Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley is making a key change after the Cavs were eliminated in the NBA Playoffs by the New York Knicks.
“Mobley’s skill set gives him sky-high potential, and the Cavs see him as a budding star in the league,” Akron Beacon Journal writer Ryan Lewis wrote in a Thursday article. “In his second year, he scored 16.2 points per game and finished third in NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting. But at 7-0 and 215 pounds, he’s looking to add to his frame heading into year three by adding an in-home weight room.
“Mobley shared that with Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman when the two met for an end-of-the-season conversation.”
Evan Mobley’s consistent start on the boards during the first three matchups of the Cavs-Knicks series was countered with two showings that saw him grab seven and nine rebounds in Games 4 and 5, respectively. Mobley and center Jarrett Allen combined for 11 and 13 rebounds in the final two matchups, respectively, while center Mitchell Robinson took down a combined 29 rebounds and blocked five shots.
Mobley finished his second season in the NBA with averages of 16.2 points, nine rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game. He had averages of 9.8 points, 10 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per contest against the Knicks in the NBA Playoffs, highlighted by a 13-point, 13-rebound performance in Game 2.
“The development has continued, and I think he wants that. He wants those expectations. He feels the urgency,” Altman said, via Lewis. “He’s already investing in a home gym for himself this offseason, which is remarkable for a guy his age to be thinking about, ‘OK, I need to get stronger, I need to get better.’
“And so, there’s real upside obviously with him, and that’s the balance between developing a young roster and also trying to compete. We’re trying to do both.”