Rising USC Projan Evan Mobley secures NBA All-Defensive First Team honor

Already having won the 2024-2025 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, former USC player Evan Mobley has now added an NBA All-Defensive First Team selection to his career accolades on the season.

Only 23 years old and in his fourth year in the league, Mobley has already established himself as one of the premier defenders at the professional level. Playing forward and standing at 6'11", the product out of Troy is a defender who truly can switch one through five.

A lot of analysts will say this about others or claim that others have a similar ability. Most times, however, they are overstating and overexaggerating the defensive abilities of Mobley's NBA counterparts.

Whether it's making life difficult for one of the better all-time scorers in Kevin Durant or helping weak side in the paint, Mobley makes plays on that side of the floor for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Stats don't tell the whole story either, although his 1.6 blocks and 0.8 steals per game are more than commendable. It's also how Mobley uses his basketball IQ to disrupt and get in passing lanes. His presence, hand activity, and proactiveness either end in forcing a turnover directly or a mistake that stalls the opposing offense.

With him on the court, he is often able to single-handedly cause a scoring drought for the other side. For a league that often gets criticized for being too one-dimensional and not willing to put out enough effort, particularly in regard to defense, Mobley is evidence that there are still plenty of players who take pride in that hugely important aspect of the game.

NBA talent traced to USC roots

Out of Rancho Christian School, the former five-star recruit only attended USC for a year. He truthfully did not need to stay any longer. Perhaps as something of a precursor, in college he also won the Defensive Player of the Year award and Pac-12 Player of the Year honor while a Trojan.

It was enough for the Cavs to select Mobley with the 2021 third overall pick. So far, the corps in Cleveland is continuing to grow, and they will look to challenge for a further spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs next year.

This is now the second time that Mobley has earned an NBA All-Defensive First Team recognition, the first one being in 2023.