The Cleveland Cavaliers have the best defensive player who’s still in playoff contention.
Evan Mobley took a huge leap forward this season, and while he’s no longer the odds-on favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year, the stats certainly back up his case.
As pointed out by team insider Chris Fedor (via Cavs Muse), the USC star is the only player in the entire league to average at least 1.5 blocks and fewer than two fouls per game this season.
Players this season to average at least 1.5 Blocks Per Game AND 2.0 or less Fouls Per Game:
Evan Mobley
End of list.
(h/t: @ChrisFedor)#LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/EQYj73ym8v
— CavsMuse (64-18) — z (@CavsMuse) April 16, 2025
Mobley’s ability to guard one through five is a rare trait in the league.
Moreover, even though his shot-blocking numbers don’t necessarily pop out as much as, say, Victor Wembanyama’s or Rudy Gobert’s, he alters way too many shots at the rim.
Having Mobley roaming around allows Cavs players to take risks and gamble on defense because they know he’s right there to take care of business if the opposing player gets to the restricted area.
He knows how to make the most of his length and lateral quickness to always stay in front of his guy, even smaller and quicker players like point guards.
And while he doesn’t strike as the strongest or bulkiest big in the league, he’s proven that he can hold his ground against some bruisers.
At the time of writing, Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green has become the odds-on leading candidate to win DPOY.
If that’s the case, this should be more than enough motivation for Mobley to take things even further on defense in the playoffs.
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