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'I want more and more': Cavs see Evan Mobley's All-Star nod as just a start with potential
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- 'I want more and more': Cavs see Evan Mobley's All-Star nod as just a start with potential
CLEVELAND — The announcement came first. Some extra time in the gym immediately followed.
Evan Mobley was named to his first All-Star squad as a reserve alongside Cavaliers teammate Darius Garland last week. They'll join Donovan Mitchell ( in the starting lineup ) and Kenny Atkinson ( coaching the East team ) in San Francisco.
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For Garland, it was effectively an official acknowledgment he had completed the difficult road back to his All-Star self after a disappointing, injury-filled 2023-24 season.
For Mobley , it was a first taste of what it's like to achieve a top-tier personal goal in the NBA. Now he's hungry for seconds.
"I feel like it's just a big goal for anyone that comes into the league, and that was definitely a goal coming into this year, and I was striving every day to beat that goal," Mobley said. "For it to finally be here and finally find out [Thursday] before the game, it was definitely exciting and honestly a little surreal.
"The more I think about it, I want more and more."
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) celebrates after making a 3-pointer against the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 2, 2025, in Cleveland.
Evan Mobley named to 2025 NBA All-Star Game
Ever since the announcement Mobley had earned an All-Star selection, the Cavs have found him in the gym working with a bit more intensity than in the past.
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The reaction was immediate and noticeable. It's almost as if the recognition from the league's coaches — who vote in the All-Star reserves — has opened Mobley's eyes that the potential the Cavs have talked about for years is becoming real.
"Sometimes an incredible accomplishment, you can just kind of rest on your laurels," Atkinson said. "It's funny. I saw him the past two days working harder than he's ever worked on his individual game, just my observation, watching him at the basket. He stayed a half hour longer than everybody yesterday.
"So I think he knows his own potential. He's got an understanding of his talent. My coach in college used to say, 'With talent comes responsibility,' and he gets that. … He's just scratching the surface."
Mobley entered the weekend averaging 18.2 points and 9.1 rebounds while also largely being considered the second-favorite for Defensive Player of the Year behind San Antonio 's Victor Wembanyama .
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In his fourth NBA season , Mobley is now a first-time All-Star. And as Mitchell has said all year, he views the only path for the Cavs' "unicorn" forward as up.
"This is the worst Evan is gonna be," Mitchell said. "This is the standard for him. He was almost the Defensive Player of the Year at, like, 20. This is who he is.
"But who doesn't love shutting haters up, you know what I mean? I think that's kind of special."
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) brings the ball up court against the Houston Rockets on Jan. 25, 2025, in Cleveland.
Evan Mobley's coast-to-coast play reminds Kenny Atkinson of Magic Johnson
Just a couple hours after the announcement was made that he'd be an All-Star Thursday night, the Cavs were battling the Atlanta Hawks , one of the few teams to have success against Cleveland this season. Mobley, at one point, corralled a loose ball near the baseline. He took it 90 feet, weaved between two Hawks defenders and finished at the rim.
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After the game, Atkinson was asked what was going through his mind while watching a 6-foot-11 forward dribble through an opposing defense for 90 feet. Atkinson was quick to make it clear he wasn't directly comparing Mobley to a certain player, nor did he want anyone to run with the comment without important context.
But he did say one name to describe what went through his head watching that one play: "Magic Johnson."
"Because when he shows flashes like that, I'm like, man, he's scratching the surface," Atkinson said.
The Cavs see Mobley as far from a completed player. But the potential has had them talking for years.
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"Then you see some young player [plays], right? He tries to go iso against Larry Nance Jr. , he can't get by him because he's still got to improve his strength, he's still got to improve his patience in iso situations," Atkinson said. "But even the one he turned over in the second quarter, he went behind the back and it's like, 'Holy, he's got that, too?'
"When he makes plays like that, you're like, 'Holy, he's got a lot more in there.'"
Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) and forward Evan Mobley (4) celebrate during the second half against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024, in Cleveland.
Dallas Mavericks look to copy Cavs strategy with two bigs after Luka Doncic , Anthony Davis trade
The Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Lakers shook the basketball world with t he blockbuster trade that primarily swapped Luka Doncic and Anthony Davis, two of the league's top stars. The Cavs then played the Mavs on Sunday and absolutely obliterated them , setting multiple franchise records and pouring in 91 points in the first half alone in a 144-101 victory.
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After Saturday night's deal, Mavs general manager Nico Harrison cited the Cavs as a possible blueprint Dallas can follow with Davis playing alongside Daniel Gafford .
When the Cavs committed such extensive, long-term resources to Mobley and Jarrett Allen , they were zigging in a league that has severely zagged away from the traditional lineup of two bigs on the floor at the same time. The Cavs have not only made it work , but Atkinson directly cited it as a major plus when he interviewed for the job.
Now, Dallas is following in their footsteps.
"Well, what we've been talking about year — defensive versatility," Atkinson said. "I think what Nico's probably referring to — he's been in the playoffs, been to the conference finals — and every series is different, and sometimes you need to play two bigs. … You need all options."
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Mobley's ability to co-exist with Allen is also a major reason why he's headed to San Francisco. For a time, it was seen from the outside as outdated. Now, Mobley and Allen have become something for other teams to try to emulate.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs forward Evan Mobley earns 2024-25 NBA All-Star selection
