NBA fans have been waiting for Evan Mobley to morph into an undisputed powerhouse for a couple of seasons now. Although he is only 24 years old, an inconsistent offensive game may prevent the reigning Defensive Player of the Year from ever reaching that status. Even so, Mobley is an incredibly valuable member of this Cavs group.
The 2024-25 All-NBA Second-Team selection averages 16.7 points and 8.9 rebounds for his career and can guard every position on the floor. He is generally regarded as the X-factor of this squad, but that label can sometimes undersell what he already does for Cleveland. Unfortunately, expectations carry a significant amount of weight in this industry.
Because Mobley weathers ups and downs on offense, many people are reluctant to extol him as a true two-way star. Yahoo Sports podcaster and writer Kevin O’Connor made a blistering statement on No. 4.
“Evan Mobley is the most overrated and disappointing player in all of the NBA,” he said. “Year five with Evan Mobley right now, and he hasn’t improved a lick as a post scorer. He hasn’t improved a lick as an isolation scorer. He is still just as shaky of a 3-point shooter and a free-throw shooter as he was when he was a rookie. So disappointing that this guy has plateaued since he entered the NBA.
“He’s super versatile, he can switch, he can defend across positions, but he doesn’t set a tone because he’s soft.”
Is Cavs’ Evan Mobley getting too much criticism?
O’Connor did praise Mobley’s defensive prowess, but he also challenged the validity of his DPOY award. The longtime NBA writer is not holding anything back when it comes to his assessment.
The former No. 3 overall draft pick has taken a step back this season. Whether it be a lingering calf strain or other reasons, he has struggled profusely from distance. Mobley is knocking down only 30.2 percent of his attempts from 3-point range. That being said, O’Connor is neglecting the undeniable progress the near-7-footer made in each of the prior two campaigns.
Evan Mobley shot an efficient 37.0 percent from downtown after tripling his 3-point volume last season. He blossomed into a more well-rounded offensive talent and was a major reason why the Cavs entered the playoffs with an Eastern Conference-leading 64-18 record. He pushed through an ankle injury in the second round, but Cleveland still suffered another excruciating postseason elimination.
Now, amid his shooting regression, Mobley is under as much scrutiny as ever. He is still doing his part to help the Cavaliers cement themselves as a top-four seed. The San Diego, Californian has been especially impactful in March. He is posting 19.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.6 blocks while shooting 61.9 percent.
Mobley had a rough outing in Wednesday’s 120-103 loss versus the Miami Heat, but Kevin O’Connor’s rant still seems ill-timed given how this player has recently performed.
Ultimately, the only way for Evan Mobley to change the narrative will be by exploding in the playoffs. He cannot focus on outside opinions, however. The Cavs have important business to handle, and they need this franchise pillar to be completely focused on the task at hand.