Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen opened up on Cavs forward Evan Mobley earning a spot on the All-Defensive First Team on Tuesday.
“I know he has always had the talent to do it, the talent to be able to be the best defender in the league, and this year he showed why,” Allen said, via Cleveland.com Cavs reporter Chris Fedor. “This year he kind of got out of his shell, was more assertive knowing that he could get away with more stuff and be the best defender he can be.”
Evan Mobley joined Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr., Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday, Bucks center Brook Lopez and Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso on the First Team. Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo, Toronto Raptors forward O.G. Anunoby, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, Boston Celtics guard Derrick White and Grizzlies forward Dillon Brooks took spots on the Second Team.
Jarrett Allen earned three votes for the Second Team.
Evan Mobley became the third player in Cavs history to be chosen for the first team, joining forward Larry Nance Sr. in 1989 and forward LeBron James in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons, according to Fedor. Several Cavaliers have taken spots on the Second Team in years past, including Nance in the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons, center Anderson Varejao in 2009-10, guard Bobby Phills in 1995-96 and forward Jim Brewer in 1976-77.
Brewer and guard Jim Cleamons earned places on the Second Team in the 1975-76 season. They joined Warriors guard Phil Smith, Golden State forward Jamaal Wilkes and Lakers center Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, according to NBA.com.
Evan Mobley also became the second-youngest player to take first-team honors, only behind Lakers guard Kobe Bryant during the 1999-2000 season, continued Fedor. Bryant joined forwards Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan, guard Gary Payton and center Alonzo Mourning as the First Team selections the same year Los Angeles would go on to win the first of three-straight NBA championships.