A Wednesday article from the Ringer senior staff writer Michael Pina went over several comparisons for Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley.
“Mobley’s stoic, deadpan demeanor hearkens back to Tim Duncan, while his defensive versatility and selfless attitude make him a direct descendant of Kevin Garnett,” wrote Pena. “‘I played with KG,’ says Cavaliers guard Ricky Rubio. ‘He had that strength and mobility. I see Chris Bosh out there, too.'”
Evan Mobley’s excellence in his second season earned him “unicorn” comparisons from Cavs guard Darius Garland in November.
“I always tell Evan’ you’re him,'” Garland said. “He’s a unicorn.
“He does a lot of things that a lot of people don’t do in this league. He can do whatever he wants on this team, literally. I tell him, ‘You can do whatever. It’s your team.’ He knows that too. He’s just building every day, and he’s going to get there.”
Evan Mobley drew the same comparisons as Rubio from Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, who called him a mix of Garnett and Bosh with a dash of Duncan as the Cavs took on the Atlanta Hawks in the Play-In Tournament.
“Once he figures his body out…. Forget about it,” Green wrote in a 2022 tweet. “KGxBosh with a little bit of Timmie D feel!”
Evan Mobley scored 18 rebounds, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked two shots in the 107-101 victory by the Hawks, becoming one of three Cavs starters to dish five assists or more against Atlanta.
Pina’s high praise for the 21-year-old forward didn’t stop there.
“Sometimes talking about Mobley feels like spreading an exciting rumor instead of conveying information,” wrote Pina. “A multi-time All-Star is the floor. The common denominator on a perennial championship contender is the ceiling, if one even exists.
“‘It’s rare to find somebody so mature right away on both ends of the court,’ Rubio says. ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if his career ended up in the Hall of Fame.'”