Cleveland Cavaliers are well-represented at NBA All-Star Weekend, which is fitting because Cleveland is serving a..."/> Cleveland Cavaliers are well-represented at NBA All-Star Weekend, which is fitting because Cleveland is serving a..."/>
King James Gospel
Fansided

NBA All-Star: Grades for Cavs in Rising Stars Challenge

By Josh Cornelissen

CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 18: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Isaac Okoro #35 of the Cleveland Cavaliers pose for a photo with their medals after winning the 2022 Clorox Rising Stars at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 18, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - FEBRUARY 18: Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Isaac Okoro #35 of the Cleveland Cavaliers pose for a photo with their medals after winning the 2022 Clorox Rising Stars at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 18, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 3
Next
Cavs
CLEVELAND, OHIO – FEBRUARY 18: LaMelo Ball #2 of the Charlotte Hornets tries to defend Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliersduring the 2022 Clorox Rising Stars at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on February 18, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

Evan Mobley

If Okoro was merely ok, Evan Mobley was awesome. With his face plastered all over the marketing for the event and All-Star Weekend itself, not only as the Rookie of the Year front-runner but as the hometown kid, Mobley did not disappoint in his play in either game of the Rising Stars Challenge.

In the semifinal win he was incredibly active, tying Cunningham for a game-high 13 points to go along with eight rebounds. You could tell Cunningham was excited about working with a real lob threat in pick-and-roll (he has pick-and-pop bigs with him in Detroit, or ground-based Isaiah Stewart) and he sought Mobley out as often as he could. It was also evident that Cade doesn’t yet have the lob timing down in the way Darius Garland does.

The two-man game with Mobley and Cunningham was working so well that Team Payton shifted to shut it down, opening up opportunities for cuts behind them. The Team Barry offense was humming, and the No. 1 and No. 3 picks in last summer’s draft were unstoppable.

In between the two rounds was the “Clutch Challenge” where two-man teams alternated shots to hit from five different spots, each the location of an iconic postseason shot (although thankfully not “The Shot”). Mobley and his teammate Josh Giddey hit their first four shots on the first try, and eventually Mobley banked in the logo shot. They were beat out by another team, but Mobley’s versatility in hitting from outside was on display.

It was more of the same in the Final when Mobley again led his squad in points (three-way tie at five) and rebounds, and his 11 total rebounds led the entire competition. His most impressive moment was a sidestep 3-pointer that looked like something Stephen Curry would unleash on his enemies; it was sublime seeing it from the seven-foot Mobley.

dark. Next. Which Cavs players made the most career All-Star games?

In the end Mobley would have been a deserving choice for MVP, but his teammate Cunningham was equally worthy. The hometown crowd chanted for Mobley, showing their support for the league’s best rookie and one of its true Rising Stars.

Grade: A+