The Cleveland Cavaliers won the second-most games in the NBA this season.
They had three All-Stars and the Defensive Player of the Year.
However, that Defensive Player of the Year didn’t get the nod for first-team All-NBA.
With that in mind, team analyst Rafael Hernández-Brito dug deep into the tape and the numbers, and he came to the conclusion that Evan Mobley should’ve been first-team All-NBA over Giannis Antetokounmpo:
“Evan Mobley made the [All-NBA] Second Team. Also, [he was] named number one in All-Defensive Team, so that’s pretty good for him. Giannis [Antetokounmpo], [Jayson] Tatum, and [Nikola] Jokic were the other three that he could’ve replaced. I would replace Giannis with Mobley, considering the season that each team had,” Hernandez-Brito said.
Should Evan Mobley have made 1st Team All-NBA over Giannis? #LetEmKnow
"I would replace Giannis for Mobley, considering the season each team had."
Presented by @smartchoicewin_ https://t.co/DCWZ1ZR93P pic.twitter.com/sxBhWS6kwa
— Full Court Cleveland (@FullCourtCLE) June 4, 2025
That makes sense, but it was never going to happen.
Unfortunately, these selections are usually popularity contests, and while Mobley is clearly a rising star in this game, he’s not as popular or draws as many eyeballs as Giannis Antetokounmpo.
As unfair as that may be, it’s just the way things go.
At least Mobley got his much-deserved recognition as the best defensive player in the league this season.
As such, he’s now eligible to sign a very lucrative contract extension, and while that may spell trouble for the front office going forward, it should also prove that they need to build through and around him.
Mobley was a bit of a late bloomer, and it took him a little longer than most people expected and wanted.
But after watching him take a leap as a three-level scorer and take his already impressive defense to a whole new level, the fans and the organization have to feel quite excited about his future, and he should have plenty of opportunities to crack the first-team All-NBA for years to come.
NEXT: Insider Reveals What Cavs' 'No. 1 Priority' Should Be In Free Agency
