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Evan Mobley deserves the Defensive Player of the Year Award

By Chad Porto

MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 08: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives against Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat during the first quarter of the game at Miami-Dade Arena on March 08, 2023 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - MARCH 08: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives against Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat during the first quarter of the game at Miami-Dade Arena on March 08, 2023 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images) /
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The Cleveland Cavaliers have taken a massive leap this year thanks to Evan Mobley.

The Cleveland Cavaliers took a major jump in 2023, and not just because of the arrival of Donovan Mitchell to the squad. While Mitchell brought near-MVP caliber play to the team, the real reason the Cavs have gotten better has been due to Evan Mobley.

Right now most sports betting outlets have Memphis Grizzlies forward, Jaren Jackson Jr. as the front-runner for the award, while Mobley is coming in fifth. Brook Lopez and Giannis Antetokounmpo are also trending as contenders.

Mobley, however, is one of the top guys on the NBA’s best defense. The Cavs are first in fewest points given up, but they’re also No. 1 in NBA.com’s defensive rating and Team Ranking’s defensive efficiency.

Mobley is No. 1 on the Cavs in the defensive box plus-minus, of players with 1,500 minutes this season or more. Considering that Jarren Jackson Jr. is older, has been in the league longer, and has played 940 fewer minutes (nearly 24 fewer games), it’s obvious that Mobley deserves the award.

Mobley has made a longer impact on the Cavs than Jackson has on the Grizzlies. Though, both men have played very fine this season.

Jarrett Allen’s in the conversation too

You can’t dismiss Jarrett Allen’s contributions to the team. His play has been impactful this season and the Cleveland Cavaliers are lucky to have both Allen and Mobley in the low post. Allen’s play this year has been overshadowed by Mobley’s rise, but it shouldn’t diminish how good Allen is at defense as well.

Mobley’s abilities to succeed defensively are in part due to Allen’s consistency in keeping the paint clean. Something that Jackson knows all too well, playing next to fellow strong-center, and defensive dynamo Steven Adams.

Allen’s play has been just as big of a contributor to the Cavs’ success as Mobley’s in all honesty, it’s just that Mobley’s play jumped considerably between this year and last, making Allen’s season less noteworthy.

But noteworthy doesn’t mean quality. Allen is a Top 10 defender in the NBA and has been for some time. Mobley’s ascension isn’t a statement on who’s better, just who is fresher in the NBA voting sphere.

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