Kendrick Perkins Warns Cavs Locker Room of Rift With Befitting Reply to Evan Mobley’s Trainer

Big Perk recalled that Kenny Atkinson replaced J.B. Bickerstaff because he said he wanted to unlock Evan Mobley. He was DPOY last year, yet Myles Turner and the Indiana Pacers grilled the No.1 team in the East in the Playoffs. A 1-4 record against Tyrese Haliburton & Co. was downright madness in Jefferson’s eyes. “On top of it, they lost 4-1, right? Mhm. The f–k, bro? 4-1 ain’t close. They went away from somebody in the second half. That’s not 4-1,” RJ exploded.

It remains a mystery which game Olin Simplis had in mind, but the numbers tell a striking story. Apart from Game 4’s blowout loss, Evan Mobley logged 35 minutes a night in the series. He sat out Game 2 with an ankle injury, which Indiana won, yet across the other three losses, he averaged 8.66 second-half points in 17 minutes. The touches were there, but not nearly enough.

The real gap appeared in the shot charts. Donovan Mitchell launched 125 shots in five games, averaging 25 attempts, while Mobley took only 45 in four games, about 11.25 per outing. His usage rate sat at 17.6 percent, far behind Darius Garland’s 26.7 and even Ty Jerome’s 25.4. Simplis still kept it fair, admitting Evan must shoulder some responsibility, too.

However, interestingly enough, Spida Mitchell wants his wingman to be a bit more “selfish”. It remains unclear what the impact of Simplis’s comment is going to be on the Cavs locker room. Time will tell whether Kendrick Perkins proves himself right. Meanwhile, Mitchell seems to want nothing but the best for his teammate.

Amidst Kendrick Perkins’ warning, Donovan Mitchell’s true feelings for Mobley surface

Evan Mobley finding his voice has become part of the Cavaliers’ next big step. Even Donovan Mitchell spoke about it in his chat with Taylor Rooks for Bleacher Report. He praised Mobley’s 2024–25 breakout, calling it his best season yet. Yet for Cleveland to rise higher, Spida believes Evan must take charge, call for the ball, and own his place in the offense.

“My push to Ev is that I need 20 shots. But he has to go and say that, like ‘Give me the ball’, like being able to demand,” Mitchell stated. “For us to be great, he has to continue to take a step. So I tell him like ‘Nah, we need more’. Demand it. If I don’t pass you the ball, get on my a—; if DG don’t give you the ball, get on his a—. If Ty don’t give it to you, get on his a—. And be okay with that.”

The Cavaliers can only climb higher when their young star begins to chase greatness with hunger. Both the mentor and the leader see it the same way: Evan has to own his presence, call for the rock, and strike when it counts. Like legends who learned to share the spotlight while still shining brighter, his rise depends on embracing that fearless edge within.

Every dynasty starts with a spark, and Cleveland’s might just be waiting for Evan Mobley to light it. Kendrick Perkins made his warning loud, but the real answer lies in how Mobley responds. The voices around him may clash, yet his next move decides everything. If he channels that fire, owns the moment, and proves Perkins right, the Cavs could turn noise into something unforgettable.