After months of speculation and support from fans, Evan Mobley of the Cleveland Cavaliers was named Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday afternoon.
This was a huge honor for the Cavs star, who is enjoying his most dominant season yet.
According to ESPN, Mobley talked to the “Inside the NBA” crew and spoke about his improbable quest to win the trophy.
“It feels great,” Mobley said of winning the award on TNT’s “Inside The NBA” Thursday night. “My feet and my movement at this size I feel like unordinary but it just feels amazing to finally get this award.”
Not only did this do wonderful things for his career, but it also helped his contract.
By winning DPOY, Mobley ensured that his maximum rookie contract extension will go up by about $45 million over the next five years.
He is expected to earn $269 million over five years.
Mobley averaged 18.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.6 blocks this season and became the first Cavaliers star to be named Defensive Player of the Year.
Mobley is one of the many stars in Cleveland who has evolved his game this year and is looking much better.
The entire roster has grown in 2024-25, and that is one of the reasons why they are the top team in the East and doing well in the playoffs so far.
Mobley beat Dyson Daniels and Draymond Green for the prize and finished in first place with 35 of 100 first-place votes, along with 30 second-place votes and 20 third-place votes.
Daniels came in second, and Green was third.
Now that he’s been named DPOY, Mobley is intent on becoming a champion as well.
NEXT: Evan Mobley Gets Honest About Potentially Winning 1 Notable Award
