CLEVELAND – When Cleveland Cavaliers center/forward Evan Mobley was a child, his mother Nicol Mobley was in a semi tug-of-war with her elementary school-aged son as they hurried through a venue to his basketball tournament.
No matter how important his game was, Evan’s focus shifted to kids participating in the venue’s Rubik’s Cube convention. He was especially mesmerized by how quickly the kids were solving the cube’s puzzle.
“I’m telling him this is cool, but come on, we’re going to your tournament,” Nicol said. “But looking back, and as always with Evan, everything’s a process. I’m not sure how long [it was] after that when he solved his first Rubik’s Cube, but as with everything, Evan’s going to work hard enough and find a way.”
The Cavaliers have the best record (34-5) in the NBA entering a rematch against the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday. For the season, the Cavaliers are first in the NBA in field goal percentage (50.2%), second in points per game (122.3), and third in three-pointers made (16.2) and fewest turnovers per game (13.1).
Much of the reason for the Cavs season so far is the development of the introverted, Rubik’s Cube-solving, music-making Mobley — who is having the best season of his four-year NBA career. The 6-foot-11, 23-year-old is averaging career highs in points per game (19), 3-point percentage (42.9%), and free throws attempted per game (4.2). He was named the league’s Defensive Player of the month for December, helping the Cavs to the No. 1 defensive rating (106.2) in the Eastern Conference and best point differential (plus-15.1) in the NBA in that span.
“I’ve been working toward this, and I knew [playing at this current level] could be a strong possibility in my future for a long time,” Evan Mobley said. “I put in the work each summer to get to this point. But this is just the beginning, and I’ll continue to work. The sky’s the limit.”
Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images
Although Mobley is often library quiet, around the league it’s been hard to muffle his All-Star-worthy play.
“Evan’s very skilled, an outstanding passer and he can put it on the floor and get his shot off the dribble,” a Western Conference scout told Andscape. “His 3-point shot is coming, but right now, there’s no doubt that he can score on all three levels. And he has a nice post game. But one of his biggest attributes is that he has outstanding court vision. He can pass that ball.”
Toronto Raptors guard RJ Barrett received an upfront view of Mobley’s growth during their third consecutive loss to the Cavaliers on Jan. 9.
“The big one is that he’s more confident in shooting the 3, and he’s just been more aggressive overall,” Barrett said. “The Cavs have all been able to play together and that showcases his talent. He’s dominant at blocking shots and changing shots. He’s having a really good year.”
Mobley’s year has been highlighted with the type of ballhandling skills that have given him confidence to dribble between his legs and shoot 3s. Against the Milwaukee Bucks last month at home, he got the rebound, dribbled down court with his left hand and slammed it with his left.
It’s starting to change, but his chill disposition is often mistaken as weakness. Cavaliers guard Darius Garland said many opponents mess around and find out the contrary.
“They’ve tried to punk him in the past, but now he’s mentally and physically stronger, and you can see it by the way he’s going through someone’s body or chest,” Garland said. “He’s no punk.”
For example, Mobley made a winning play last week late in the game in a thriller against the Thunder. Up by three with 1:13 left, Mobley caught the ball at the top of the key, made a move, took four dribbles and bumped Isaiah Hartenstein twice as he scored on a right hook. The Cavs and Thunder, the top two teams in the league, do it again at 7:30 p.m. Thursday on TNT.
Lauren Leigh Bacho/NBAE via Getty Images
So how did Mobley and the Cavaliers get here? There’s a certain development that had to take place, but the change can also be attributed to the playing style incorporated by new Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson.
Under former coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who is now with the Detroit Pistons, Mobley spent time in the corners on offense. That opened space in the middle for guards Donovan Mitchell and Garland to drive to the basket, but Mobley’s multitude of skills wasn’t being used.
In his interview for the coaching job, Atkinson was instructed to come up with his plan for Mobley. He spent hours watching film. As a result, Atkinson, a former assistant under Steve Kerr at Golden State, implemented in a role similar to Draymond Green: get the rebound, bring the ball up court and become an assist man in the half-court offense.
“I didn’t have a good grip on who he was as a player; that’s why during that deep dive, I discovered how good he was and could be,” Atkinson said. “It was a great discovery process.”
It was a rediscovery for Mobley. With the exception of his first three years with the Cavs, he’s been a multidimensional player on each level, from AAU to high school and to his one season at USC. Mobley’s father, Eric, a former assistant coach at USC and now an assistant at SMU, said his son has always had the skill to perform how he is now.
“What you’re watching now is him blossoming,” Eric Mobley said. “He’s getting more mature and getting stronger. He’s got another level that’s still untapped. When you’re dealing with lanky big guys like he is, you have to be patient. They often need time to develop.”
David Liam Kyle/NBAE via Getty Images
The fluidity of the offense gives Evan Mobley the ability to expand boundaries and decipher the opposition. He incorporates many of those principals into his life.
Evan Mobley can take apart a laptop and put it back together. He learned how to play Beethoven on the piano by watching YouTube. He can routinely do back flips (note to the Cavs: not during the season). The once wide-eyed kid rushing to a basketball tournament can now complete a Rubik’s Cube in 60 seconds.
“I like figuring things out,” Evan Mobley said. “I like to learn the ins and outs of things. Your understanding grows when you learn how things work. That translates a lot to basketball when it comes to how pieces move, or how players move. If they move that way, then you do this. It helps me train my brain to process things faster.”
Evan Mobley has recently taken on another endeavor that’s been translatable to basketball: he makes beats on his laptop via FL Studio software, a digital audio workstation.
“You’re building these pieces to all make a whole work of art,” Evan Mobley said. “I love creating new things. Beat making is just like basketball; everything has to work together toward a goal. Make notes here and there and it turns into a whole symphony.”
Just like the tune of the Cavaliers season, so far.