Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley has embraced meditation before every game and added game-day weightlifting to manage mounting expectations in his fifth NBA season, using both practices to stay grounded as he expands his offensive role. The 24-year-old reigning Defensive Player of the Year is averaging 18.9 points and 8.8 rebounds while shouldering more responsibility following guard Ty Jerome’s departure to Memphis.
Mobley meditates regularly to tune out external pressure and focus on his evolution as a player. He arranged a meditation session for his family in Costa Rica last July to process the Cavs’ early playoff exit after a breakout All-Star campaign.
Mobley jumped back into the gym in July quicker than in previous offseasons, pushing himself with two-a-day workouts. He ran outdoor tracks in the California heat and tackled sand dunes at Manhattan Beach to improve conditioning.
“It just gets you to focus more,” Mobley said of meditation. “See what you need to see, think about what you need to think about.”
He’s now weightlifting on game days, a departure from typical postgame lifting routines. Derek Millender, the Cavs’ head strength and conditioning coach, said the change was Mobley’s idea.
“Once you see that from a top guy, whether you’re six years in or a rookie, you know that means a lot and that kind of makes you get in the gym as well,” forward De’Andre Hunter said.
Mobley has become more vocal this season as he embraces his leadership role with younger players looking up to him. The No. 3 pick from the 2021 draft signed a five-year, $224 million extension in 2024.
“Coming in every day harder and working and knowing that the younger guys are now looking up to me and seeing what I do,” Mobley said. “I got to set an example.”
“Pressure is only made up by you, usually yourself,” Mobley added. “The outside is still made up by you, if you think about what people think about this or that, and just expectations. It’s only if you feed into it.”
Mobley worked on his three-point shooting throughout the offseason, launching thousands of attempts. He’s now hitting threes at a higher clip while occasionally bringing the ball up like a point guard.
“I told [Evan] like, ‘Hey, you lose a guy like Ty, it’s you,'” Donovan Mitchell said. “And he has. He’s done the work and he’s put the time in.”
The Cavs sit second in the Eastern Conference despite a number of injuries to start the season.
“We don’t get to this point without him being dominant on both ends of the floor,” Mitchell said. “He’s continuing to build and elevate every single night.”
Kenny Atkinson believes Mobley will enter MVP consideration within two to three years.
“Talent-wise, I don’t see why not,” said Atkinson.