The Cavs are 26-4 following their 124-113 win over the Utah Jazz on Monday. Yet again leading the team in shot attempts and points was 23-year-old star, Evan Mobley. This season has been the most productive of Mobley’s young career as he looks to make his first All-Star team come February. Head coach Kenny Atkinson has prioritized getting Mobley more touches which has led to his further evolution.
Cavs Young Star Taking The Next Step
Through 30 games, Mobley is averaging career highs in points, steals, three-point percentage, and shot attempts per game despite playing the fewest minutes of his career. Mobley has also added range to his game this season, hitting a career-high 27 threes this season with 52 games remaining, while shooting over 40%. His new-found range has made him even better at getting to the basket this season and incredibly valuable to the Cavs’ high-powered offense.
Mobley’s Impact
The Cavs have struggled on offense in recent years under former head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Under Atkinson that has changed with the team ranking second in points per game and first in offensive rating. A lot of that has to do with Mobley being a vital part of the attack. He is third on the team in shots per game this season and finished Monday’s game with the most shot attempts on the team. Last season, comparatively, he ranked fourth, shooting his fewest shots per game of his career.
Mobley is up to 18.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.6 stocks per game. He is one of the most impactful players in the league this season with a net rating of 14.3 when he is on the court this season.
Mobley has been a stellar defender in every year of his NBA career, finishing third in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2022-23. His defense is what got him drafted third overall in 2021.
Cavs Future
The season is nowhere near over, but it feels likely Cleveland will end up with a top-two seed in the Eastern Conference. With Mobley spearheading the Cavs on both offense and defense, they sure seem to be in good hands. A deep playoff run could be in the cards for Cleveland with their quick start this year. And for the future, if Mobley continues to progress throughout this season it won’t be long until the Cavs are NBA champions again.
Mobley recently signed a five-year $224 million extension to stay in Cleveland, meaning the future is bright.
The Last Word
The term ‘unicorn’ is thrown around a lot in the NBA when discussing 7-foot big men who can shoot. Mobley is certainly one of those ‘unicorns’ and is proving it this year. For everything he does on the defensive end, he is now starting to impact just as much on the offensive end. There is a legitimate argument to be made that Mobley has been the best player on the Cavs this season. Basketball Reference has him seventh on their MVP tracker, proving he is not only one of the best players in Cleveland, but in the entire NBA. He is a massive reason the Cavs are 26-4. At just 23, the sky is the limit for Mobley.
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