With a 54-10 record, the Cleveland Cavaliers are first in the Eastern Conference. The team has 18 regular season games left in 2024-25 until the playoffs begin.
On Sunday afternoon, the Cavaliers were on the road to face the Milwaukee Bucks. Cleveland won the game, 112-100. ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins spoke on NBA Countdown before the game to speak about Evan Mobley. He called Mobley the “second best” PF in the NBA behind Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Evan Mobley has taken a major step forward in his development this season
The 2024-25 season is Evan Mobley’s fourth season in the NBA. He was the third overall pick by the Cavs in the 2021 NBA draft out of USC. Mobley has started all 255 games he’s played in for Cleveland. That includes 57 of their 64 games so far in 2024-25. This season, the big man is having his best offensive season since entering the league.
Mobley’s (18.5) points per game is a new career high. The 23-year-old came into the NBA as a defensive specialist and he’s grown his game immensely on the offensive end. On top of his (18.5) points, Mobley is averaging (9.3) rebounds and (3.1) assists per game. He is shooting (.365) percent from beyond the arc. Highly efficient for a player of his size.
With the production Mobely has shown in 2024-25, ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins said he is the “second best” PF in the NBA. Perkins called Giannis Antetokounmpo the best PF in the league, Until Mobley wins multiple MVPs, Giannis will always be in front of him. However, being the second-best PF in the NBA is not a bad place to be. Mobey has become a solid two-way player for the Cavs and he is the betting favorite to win Defensive Player of the Year this season.