Evan Mobley

Upon taking the job of leading the NBA’s hottest team, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ new head coach, it’s said, was encouraged to entertain one question during 70 percent of the job interview: “What is the plan for using Evan Mobley?” Over a one-of-a-kind three-minute span in the second quarter, the Milwaukee Bucks drew the misfortune of seeing the overwhelming majority of what that plan entailed on November 4, 2024. Beginning one of his career’s most dazzling stretches, first by rotating over to send Delon Wright’s layup careening off the glass, Mobley tracks the swat down before transforming into a 6-foot-11 point guard. Equal parts unreal and unstoppable in his blend of control and speed, the fourth-year blurs past Gary Trent Jr. on the opposite end, powering into a coast-to-coast jam. Mobley’s breathtaking two-way sequence arrived in the middle of a four-minute stretch that featured a personal 10-0 run, ultimately pushing the Cavaliers to a double-digit advantage. Perfectly complementing the play of his heroic, All-Star teammates thereafter, Mobley’s final tally included 17 points, five rebounds, three assists, three blocks, and one 3-pointer.