When The Athletic asked 14 players at All-Star weekend who will be the best player in the NBA in five years, Victor Wembanyama earned six votes and no one else received more than one, with a single exception: Evan Mobley. Of course, those two votes for Mobley came from teammate Darius Garland and the Cavaliers big man himself, who replied, “Maybe me or Victor.”
Asked after Thursday’s win over Brooklyn about that claim, Mobley doubled down on it, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (subscriber link).
“I feel like if you don’t believe in yourself, then how are you going to get there? I just have belief in myself,” Mobley said. “I think I have the capability. I have the size, the stature, the skill set. Why not believe in that? … I feel like I have a lot of potential, so that’s my goal. I’m not focused on getting there today. Just every day, take it day by day.”
Garland didn’t back down from his All-Star weekend comments either.
“We’ve got the belief in him. He has belief in himself,” Garland said. “He has the confidence now. He is going to get better with time. In five years I don’t know where he is going to be. Seven-foot unicorn that’s dribbling and dunking behind his head like that, it’s pretty unusual. He has everything. He has all the tools just to be great. He’s just got to go get it.”
Mobley’s performance so far this season has been a good first step toward super-stardom. Entering Friday’s blowout win over the Knicks, he had averaged 18.5 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.6 blocks per game through his first 49 outings, with a .567/.374/.760 shooting line. He put up 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting and was a plus-23 in just 25 minutes of action on Friday.
Mobley has been the defensive anchor for a Cavaliers team that ranks first in the Eastern Conference with a 46-10 record. He was named to his first All-Star team this season and figures to receive serious consideration for end-of-season awards like Defensive Player of the Year, Most Improved Player, All-NBA, and All-Defense.
According to Fedor, Donovan Mitchell said that playing alongside Mobley was a major reason why he chose to sign a multiyear contract extension with the Cavs last offseason. Mitchell was happy to see the 23-year-old express confidence in his ability to become one of the NBA’s best players.
“Hell yeah,” Mitchell said. “If you don’t believe in yourself, who will? I firmly believe that he’ll be a top-five player when he continues to get to his prime. He’s close. He’s got to continue to get better and better. He puts in the work. I think the everyday fan may not see it, but we see it. At the end of the day, he’s going to be up there. I have no doubt.
“I’m glad he said it. I’ve been trying to get him to speak on himself publicly. It’s about damn time he finally says something. Now the biggest thing for him is he’s got to go out there and do every night. I know he wants that.”
Some things are better left unspoken …. Especially prior to even advancing to a Conference final ….. in the Eastern Conference ….
The Cavs will take care of that and more this season. Losing in six to the Thunder should help his claim.
I see nothing wrong with this claim. Before he was drafted, he reminded me of Chris Bosh; i thought he would be a top tier player. He has been great so far. He’s an amazing modern nba big
I can make a case that Evan Mobley isn’t even a top 3 player on his own team. I can’t think of a single game-winner in a meaningful game. Does he even get plays called for him in crucial situations??? Yet he is making his own case for being the best player in the league. NBA is not in a good place right now.
Mobley and Wemby will both be top players. Both could be great players, HOF players. I admire the confidence. But only time will get to decide that. Show respect for the game. Both haven’t won anything ……Great players have real talent. And also learn to win with that talent.
Like freakin Knicks better start showing respect for the game. Getting consistently spanked by Cavs and Celtics. Is not the look you want. Basketball is a team sport starters, bench, coaching. Knicks better wake up and respect the level of talent. Of both Cavs and Celtics. And if you judge by the scores of those games. Knicks are not even close yet. I know Thibs knows. They better find their basketball on Sunday. Tough to take lols.
Mobley can be, if he wants it. Other than AD, he’s as talented as any 4/5 combo that’s entered the league in the past 10-15 years. Unlike AD, he’s generally been healthy. It’s taken a little longer for him to get to All Star level than I thought it would, but the league’s protocols make it a tough environment for big men and he’s been slow to fill out his frame. His ceiling will come into view in the next couple of years.