Defense wins championships.
Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Evan Mobley was given a huge honor and named the NBA’s top defensive player for the first time in his career Thursday, taking home the 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year Award.
Mobley edged out fellow deserving finalists Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels also known as the ‘Great Barrier Thief’ and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green to win the award.
But, by winning that honor, Mobley, who also is expected to be an All-NBA selection sometime over the next couple of weeks, also ensured that the max rookie contract extension he inked last offseason will increase by roughly $45 million over the next five years, turning it into a five-year, $269 million agreement.
“I mean, it definitely was a goal of mine coming into this year, I put all the work in, so it’s a big day,” Mobley said after Wednesday night’s 121-112 victory over the Miami Heat in Game 2 of Cleveland’s first-round playoff series. “But I’m trying to be as focused as I can on the playoffs.”
In his fourth NBA season out of USC, the 23-year-old Mobley enjoyed a career year on the offensive end of the court averaging 18.5 points and 3.2 assists per game, but he also excelled defensively, putting up 9.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per contest over 71 games.
Mobley has been regarded as an elite defensive player since he came into the NBA, as he finished in the top three in the DPOY voting during his second NBA season in 2022-23 and was named an NBA All-Defensive first-team selection that year as well.
“It feels great,” Mobley said of winning the award on TNT’s “Inside The NBA” Thursday night. “My feet and my movement at this size I feel like unordinary, but it just feels amazing to finally get this award.”
Embed from Getty ImagesWhile Mobley’s numbers this season were not as eye-popping as some of the past Defensive Player of the Year winners, his triumph was a recognition of the Cavaliers’ overall team success in many ways.
At 64-18, the Cavaliers had the second-best record in the NBA this season, right behind the Oklahoma City Thunder. They also delivered some noteworthy defensive statics as a unit, holding their opposition to 45.4 percent shooting, which ranked third in the league.
Mobley being victorious was an open and shut case of the best defensive player on the best team in the NBA getting what they deserve, and it also had something to do with a top contender falling out of the race.
After finishing as a runner up in DPOY voting as a rookie in 2023-24, behind Minnesota Timberwolves Rudy Gobert, San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama was the overwhelming favorite to win the award this season after a dominant first half.
However, the Spurs announced in February that they were shutting Wemby down for the remainder of the season due to deep vein thrombosis (blood clots), which opened the door for Mobley and others to emerge.
Wembanyama figures to be right back in contention next season, but he will have to beat out the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in Mobley.
