The 3 Cavaliers: Can these CLE players continue to rise while on the road?

No. 3: Evan Mobley

The Cavaliers ended their 2020-21 campaign with a record of (22) wins and (50) losses. On the plus side, they were fortunate in landing the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, and selected Evan Mobley. Cleveland has had nothing but high expectations for their NBA sophomore after being last years’ NBA Rookie of the Year runner-up.

Despite spraining his ankle in early October of 2022, the second year do-it-all-big is averaging the third-most minutes per game on this Cavalier roster. The kid from USC is also ranked third among the team in scoring with an average of (14.2) points per contest this season.

Wednesday marked Mobley’s first game back after sitting out in back-to-back games due to ankle soreness. Shots weren’t falling for the lankier-framed big, going 2-of-9 from the floor averaging (22.2) percent on all field goals made through the ball game. As time was expiring with eight seconds left Donovan Mitchell worked left, penetrated the lane, drew the defense to himself where a smooth sequence of a 6-foot-11 21-year-old working off the ball, effortlessly shot and made what would be the game-winner with four seconds to go.

With about nine-and-a-half minutes to go in the second quarter during the game in Denver on Friday? There was a play ran for Evan on the left block. Cedi set a screen for Mobley in the middle of the paint running his man off of his path at least delaying him so Mobley could go ahead and claim position. It was a clear mismatch in the post and Mobley took his time, backed down the defender, and did a fadeaway jumper to his right side.

You fast forward to the middle of the third quarter where the Cavaliers were down by 11. Evan Mobley blocked Jamal Murray on a three-point shot attempt which lead to a wide-open Mobley fast break dunk on an assist from Garland. The lead was cut down to single digits, in a game that eventually was out of reach where the Nuggets lead by as many as 17 late in the fourth.

He was cool, calm, and collected or at least that’s what he told himself to be after calling game for the first time in his NBA career. Is it sometimes overlooked that Evan Mobley is only five months away from the age of 22 while also dealing with ankle issues at times?

His play will soon speak for itself with all the intangibles. Give him time and watch the kid grow. Patience is a virtue and the once third overall pick will be worth waiting for.