Cleveland Cavaliers forward center Evan Mobley has been officially named the 2024-25 NBA defensive player of the year, becoming the first player in team history. At just 23 years old, Mobley joined the elite group as one of the youngest recipients ever.
Career years at both ends
Mobley was the Cavaliers’ strength, securing the No. 1 seed at the Eastern Conference with a 64-18 record. He averaged over 71 games:
- 18.5 points
- 9.3 Rebound
- 3.2 Assist
- 1.6 blocks
- 0.9 steel
- Everything is just 30.5 minutes per game
He also became the only player in the league this season to record more than 1,000 points, more than 600 rebounds, more than 100 blocks and more than 60 steel.
Numbers defensive impact
- 6th in the NBA Blocks per game (1.59)
- 13th in defensive rebound Per game (7.0)
- Third shot contest Per game (10.4)
- 4th place with FG% difference against opponent (Allowed 3.2% less than expected)
Cleveland’s defensive rating improved when Mobley was on the floor 108.6rank Second in the NBA Over the full season.
Award Voting Results
Of the 100 media panel voters:
| player | 1st place | 2nd place | 3rd place | Total points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evan Mobley | 35 | 30 | 20 | 285 |
| Dyson Daniels | twenty five | 17 | twenty one | 197 |
| Draymond Green | 15 | 20 | 19 | 154 |
Mobley has nearly 100 points ahead of Daniels and more than 130 ahead of former winner Draymond Green.
Making history for the Cavaliers
Mobley isn’t just First Cavalier In addition to getting defensive players of the year:
- a Two defensive players this month (December & February)
- a First NBA All-Star
- now Always 8th Total Blocks in Cavaliers History (419)
- One of Only 5 players In NBA history, he won a DPOY before he turned 24.
The road ahead
Mobley’s performance helped set the tone for the Cavaliers team as they aimed for a deep playoff run. As the top seed of East, Cleveland’s defense becomes a key factor. Mobley is at the heart of it.
Every year he continues to evolve into one of the most balanced big names in the game. And this award? That could be just the beginning.
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