CLEVELAND, Ohio — Inside the visitor’s locker room at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Cavs forward Evan Mobley is one of the final stragglers, with his alpaca-like legs propped up on a chair and slightly stretched out.
It’s late in the 2022-23 regular season. Many of his teammates are already on the bus. But a member of Cleveland’s training staff has issued a challenge — and Mobley doesn’t ever back down.
The iPhones come out. The timer is set. Mobley grabs his Rubik’s Cube — an impromptu purchase from a nearby Walgreens. His enormous hands make it seem like a pocket-sized toy. Stoic and unflappable, he analyzes the cube. Then, when the clock starts, he rapidly twists and pivots each face as if he’s still on the court attempting to maneuver around a defender for a dunk.
Full concentration. Substantial determination. Unshakeable belief. Overcoming a few untimely missteps that spawn grunts, he lines up the colors. A few more blocks to go. Mobley can sense it. He makes a couple final turns and takes one last glance. The timer stops.
A little more than 70 seconds.
While the makeshift videographers are awestruck, Mobley seems … perplexed. Disheartened even. That on-the-spot performance didn’t meet his standards. It wasn’t close enough to a personal best — under one minute.
That’s how Mobley is wired. He is a self-proclaimed perfectionist who gets bored easily and is constantly seeking the next challenge. He believes anything is possible. He wants it all.
“I’m done with that,” Mobley told cleveland.com when asked about his updated Rubik’s Cube record during a wide-ranging exclusive interview. “I still know how to do it. But I don’t really test myself with it anymore.
“I learn a lot of things. But I learn them and move on to the next and then the next and then the next. I still keep the Rubik’s Cube in my arsenal. Just not as sharp as I used to be. If I lock back in, I will probably get it down to around a minute exactly.”
Is there any mission he has failed?
“Not yet,” Mobley said. “I may have started something and stopped it because I wasn’t ready to dive into it as much as I wanted. But I usually come back to it at some point in my life and get it down.”
Despite being a laid-back introvert, one of the quietest players in the locker room, Mobley possesses unmistakable self-assurance – on and off the court. Why wouldn’t he?
After being drafted No. 3 overall in 2021, the 22-year-old phenom was named Rookie of the Year runner-up to Toronto’s Scottie Barnes — an outcome that still irks Mobley and his tight inner circle. Ahead of his sophomore campaign last season, NBA general managers voted Mobley as the player most likely to have a breakout season.
He finished third for Defensive Player of the Year and earned a spot on the NBA’s All-Defensive first team, becoming the third player in franchise history (LeBron James and Larry Nance) and second-youngest player ever (Kobe Bryant) to earn first team honors. The last NBA player to make the defensive first team in his rookie or sophomore season: NBA legend — and quite possibly the greatest power forward of all time — Tim Duncan.
Being in the same company as Duncan is almost unheard of for a baby-faced youngster in the infancy of his evolution. Then again, the organization has been predicting stardom since Mobley’s arrival.
Teammates and opponents call him a “unicorn.” Last November, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo told cleveland.com that Mobley can be “better” than him. The talented youngster has drawn comparisons to some of the league’s giants – Giannis, Kevin Garnett, Chris Bosh and Anthony Davis. While Mobley prefers to pave his own trail, he believes all of those comps are fitting, and willingly accepts the pressure.
No one has bigger goals for Mobley than himself.
“I want to become one of the greats,” he said with a stone face. “Yeah, I believe I can. I wouldn’t be saying it if I didn’t think it was possible.”
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley has helped the organization soar to new heights. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
Ready for takeoff
Mobley’s conquest list is the length of a grocery receipt. He tries to pick up something new seemingly every year, most of them random talents acquired from watching YouTube tutorials.
He can juggle and do yo-yo tricks. He dabbled with Kendama — a traditional Japanese skill toy that consists of a handle, pair of cups and ball connected together by a string. He was in a chess club growing up — only the desire to become the next Bobby Fischer didn’t last. It took him days to become a Rubik’s Cube master. He quickly became a good bowler last season after seeing how easy it looked for some of his teammates.
But the party trick that makes him crack the biggest smile?
“The backflip,” Mobley revealed. “I always wanted to do that at some point in my life. I take a lot of pride in that one.”
Mobley-sized players aren’t supposed to move like that. He’s 7-feet tall with a Gumby-like wingspan and a rare brew of grace, quickness, bounce, length, agility, body control, timing, ambidexterity and instincts.
Those traits make him one of the league’s most elastic big men, equally comfortable suffocating shifty guards on the perimeter and turning the paint into a fortress. Thanks to the adaptation of coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s 2.9 rule — a belief that defensive three seconds often goes uncalled on most possessions — Mobley covers ground like a free safety, erases mistakes and roams the paint, his haunting defensive presence causing opponents to see ghosts.
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“They don’t keep a stat on how many times a guy decides not to go to the basket because Evan is in the right place,” Bickerstaff said. “They don’t keep a stat on how confident we are to switch Evan onto a perimeter player and he can keep that guy in front of him and force that guy to evacuate the (isolation).
“They don’t keep track of how many times Evan tells the guy in front of him what the coverage is going to be or where the pick is coming from. Those are things we watch and study. They make our defense work. We see the significance every time we watch the film.”
Emerging as the best defender for the league’s top-ranked unit a season ago, Mobley finished behind winner Jaren Jackson Jr. and Brook Lopez in the DPOY election. Mobley ranked first in defensive win shares (4.8), tied for first in contested 3-pointers per game (3.6) and fourth in total contested shots per game (11.4). He also recorded at least one block in 59 games and his 119 total rejections were the sixth-most in the NBA.
Cleveland held teams under 100 points in an NBA-best 24 games, with no other team having more than 17.
Even though many of his teammates disagreed with the DPOY result and have spoken out publicly about it, Mobley admitted swat-master Jackson deserved it — with one minor qualifier.
“I should have been in the conversation way earlier, instead of near the end,” Mobley said. “I wasn’t really thinking about the possibility of winning that award during the season. But I should have been there the whole time. Finishing third gave me confidence. I can improve. It made me think I could get it for sure in the coming years.”
That is one of Mobley’s goals this season. His first All-Star nod is another. A team-first guy, he would be remiss to not mention the primary objective: Lead Cleveland back to the top of the Eastern Conference and advance further than last season’s first-round playoff exit.
Either way, Mobley is ready for takeoff.
“I feel like I’ve been working hard on my game this summer and I feel like it’s going to be a breakout year for me and our team as well,” Mobley said. “Being an All-Star has been a goal of mine since I stepped into the league. Been working to get better and better until I get that opportunity.”
When pressed about why this will be the year, Mobley points to a potentially dynamic offense, with him getting more touches at the elbow — his favorite spot on the floor — and a less congested frontcourt thanks to offseason acquisitions Max Strus and Georges Niang. Production is often a result of opportunity.
Then Mobley finishes that detailed breakdown with a matter-of-fact capper.
“I just feel like this is the year,” Mobley said with a shrug. “It’s going to be a good season for me and our team.”
Cleveland Cavaliers Evan Mobley makes many things look easy, including spinning a basketball on his finger. John Kuntz, cleveland.com
Young Beethoven
Mobley’s first love — aside from basketball, of course — was music. As a child, he trained himself to play Beethoven on a baby grand piano. His mother, Nicol, even signed him up for piano lessons. But like so many other things, Mobley trifled with it before moving on.
Recently, the self-taught Mobley bought a fancy, new piano – the latest addition to his musically influenced living room, which doubles as a studio inside his downtown apartment. Mobley already has his next off-court challenge.
“I started making beats and stuff last year,” Mobley said. “I feel like you use a lot of piano in that, and if I learn piano, it will carry over into me being able to make my beats sound better.”
Mobley has already learned the instrumental section to one of his favorite songs – “Go Crazy” by Gunna. There are other tunes on his to-do list – even though Mobley knows it will take time to become an adept pianist. There aren’t nearly enough schedule gaps during the 82-game grind. Plus, he has countless other skills to master first – even if that reality won’t stop him from trying to do it all.
“Hopefully by the end of the season I will be able to play the piano, be able to play some songs and hold my own,” Mobley said. “I just want to have a good base going into the summer so I can make my beats in the offseason.”
That same drive has Mobley and the Cavs fantasizing about the possibilities in Year 3 — and beyond.
“I believe he’s gonna be one of the best players in this game,” Donovan Mitchell gloated. “For somebody that’s in his third year, to have the expectation is not the easiest and he’s seeming to just go out there and kill it. There are so many different things he’s capable of doing, that he’s been doing, just continuing to build and develop.”
“He’s starting to look like A.D. now in practice,” Darius Garland added.
Already a menacing defender, with transcendent superpowers at the end of the floor, Mobley understands a Hall of Fame ceiling is attached to his offensive expansion.
The Cavs have big plans for him there.
During Mobley’s exit interview shortly after the first-round playoff flameout — a non-competitive series in which they were manhandled by the burlier, more-seasoned New York Knicks — the team spoke with him about offseason enhancements. Unsurprisingly, it started with getting stronger. But there are other bullet points as well.
Last season, Mobley wasn’t a focal point of Cleveland’s offensive attack. He ranked third on the team in touches per game. His usage rate – an estimate of the percentage of plays used by a specific player —put him in a cluster of secondary or even tertiary role players, far away from recognizable franchise pillars, the way Mobley is viewed. The Cavs want those numbers to increase. They are prepared to give him greater responsibility, using him as an offensive fulcrum -- in the mold of a playmaking point-forward. Think Miami’s Bam Adebayo, Philadelphia center Joel Embiid or Denver’s Nikola Jokic.
In many ways, Mobley’s critical to the diversification of the Cavs’ predictable pick-and-roll-heavy attack that got exposed in the playoffs. They encouraged him to find more ways to open up in the half court. They worked with him on how to create space at the elbows, stand his ground inside, get into the action more frequently, displace defenders and finish through contact — whether he’s playing center or power forward. The plan is to have him at both.
Mobley has been encouraged to rebound and run, helping ignite a faster pace. He worked on it all summer with skills trainer Olin Simplis and other Cavs assistants. His face-up game will be untethered. He can reach back into his passing bag — a skill set crafted before a teenage growth spurt forced a role change. Mobley’s also got the green light to shoot — despite a shaky 3-point stroke that he fine-tunes daily.
Any big-picture conversation involves whether Mobley can ever extend away from the land of ogres, out to 3-point range, following the same path as those highly touted comparables — Davis, Garnett and Bosh. Even a reliable mid-range jumper would help unlock his game — and Cleveland’s offense.
Mobley shot a blistering 64.4% on attempts less than 10 feet from the basket. But as he ventured further away, his efficiency cratered. He went 30% on attempts outside the paint and was a pedestrian 39.1% on pullups, 26.1% on catch-and-shoots and 39.6% from the mid-range. Not exactly the kinds of proficient shooting marks that inspire unreserved faith.
“I feel like I’m going to become that with more time,” Mobley said. “I’m working on it each day. I feel like I have a pretty good base and form to my shot. Have to tweak some things and keep repping it out. It will come.”
A career 23.2% 3-point shooter who regressed from deep as a sophomore, Mobley is focused on getting the ball up higher on the release.
“Sometimes I shoot it flat,” Mobley admitted. “Gotta make sure I get it over the front of the rim.”
To Bickerstaff, it’s the final step in Mobley’s superstar ascent.
“If he has the ability to become an average to an above average 3-point shooter then I think it changes the dynamic of the way people have to guard him, the matchups they can put on him and what it does for everybody else on the floor,” Bickerstaff explained.
“He has a license to take them all. But it’s not something we want to force him into and say, ‘You have to take three or four or five a game.’ He works his tail off at it and if he has opportunities, he has the freedom to take it. But we don’t want to throw him in this box and make him feel pressure to just do that one thing. He is such a dynamic player and he has the capability of making shots at all levels.”
So, what does that version of Mobley look like?
“We have started to see the beginnings of it,” Bickerstaff said. “There’s an Evan who is more involved and just through an increased usage, his impact is going to change. Evan doesn’t have to have a number in order to be great. That’s not a priority for Evan and that doesn’t speak to his impact. He can be your most impactful player with the ball in his hands without scoring a point. Evan is going to play the game the way the game needs to be played.”
That selfless style is rooted in his upbringing. His father and early-career coach, Eric, helped ingrain that psychology into Evan — and big brother Isaiah — at a young age.
“He’s more focused than ever,” added Isaiah, the 49th pick of the 2022 draft who is entering his second season with the Cavs on a two-way contract. “We know and we’re confident that the team is well-rounded this year and he plays a big role in that. He knows that. He’s just trying to fulfill that role. Evan’s trying to make an impact and be a force in this league, with this team, so we come home with some jewelry.”
Evan Mobley's first postseason foray was more than he expected.
Harsh lessons
The playoff crucible can be merciless and unforgiving. Mobley received a savage tutorial about six months ago. Playoffs 101.
“It’s a different game,” he admitted. “Much more physical.”
Inexperience is crippling. Mental mistakes are a no-no. Decisions need to come quicker. Weaknesses are unmasked. The game moves faster, like listening to a podcast on 2x. Failure is almost mandatory.
“I think to have the series go the way it went for all of us, I think it’s only gonna help his trajectory as a player,” said Mitchell, one of the few battle-tested players on this young roster. “Not to say he needed any extra motivation, but I think it’s something that he will continuously use on a day-to-day basis.”
Even though that first taste was bitter — a result Mobley will never forget — and reflection is necessary, Mobley prefers to keep moving forward.
His first objective this offseason was devising a more rigid weight room regimen and adding some bulk to a 215-pound frame while also maintaining his mobility. It’s a complex harmony.
A revamped nutrition plan facilitated by a private chef and the construction of a home gym attached to his recently purchased house in the Los Angeles area helped Mobley gain seven pounds of muscle.
“Your body’s like the temple, and as long as you keep building that up everything else will follow,” Mobley said.
The meal plan is about adding rather than subtracting. He scarfs pasta — mostly bolognese and penne, often rotating what accompanies those favorite dishes. Mobley has also gotten into steaks — only medium well — with a side of asparagus or broccoli and either a potato or rice.
“He’s expanding his palate,” Isaiah said. “He’s always been kind of a picky eater, but he’s taking the steps required to gain that muscle mass and get his body how he wants it.”
Cavs strength and conditioning coach Derek Millender helped design the California gym — roughly the size of a two-car garage, with Cavs colors and personalized logos everywhere. There are dumbbells up to 100 pounds, a standard weight rack, squat rack, kettlebells, pull-up bar, a state-of-the art pulley system and VersaClimber. An Peloton bike, which hasn’t yet arrived, is soon to complete the space. Outside in his turfed backyard, Mobley has a fitness sled.
“Evan Mobley’s 22 years old. We always have to remember that,” Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman said. “But at 22, when you invest in your own personal gym at your home, that’s a big deal. That’s understanding what I have to do to get better physically. When you invest in your own nutrition program at that age, that’s a big sign that I really care about this thing, and I want to get better.
“We don’t know what Evan’s going to look like at 25 years old. All we know is at 22 years old, he’s doing the right things every single day to improve and attack this thing, so we’re excited.”
Under the guidance of three strength coaches, two with the Cavs and another through Wasserman Media Group – the sports agency that has been representing Mobley since he exited college – Mobley’s typical summer day was detailed:
Wake up, eat breakfast, lift for about an hour and then drive to his second offseason home — Academy USA — for an on-court workout that featured shooting, skill work and various other drills. Afterward, Mobley would receive treatment and table work — two key aspects in his recovery. After dinner came a second nighttime shooting session at the University of South California, where Mobley starred for one season and where his father is an assistant coach.
The pursuit never stops.
“Just trying to show my full arsenal this year,” Mobley said matter-of-factly. “I worked on a lot of stuff that is going to help in how we plan to play this year. I’m also feeling a lot stronger. I know I can be one of the star players out here. I’m just coming out here, trying to stay confident, do what I worked on all summer, complete that task and be the best I can be.”
A beautiful mind
The mental side of the game is quite possibly Mobley’s greatest gift. It’s not an accident either. Those who know him best stop short of calling Mobley a loner. Reserved and private are more appropriate. But certain topics help him uncloak.
One is the intricacies of defense.
Mobley was taught the importance of being a two-way player at a young age. He hated getting scored on. Still does.
Other topics of choice are the power of the human mind and the delicate balance between confidence and arrogance.
“I feel like this year I’ve been able to find that middle ground I’m looking for,” Mobley said. “The sky is the limit for players with confidence. I feel like the best way to get better at things is implementing them into your whole lifestyle. Trying to make little changes on what you can do better and actually doing it.
“If you believe in it, if you believe you can do it, then you probably can. If you don’t, then you probably won’t. It all starts with belief. From there, it’s just about working hard at it until you get it and master it.”
Mobley studies the mannerisms of past — and present — luminaries. He listens to how they answer questions, trying to pick up any morsel of information and wanting to learn what makes them tick and how they think.
Aaron Rodgers. Tom Brady. LeBron James. Simone Biles. Michael Jordan.
During his downtime last season, Mobley would watch documentaries and listen to podcasts about each one. He stumbled across a Mike Tyson feature and became enthralled.
“His mindset was insane. I feel like that’s what made him who he was,” Mobley said. “A lot of people in this world that are the best at things often have the craziest mindsets. I feel like you can take bits and pieces from everybody, learn from it and try to incorporate it in your own way.”
For years, the same question has followed Mobley: How much does he want it?
Even the Cavs wondered the same — and they wouldn’t have been the first to interpret his nonchalance as a lack of hunger. Bickerstaff jokes about Mobley’s hushed voice, which is just barely loud enough for teammates to hear coverages being blurted out. But there’s no mistaking Mobley’s internal intensity — even if it’s revealed in an unorthodox way.
Does he need to become ostentatious, blustery and exuberant, like those other sports icons he studies? Does his overall disposition need to change?
“No,” Mobley said without hesitation. “I feel like the best version of yourself is being yourself. I don’t think you should ever change that.”
Tough to quibble with that. It’s already gotten him this far – on the ground level of greatness.
“When he first came into the league, I called him a young Chris Bosh. Now I’m calling him a young (Anthony Davis),” said Tristan Thompson, who spent the late part of last season playing alongside Davis in L.A. “I’m going to hold him to a very high standard and I’m gonna be on him. I’m gonna be on him every day, because I know how great he can be. He’s already good, but I want him to be great.
“In order to be great, I have to push him past his comfort level. That’s what I’m going to do.”
Nothing is inevitable. Basketball is a complicated game that takes years to master — if ever. There are no YouTube tutorials to provide a blueprint.
But the Cavs believe Mobley will eventually become their best player. Even on a talent-rich team, with four of the game’s top 50 players according to ESPN’s ranking system, hanging another championship banner hinges on the prodigious, demure kid with a thirst for knowledge, a ravenous appetite for excellence and keen grasp of his significance to the franchise’s hopes.
“One of the best two-way players,” Mobley responded when asked what he needs to become for the Cavs to be their best. “Being dominant on both sides of the floor.”
Anyone want to doubt him? As Mobley says, failure isn’t a word in his vocabulary.
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If you or a loved one has questions and needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call the Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-589-9966 or the National Council on Program Gambling Helpline (NCPG) at 1-800-522-4700 or visit 1800gambler.net for more information. 21+ and present in Ohio. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
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