Cleveland Cavaliers coach JB Bickerstaff once showed young photos of Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo to Evan Mobley at a team practice, according to ESPN. It was more motivation.
“If you do those things, that’s the difference you can make and the impact it has on your game,” Bickerstaff said, recalling his conversation with Mobley. “It was like a window into the future for him.”
The Cavaliers have the eighth-best odds to win the championship in 2023, according to a few NBA betting sites. Some sportsbooks show better odds for the Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets and Bucks.
Evan Mobley vs. Jarrett Allen in the last 4 games
20 PTS 13 REB 2-2 3PT
18 PTS 15 REB 2 BLK
16 PTS 8 REB 3 AST
19 PTS 13 REB 2 BLK pic.twitter.com/CDSepDPZwS— CavsMuse (@CavaliersMuse) December 3, 2022
Mobley was selected third overall by the Cavaliers in the 2021 NBA draft. He was a highly regarded prospect from USC. As a rookie, in 69 starts during the 2021-22 season, the seven-foot forward averaged 15 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.7 blocks.
At the end of his NBA rookie season, he finished sixth in blocks (115), sixth in blocks, 11th in defensive win shares (3.7) and 19th in defensive rating (107.3). He was then selected to the NBA All-Rookie first team.
Cavaliers coach JB Bickerstaff believes Evan Mobley could be a future All-Star or Defensive Player of the Year award.
In 24 starts this season, Mobley is averaging 15 points, 9.2 boards, 2.4 assists and 1.5 blocks. Additionally, he is shooting a career-high 56.4 percent from the field. And in the future, he recorded nine double-doubles.
“[Mobley] “He has a lot of respect for the players who are good at this game and is competitive enough to want to be better than them,” Bickerstaff added.
But he respects their journey and how they got there and isn’t afraid to take things from them. He takes great pride in being himself.
“He doesn’t want to be the next Giannis or the next Who, he wants to be Evan Mobley. But he is willing to look at people’s commitment and match and exceed their commitments to be the best he can be.
Coach Bickerstaff says Evan Mobley has the potential to be a top three-point scorer 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/OlFDqzkTKd
— Cavaliers Nation (@WeAreCavsNation) September 30, 2022
In September, Bickerstaff noticed Mobley’s improvements during team practices. “We’re in the conversation for defensive end of the year,” the Cavaliers coach said. He is the type of player we know he can be.
In the year On November 7, in Cleveland’s 119-117 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, the forward scored a game-high 26 points in 34 minutes. He finished 12 of 18 (66.7%) shooting from the field. Not to mention, he racked up eight rebounds.
His other notable outing this season came on November 18th when the Cavaliers beat the Charlotte Hornets 132-122 at home. Mobley had 21 points, 18 boards, five assists, one steal and two blocks in 46 minutes of action.
