NBA: 5 big overreactions at the first quarter mark of the season
By Kyle McKee
NBA overreactions: Evan Mobley is the second coming of Anthony Davis
Not only has Evan Mobley been the best rookie this season, he’s the best rookie since Luka Doncic. The 20-year old has serious superstar potential.
If you’ve watched the Cleveland Cavaliers at all this season, you’ve noticed how much they have improved on the defensive end of the floor. A big reason for that is due to the presence of Mobley.
The former USC Trojans’ athleticism, versatility, footwork, and shot-blocking abilities make him the perfect big man in the modern NBA.
He has the ability to guard every position, one through five. That’s said about a lot of players, but not many of them can do it at the level Mobley can.
Not only can he defend smaller wings out on the perimeter but he’s proven to be quite the rim protector as well. Mobley currently is averaging 1.9 blocks per game, good for ninth in the NBA.
And to think that this guy is just a rookie? Just imagine how good he’ll be in his mid-20’s with more experience under his belt.
On the offensive end, he still has plenty of room for development, but, man, he has really shown flashes of BIG TIME potential.
One such game was against the New York Knicks.
In his first game at Madison Square Garden aka “The World’s Most Famous Arena,” Mobley finished with 26 points on 11-15 shooting, nine rebounds, five assists, one steal, one block, and a plus/minus of +26. Mobley also anchored Cleveland’s defense by playing atop the Cavs 3-2 zone. The rookie just tore up a talented Knicks team all night long, on both ends of the floor.
The terms “rare,” “special,” and “once in a generation” get tossed around way too often but in the case of Evan Mobley, those are all fitting descriptions of the former USC Trojan.
His incredible defensive instincts and ability to erase defensive mistakes, his advanced footwork and basketball IQ, his guard-like ball-handling skills, his ability to space the floor, and aptitude for not fouling when contesting shots at the rim, all combine to make Mobley a future star in this league.
There’s a reason people are dubbing him “baby Anthony Davis.” In fact, Mobley will end up being a better player than Anthony Davis ever was. Overreaction? Most definitely, but that’s the point of the piece.