PEOPLE.
ARE .
TALKING.
"To me, Evan Mobley is one of the most important players in this postseason, when you watch what Evan Mobley can do at 6'11", handling the ball on the break, throwing, playing in the half court in playmaking, he can do that, and this year, one on one defensively, he is a lead on the defensive end, and where he's at his most improvement is the one on one on the block. You put a big guy on him that’s easy, you put a small guy on him, there's absolutely no problems. He is the key for the Cavaliers.”
Richard RJ Jefferson ESPN Analyst and 2016 NBA Champion
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR & ALL NBA
*STATS AS OF 04/14/2025
EVAN
VOTE
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
END OF SEASON AWARDS 2025
DEFENSIVE
PLAYER OF THE YEAR & ALL NBA
“Look at Evan Mobley his ability to take off the dribble doesn't get enough credit and what he brings to the table. Mobley….That's the beauty of evan mobley, not only can he stretch the floor, but he looks to find the dunk as well.”
Kendrick Perkins
ESPN Analyst and Former NBA Player
SOLID OPENER: Mobley recorded 25 points on 9-14 (.643) shooting from the field, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and three block in 27 minutes in the Cavs season-opener on Oct. 23rd at Toronto. It was his 5th career game with at least 25 PTS and 3 BLK.
FIRST 25 GAMES: Mobley is the youngest player in Cavaliers history (age 23) to average 18.0+ PPG, 8.0+ RPG, 1.40+ BPG and 1.00+ SPG in the first 25 appearances of a season and just the 2nd Cavalier to ever do that (Shawn Kemp, 1997-98).
30-10 GAME: Mobley recorded 34 points on 14-21 (.667) shooting from the field, including 3-6 (.500) shooting from the three-point line, 10 rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 30 minutes on January 3rd at Dallas. It was his third career game with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds. Mobley became the 2nd player in NBA history age 23 or younger with 30+ PTS, 10+ REB, 4+ AST and 2+ BLK in 30 MIN or less (Karl-Anthony Towns, two times).
PHILLY SPECIAL: In a 126-99 win over Philly on December 21st, Mobley finished with 22 points on 10-14 (.714) shooting from the field, a game-high 13 rebounds, a game-high seven assists, two steals and one block in 30 minutes. He became the first player in Cavaliers history with those numbers in a game on .700+ FG% and it was his 6th career game with 20+ PTS, 10+ REB and 5+ AST.
CUT DOWN THE NETS: In a win over Brooklyn on Nov. 9, Mobley became the 1st player since 1973-74 (when steals were introduced) to accumulate at least 23 PTS, 16 REB, 4 STL and shoot .909 FG% (10-11 FG).
41-POINT NIGHT: Mobley recorded a career-high 41 points (23 in the first quarter), a career-high 6 3FGM, 10 REB and 3 BLK on Dec. 7 at Charlotte. He became the 4th player in NBA history to reach those numbers, joining Vince Carter (two times), Kevin Durant and James Harden.
His 23 PTS in the 1st quarter was tied for the third-highest scoring total in the opening quarter in Cavaliers history. Mobley shot 9-10 (.900) from the field and a perfect 5-5 from the three-point line in the 1st quarter.
Mobley is just the 4th Cavalier in team history to record 40+ PTS and 10+ REB in a game (LeBron James – 20 times, Donovan Mitchell – 3 times, and Cliff Robinson).
SOLID OPENER: Mobley recorded 25 points on 9-14 (.643) shooting from the field, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and three block in 27 minutes in the Cavs season-opener on Oct. 23rd at Toronto. It was his 5th career game with at least 25 PTS and 3 BLK.
FIRST 25 GAMES: Mobley is the youngest player in Cavaliers history (age 23) to average 18.0+ PPG, 8.0+ RPG, 1.40+ BPG and 1.00+ SPG in the first 25 appearances of a season and just the 2nd Cavalier to ever do that (Shawn Kemp, 1997-98).
CUT DOWN THE NETS: In a win over Brooklyn on Nov. 9, Mobley became the 1st player since 1973-74 (when steals were introduced) to accumulate at least 23 PTS, 16 REB, 4 STL and shoot .909 FG% (10-11 FG).
30-10 GAME: Mobley recorded 34 points on 14-21 (.667) shooting from the field, including 3-6 (.500) shooting from the three-point line, 10 rebounds, four assists and two blocks in 30 minutes on January 3rd at Dallas. It was his third career game with at least 30 points and 10 rebounds. Mobley became the 2nd player in NBA history age 23 or younger with 30+ PTS, 10+ REB, 4+ AST and 2+ BLK in 30 MIN or less (Karl-Anthony Towns, two times).
PHILLY SPECIAL: In a 126-99 win over Philly on December 21st, Mobley finished with 22 points on 10-14 (.714) shooting from the field, a game-high 13 rebounds, a game-high seven assists, two steals and one block in 30 minutes. He became the first player in Cavaliers history with those numbers in a game on .700+ FG% and it was his 6th career game with 20+ PTS, 10+ REB and 5+ AST.
41-POINT NIGHT: Mobley recorded a career-high 41 points (23 in the first quarter), a career-high 6 3FGM, 10 REB and 3 BLK on Dec. 7 at Charlotte. He became the 4th player in NBA history to reach those numbers, joining Vince Carter (two times), Kevin Durant and James Harden.
His 23 PTS in the 1st quarter was tied for the third-highest scoring total in the opening quarter in Cavaliers history. Mobley shot 9-10 (.900) from the field and a perfect 5-5 from the three-point line in the 1st quarter.
Mobley is just the 4th Cavalier in team history to record 40+ PTS and 10+ REB in a game (LeBron James – 20 times, Donovan Mitchell – 3 times, and Cliff Robinson).
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
*18.5 .557 .370 *85 *.725 9.3 3.2 1.59 0. 86 30.5
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*CAREER HIGH
16 th in nba
5 th in nba
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When Mobley is on the court, Cleveland ranks 7th in the NBA in defensive rating (111.7) and with him sitting, Cleveland ranks 17th in the NBA in defensive rating (114.3).
MOBLEY EFFECT
He has led Cleveland defensively to rank 3rd in the NBA (2nd in the East) in opponent field goal percentage (.454) and 2nd in the NBA (1st in East) in points per game differential (9.5).
LEADING AS A TEAM
Mobley is 1 of 4 players (and the youngest player) since he entered the NBA in 2021 to have recorded at least 400 blocked shots and 200 steals (Jaren Jackson Jr., Rudy Gobert, Anthony Davis).
400TH BLK & 200 STL
Mobley has averaged at least 1.40 blocks per game in each of his first four seasons in the NBA before the age of 24. He is the first Cavalier in team history to have at least four-straight seasons to start a career (under age 24) to average 1.40+ BPG in each of those seasons and the 8th player in NBA history to do this (Jaren Jackson Jr., Myles Turner, Anthony Davis, Dwight Howard, Josh Smith, Eddie Griffin and Kevin Garnett).
His 1.59 blocks per game this season rank 5th in the NBA and 3rd in the Eastern Conference.
BLOCK PARTY
Mobley ranked 5th in the NBA this season (1st in the East) in overall plus-minus (+546).
BEAST OF THE EAST
NOTHING EASY
ONLY Player in the NBA averaging at least 1.5 blocks per game on fewer than 2 fouls per game (min. 50 games played).
He became the 8th player in NBA history to average 1.50+ BPG and 0.80+ SPG on 2.0 or fewer fouls per game in a single season (min. 50 games played), joining Ben Wallace (5 times), Andrei Kirilenko, David Robinson, Al Horford, Kevin Durant, Robert Williams and Scottie Barnes.
HOLDING HIS GROUND
Evan Mobley has been named the Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month TWICE this season (December and February) and is the first NBA player to do so.
2X DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE MONTH
NOTABLE STATS
Ranks 5th in the NBA this season in contested shots per game (10.4) and ranks 2nd in the NBA in field goal percentage (58.5 FG%) allowed on shots defended within 5 feet (min. 1,000 FGA). He also ranked 7th in the NBA in contested three-point shots per game (3.2).
Has recorded 34 multi-block games this season, which is the 3rd-most multi-block games in the Eastern Conference this season (5th-most in the NBA).
PEOPLE.
ARE .
TALKING.
“Darius Garland doesn’t have to take a backseat anymore. He is quick as lightning, he can get to the rim and has a nice mid-game and could shoot the three. He's extremely quick off the dribble.”
SHANNON SHARPE
ESPN ANALYST & FORMER NFL PLAYER
“The floater is a tough shot and when you have a guard shooting 80% off a floater that’s a really good sign for your team and when I think of Garland who has a great floater, I would think of a guy like Tony Parker…his floater helped what San Antonio did back in the day and a lot of their championship are because of his shot.”
JOAKIM NOAH
FORMER NBA PLAYER
“They’re averaging over 20 assists per game.. Darius Garland is playing great basketball.. That ball is moving in Cleveland.”
SHAQUILLE O'NEAL
TNT ANALYST & FORMER NBA PLAYER
“Talk about Darius Garland in the clutch. He has the highest field goal percentage in clutch time, which is the last five minutes of a game when the game is within five points.”
JORGE SEDANA
ESPN SIDELINE REPORTER
MOTOR CITY MOBLEY: Finished with 30 points on 10-16 (.625) shooting from the field, including 3-5 (.600) shooting from the 3-point line, nine rebounds, a season-high tying seven assist and four blocks in 34 minutes on Feb. 5 at Detroit. Mobley became the 8th player in NBA history to record 30+ PTS, 9+ REB, 7+ AST and 3+ 3FGM in a game and first Cavaliers player to have those numbers.
The most important player on this Cavs roster is Evan Mobley. The success will be on the back of Mobley and how far this team goes. When you think of how versatile he is, one could make the argument that right behind Giannis Antetokounmpo he might be the second best power forward in the game for what he could bring on both ends of the floor and he's up for winning defensive player of the year. his versatility, being able to switch one through five, being able to go to the post-ups and utilize the mismatches. When they put a smaller guy on him, Mobley rolled to the basket and he punished them. If they're going to beat the Celtics and make it to the NBA finals, it's going to be on the back of Evan Mobley.”
Kendrick Perkins
ESPN Analyst and Former NBA Player
“The evolution of Evan Mobley, everyone knew how good he was defensively. He could be defensive player of the year, but what he's doing offensively has been unreal for him. He has continued to grow on that side. He is impactful on that side.”
Jorge Sedana
ESPN sideline reporter
“As for Evan Mobley, going into a place like Memphis where Ja Morant scores more than 40 points and you still dominate them. Evan Mobley is the defensive anchor of that squad, He’s averaging the most points he is had in his career, he will be in the running for defensive player of the year and will be in the running for most improved player.”
David Dennis Jr.
Andscape Senior Writer
“This kid Mobley is really balling, they’re just a very versatile team and a team you can tell their decisions are quick… they can start wit 2 bigs with Allen and Mobley which is old school we don’t really see that anymore but they’re two guys that can really move their feet and it’s still tough to score over those two seven footers.”
Joakin noah
former nba player
“One of the real reasons that's the case is they've gotten better. Sometimes we lose sight of Evan Mobley who wasn't this player two years ago… He's a young kid coming into this league, still trying to figure out how he's going to impact the game. We knew what he could do somewhat defensively, and there was an expectation that from an offensive standpoint, he had room to grow, similarly with Darius Garland.”
Greg Anthony
NBA TV Analyst and Former NBA Player
“As for Evan Mobley, going into a place like Memphis where Ja Morant scores more than 40 points and you still dominate them. Evan Mobley is the defensive anchor of that squad, He’s averaging the most points he is had in his career, he will be in the running for defensive player of the year and will be in the running for most improved player.”
David Dennis Jr Andscape Senior Writer
“Look at Evan Mobley his ability to take off the dribble doesn't get enough credit and what he brings to the table. Mobley….That's the beauty of evan mobley, not only can he stretch the floor, but he looks to find the dunk as well.”
Kendrick Perkins ESPN Analyst and former NBA player
“To me, Evan Mobley is one of the most important players in this postseason, when you watch what Evan Mobley can do at 6'11", handling the ball on the break, throwing, playing in the half court in playmaking, he can do that, and this year, one on one defensively, he is a lead on the defensive end, and where he's at his most improvement is the one on one on the block. You put a big guy on him that’s easy, you put a small guy on him, there's absolutely no problems. He is the key for the Cavaliers.”
Richard “RJ” Jefferson ESPN Analyst and 2016 NBA Champion
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15 th in nba
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NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
BIG GAME IN TEXAS: Recorded his 35th double-double of the season with 26 points on 10-13 (.769) shooting from the field and 4-6 (.667) shooting from the 3-point line, 12 rebounds, five assists, three blocks and one steal in 37 minutes on April 4 at San Antonio. He became the 3rd NBA player in the last 40 years to tally at least 25 PTS, 12 REB, 3 BLK, 4 3FGM and .750 FG% in a game, joining Kevin Durant (1/18/17) and Christian Wood (3/18/22).
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