The Cleveland Cavaliers took a big leap this season.
The strong campaign proved that those who thought Evan Mobley was the team’s X-factor were right all along.
Mobley took a step forward in the first year under head coach Kenny Atkinson, establishing himself as one of the best two-way players in the game.
To make things even more promising, he just turned 24 years old.
Join us in wishing Evan Mobley of the @Cavs a HAPPY 24th BIRTHDAY! #NBABDAY pic.twitter.com/Dmu59aSI1T
— NBA (@NBA) June 18, 2025
The No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, Mobley had shown flashes of his suffocating and physical defense, but he took things to a new level in his fourth season.
The Cavs gave Mobley a big contract because of his potential, but he hadn’t necessarily lived up to the hype.
While his numbers may not be that much better on the surface, his method of obtaining his points was much more efficient and well-rounded, and he’s just getting started.
Mobley has the potential to be a Kevin Garnett- or Anthony Davis-type player.
He’s arguably Cleveland’s most important and most talented player, even if he’s not their leader and top scorer at the moment.
Atkinson and his coaching staff will have to continue building through and around Mobley, and they need to get him more touches on offense.
Now that he’s been named Defensive Player of the Year, he will take a bigger chunk of the salary cap, and as such, the team will have to get its money’s worth night in and night out.
Mobley is just getting started, and the rest of the league had better take notice.
NEXT: Cavs Urged To Make Major Bench Moves This Offseason
