NBA
EM
#4

Evan Mobley

Forward · Cleveland Cavaliers · 6'11", 215 lb · Born Jun 18, 2001 · San Diego, California · Drafted 3rd overall, 2021
2025 DPOYAll-NBA (2025)All-Star (2025)7-foot unicorn
NBACleveland CavaliersForwards
Compare:vs Schrodervs Mitchellvs Hardenvs Allenvs Tysonvs Strus
In short

Evan Mobley is a versatile two-way big for the Cleveland Cavaliers and the 2025 NBA Defensive Player of the Year — the first in franchise history. Drafted 3rd in 2021 out of USC, where he swept Pac-12 Player, Defensive Player, and Freshman of the Year, he anchors Cleveland's defense while developing his offense. His DPOY win triggered a contract escalator worth roughly $269 million.

Matchup model · next gameMedium confidenceThu, Nov 12
@Chicago BullsAggressive hedge & help
Proj. points
18.2
range 15.5–21
Line 18
53%
to go over
Team win
44%
112–113
Poi 18.2 Lean overReb 9 Lean overAss 3.6 Lean overPRA 30.9 Lean under
Likely on himIsaac Okoro· 82 Perimeter DStrong defender
15+ pts85%20+ pts28%

Model lines Mobley at 18.2 pts (range 15.5–21) vs a 18 line — a lean to clear it (53%).

Model favors Chicago Bulls (56%), projected 112–113, ~225 total at 96.9 pace.

Full matchup breakdown · all markets →
Balladex Matchup Model — modeled from real roster ratings, scoring baselines & defender-matchup history. Schedule, availability & head-to-head samples are illustrative in this prototype; production wires live schedule, injury & player-tracking feeds. Not betting advice.
✦ Ask anything about Mobley
The Mobley Story — narrated
Tap play to hear his story, told as a 90-second short.
🔊 Prototype uses your browser's built-in voice. Production would use a studio-grade AI narrator.

A 7-foot unicorn who swept every college award — and became the first Cavalier ever named Defensive Player of the Year.

Coached by his father at USC, Mobley swept Pac-12 Player, Defensive Player, and Freshman of the Year — a feat matched only by Anthony Davis.

🏫 USC · triple sweep3rd, 2021

Cleveland drafted him 3rd in 2021, and he immediately anchored the defense as a switchable rim protector.

Rim protectorAll-Rookie First Team

In 2025 he won Defensive Player of the Year — a franchise first — plus All-NBA and his first All-Star nod.

🏆 2025 DPOY⭐ All-Star · All-NBA

The award triggered a clause pushing his extension to roughly $269M; his brother Isaiah is also a Cav.

💰 ~$269MBrother Isaiah
— end of story —
Want the full numbers? Open the breakdown →
PPG
18.2
2025-26
RPG
9
per game
APG
3.6
per game
FG%
.546
.297 from three
LIFE

Roots & the rise

A switchable two-way unicorn and Defensive Player of the Year — the anchor of Cleveland's defense.

Evan Mobley was born in San Diego to a basketball family — his father Eric played and coached, later becoming a USC assistant. At USC he swept the 2021 Pac-12 Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and Freshman of the Year, only the second major-conference player to do so, after Anthony Davis. Cleveland drafted him 3rd overall in 2021.

He became one of the league's best defensive bigs — a rim protector who switches onto guards — and in 2025 won Defensive Player of the Year, the first in Cavaliers history, along with All-NBA Second Team and his first All-Star nod. The award triggered a clause raising his extension to roughly $269 million. His brother Isaiah also plays for the Cavaliers.

Sources: Wikipedia, NBA.com, Basketball-Reference, ESPN.

BEYOND THE GAME

Beyond the game

Basketball is the family trade: Evan's father, Eric Mobley, played college and international ball and joined USC's staff, coaching both Evan and his older brother Isaiah there before Isaiah was also drafted by Cleveland — making the Mobleys a rare brother pairing on the same NBA team. His mother, Nicol, is an elementary-school teacher, and the family fostered several children, including a Chinese exchange student.

Teammate Darius Garland called him 'a 7-foot unicorn' for a reason: Mobley protects the rim, switches onto guards, rebounds, and increasingly creates and passes. Quiet and cerebral, he built his game on defense first and has steadily added offensive polish, a trajectory that made him a Defensive Player of the Year and a foundational two-way piece.

PERSONALITY

The person

A cerebral, switchable two-way big — elite defense with steadily expanding offense.

Defensive anchor2025 Defensive Player of the Year — the first in Cavaliers history.
Switchable bigProtects the rim and guards on the perimeter — a 'unicorn' skill set.
Developing offenseImproving scoring and passing to round out his two-way game.
PLAYER DNA

Archetype & ratings

Archetype
Two-Way Anchor · DPOY
Temperament
Steady
Leadership
70/100
Scoring70
Playmaking50
Rebounding72
Perimeter D82
Rim protection51
Spacing53
Athleticism70
Clutch67
2025 DPOYRim protectionTwo-way big
ANALYSIS

What the numbers say

Defense that anchors a contender

Mobley's Defensive Player of the Year award reflects a rare skill set: he protects the rim like a center and switches onto guards like a wing, letting Cleveland play aggressive, versatile defense. Paired with Jarrett Allen, he gives the Cavaliers one of the league's best interior duos and the backbone of a top defense.

The offensive climb

The next frontier is offense. Mobley has steadily added scoring and passing — 18-plus points a game with career-high outings — but he's not yet a primary option, and defenses can sag off his jumper. Each step forward on that end raises his ceiling from elite defender to two-way star, and his youth (24) leaves ample runway.

STATS

Season by season

Per game

SeasonGPMINPTSREBASTFG%3P%
2025-266531.918.29.03.6.546.297

Source: Basketball-Reference.

ADVANCED

Advanced & historical

Where he sits in history

2025NBA Defensive Player of the Year — the first in Cavaliers history; All-NBA Second Team; first All-Star
CollegeSwept Pac-12 Player, Defensive Player, and Freshman of the Year (2021)
FamilyPlays alongside his brother Isaiah, also a Cavalier

Hardware

1×
Defensive Player of the Year (2025)
1×
All-NBA Second Team (2025)
1×
NBA All-Star (2025)
OUTLOOK

Where it's headed

AI-generated · updated July 13, 2026

A Defensive Player of the Year in his prime — the two-way anchor of a Cleveland contender.

On an extension worth up to roughly $269 million, Mobley is the defensive backbone of the Cavaliers and a rising two-way force. As his offense grows, so does his ceiling — from elite defender to genuine star, at just 24.

DefenseElite
Rim protectionElite
Offensive skillDeveloping
Floor spacingImproving

Contract

Deal
up to ~$269M 5 yr, 2024
Role
Two-way anchor DPOY
Age
24 rising
Bottom line

A 7-foot unicorn and the first Cavalier ever to win Defensive Player of the Year. Cleveland's two-way anchor — with a star's ceiling as the offense grows.

FAQ

Quick answers

Did Evan Mobley win Defensive Player of the Year?

Yes — in 2025, the first in Cavaliers franchise history, along with All-NBA Second Team and his first All-Star selection.

Where did Evan Mobley go to college?

USC, where in 2021 he swept Pac-12 Player, Defensive Player, and Freshman of the Year — matched only by Anthony Davis.

Is Evan Mobley related to another NBA player?

Yes — his older brother Isaiah Mobley also plays for the Cavaliers; their father Eric coached both at USC.