Evan Mobley could be under-the-radar MVP candidate

Evan Mobley was a first-time All-Star and the Defensive Player of the Year last season. Through three games, he looks even better this season.

The Cleveland Cavaliers took Mobley with the No. 3 pick in the 2021 draft after one year at USC. His defense has never been a question since entering the league, with his mobility and shot-blocking ability (1.6 per game for his career) allowing him to defend both at the rim and out on the perimeter. Mobley finished third in DPOY voting and made the All-Defensive first team in his second season.

Evan Mobley's offense has greatly improved

Where Mobley's NBA future was uncertain was on the offensive end of the court. During his first two seasons, Mobley's potential as a shooter remained unrealized, as he shot only 23.2 percent from three-point range, making only 45 threes. Even when his accuracy went way up in his third season (37.3 percent), Mobley shot at a low volume, making only 22 triples.

That put a limit on the Cavaliers' offense. Center Jarrett Allen is a great defensive player and rebounder, but he's made 19 three-pointers in eight seasons, rarely shooting from beyond 10 feet of the basket. While Mobley can protect the rim, he's somewhat slender for a full-time center — plus the Cavaliers want to be able to play two All-Star big men together.

This season, Mobley is averaging 19.3 points per game and taking 5.7 three-pointers, up from 3.2 per game in 2024-25 and 1.2 in 2023-24. But it's not just his outside game that's picking up. Mobley is getting to the foul line for seven free throws per game, up from 4.3 last season, while his assists have jumped from 3.2 to 4.7 per game.

The Cavs are relying on Evan Mobley late in games

In Sunday's 118-113 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, Mobley scored eight points in the final quarter, going 6-for-6 at the foul line in the last 15 seconds to ice the game. He stole the ball from Giannis Antetokounmpo with 1:31 to play, one of Mobley's two steals in the quarter, including one he took in for a layup at the other end.