-man” is one of the most important positions in basketball on the next Coaches Corner.

Watch in the NBA App 📲https://t.co/sr01bfqgUF pic.twitter.com/VbLJFTgRUz

— NBA (@NBA) March 16, 2023

Mosley harped on the versatility of the power forward and their growing abilities to make plays on the floor. 

For those bereft of historical knowledge pertaining to the NBA, dexterous power forwards are nothing new. In the 1970s, power forwards such as Bob McAdoo, Paul Silas and Dave DeBusschere were all 4-men that could extend out to the elbow and hit a 15-17 foot jump-shot as well as make plays for others. All three had seasons were they averaged at or near 4.0 assists per game -- exceptional for that era.

The 1980s gave birth to James Worthy, Tom Chambers and Charles Barkley. These NBA greats stood out and took the power forward position to new heights, being able to run in transition, lead the break, step out to the three-point line (established in 1979) and create for others, all while fulfilling the traditional duties of a big man. This new generation of forwards could also play the perimeter on defense and slide down to the small forward slot on occasion, beating their men off the dribble. 

Every decade that followed borrowed from its antecedents, spawning the likes of Larry Johnson, Toni Kukoc and Anthony Mason in the 1990s, and exploding into the 21st century with revolutionary bigs to the tune of Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett, Rasheed Wallace, Chris Webber, Antawn Jamison and of course, Tim Duncan. 

While the amplification of the three-point shot has proliferated throughout the league in recent years, and big men have more liberty to make plays on offense, the range of the power forward has been existent since the genesis of the league, just not in overabundance. 

In today's game, from an objective standpoint, the power forward is simply looked at as a taller small forward that is expected to connect on outside shots at the same efficiency and slide their feet on defense off the switch when opposing teams go five-out. Additionally, they are looked upon to man the middle when coaches go to a small-ball lineup, catalyzed by Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr circa 2015. 

Nonetheless, the game has evolved and has entered a second golden era of the point guard, as well as an NBA heaven for power forwards. Magic forwards Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner -- who interchangeably switch between the 3 and the 4 -- are benefactors of a favorable NBA climate, and have been able to showcase unique skillsets that give coach Mosley the luxury to play around with lineups as well as the X's and O's. 

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