The 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year Evan Mobley anchored the Cavs’ defense this season, and he leads the way again as he was named NBA All-Defensive First Team, a significant recognition in the NBA that highlights his exceptional defensive skills, the league announced Thursday.
This past season, Mobley, 23, helped Cleveland finish with a 64-18 record and the top seed in the Eastern Conference for just the fourth time in team history. He appeared in 71 games (all starts) while averaging a career-best 18.5 points on .557 shooting from the field, including .370 from three-point range, 9.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.86 steals and 1.59 obstructions in 30.5 minutes per contest. This is a remarkable achievement for a player who has been consistently improving since his debut in the NBA.
As a four-year pro, Mobley’s unique skills set him apart in the NBA. He was the sole player to amass over 1,000 points, 600 rebounds, 60 steals, and 100 blocks in the regular season. His rankings in various categories further underscore his exceptional performance: fifth in blocks per game, fifth in plus/minus (+546, best in East), fifth in contested shots per game (10.4), 12th in field goal percentage, and 16th in rebounds per game.
In addition to registering 34 multi-block games (fifth-most in the NBA), no other player in the entire league averaged more than 1.50 blocks while committing 2.0 fouls or fewer. Mobley’s efforts propelled the Cavaliers to the NBA’s No. 8 defensive rating (111.8), including the third-best mark in opponent field goal percentage (.454).
The 2024-25 NBA All-Defensive First Team consists of Mobley, Atlanta Hawks wing Dyson Daniels, Oklahoma City Thunder wing Luguentz Dort, Golden State Warriors forward/center Draymond Green, and Houston Rockets forward Amen Thompson.
Jackson Jr. is joined on the 2024-25 NBA All-Defensive Second Team by Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams, Portland Trail Blazers forward Toumani Camara and Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert.
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