Mobley also won Defensive Player of the Year.
Evan Mobley has been announced as a member of the NBA’s 2025 All-Defensive First Team. This is his second time making an All-Defensive team with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Mobley also won the Defensive Player of the Year Award earlier this month.
There should be no surprises here. Mobley is essentially a lock to be on an All-Defensive team for every season he meets the eligibility requirements. Once he won the main award, it was all but confirmed that Mobley would be on the First Team All-Defense.
First Team All-Defensive:
Dyson Daniels, Lu Dort, Draymond Green, Evan Mobley and Amen Thompson. pic.twitter.com/YstM5goZEd
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) May 22, 2025
Atlanta’s Dyson Daniels, OKC’s Lu Dort, Golden State’s Draymond Green and Houston’s Amen Thompson join Mobley on the First Team. Daniels and Green were both finalists for DPOY.
The Second Team featured Ivicia Zubac, Jalen Williams, Jaren Jackson Jr, Toumani Camara and Rudy Gobert.
Mobley’s defensive excellence deserves all the praise it’s getting. He’s been a special defender since the moment he entered the league. His versatility is comparable to any other elite big man — and Mobley’s ability to protect the rim without fouling sets him apart.
The Cavaliers aren’t happy about how their season ended. That’s for good reason. A 64-win team that got gentleman’s swept in the second round is sure to leave a bitter taste in everyone’s mouth.
But Mobley’s ascension this year is worth celebrating. The Cavs have found a legitimate cornerstone to build around for the foreseeable future. This was a season of firsts for Mobley, from his first All-Star appearance to being the Defensive Player of the Year and likely securing All-NBA honors, as well.