When the Cavs drafted USC star Evan Mobley in the first round of the 2021 NBA draft their expectations for the 6-foot-11 big man were sky-high. In his first three seasons, Mobley has been an elite rim-protector while steadily improving his offensive game yearly. Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes expects the Cavs young star to become an All-Star in his fourth season.
Evan Mobley is Ready to Make an All-Star Jump This Season
Last season, despite dealing with a nagging knee injury, Mobley put up arguably his best season as a pro. The 23-year-old averaged 15.7 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 2.3 stocks per game in just 50 appearances. Additionally, Mobley began knocking down threes at a higher volume, making 37.7% of his shots from behind the arc. In 2022-23, Mobley was a part of the NBA’s All-Defensive Team however, he was not eligible this past season due to missing the games played requirement. A fully healthy Mobley could be poised to return to the All-Defensive Team and break out offensively.
Hughes also mentions that Mobley had a career-high in assists, with 3.2 per game. Mobley will be in a position to be a facilitator more frequently this upcoming season. On top of that, Hughes says,
“With Mitchell and Garland on the ball, Mobley will struggle to get enough touches to average over 20.0 points per game. But he should be a double-digit rebounder and could climb up toward the 5.0-assists-per game range while collecting a couple of blocks and a steal every night.”
Mobley does not need to be the Cavs’ first option as he plays with Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland who are first-option ball-handlers.
Atkinson’s Role
A key reason for a potential offensive explosion will be Kenny Atkinson. The new Cavs head coach will allow Mobley to be a more dynamic option within the offense. Atkinson is known for his fast style of play, which could help elevate Mobley’s offensive game. His improvement offensively does not necessarily need to be his scoring but instead his general play on offense. If Mobley notches a career-high in assists and points, and the Cavs are a threat in the East in February it would be shocking to see the former Trojan not named an All-star.
A concern for Mobley will be his knee injury that kept him out of 32 games for the Cavs last year. However, in his first two seasons, he missed just 16 total games. A return to full health in a new system could not only see Cleveland get the best out of Mobley but also see him become their most crucial player. During the Cavs postseason run last season, Mobley had some stellar outings. Against the Boston Celtics, he had 33 points, his playoff career high. For the series, in five games, the young star averaged 21.4 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game.
The Last Word
Mobley has shown signs of being an exceptional player in the NBA. His size, length, speed, and skill make him a rare talent in today’s NBA. While his progression has not been explosive, it has been linear. With a new head coach at the helm, Mobley’s talents will be on display in an even greater way. The Cavs have obvious belief in Mobley as they signed him to a five-year 224-million dollar deal this summer. Another year of growth with the tools that the former third-overall pick has shown already could see him blossom into an All-Star in 2025.
