1.
Evan Mobley,
Cleveland Cavaliers
Here’s the thing: So far, the top six names on this list have all been very, very good. The rookie class was strong this year. And at the end of the day, it doesn’t even come close to who should be at the top. Evan Mobley is by far the best choice right now if you value defense in any way.
He is the best rookie defender the NBA has seen in recent years. Everything he does with it is absolutely sublime. Covering a vast amount of ground, his presence has completely transformed the Cavaliers defensively. The team currently ranks 10th in the NBA in defensive rating, not just because of him, but he plays the biggest role. His mobility on the perimeter is the only reason the Cavaliers can play huge setups with three big ones working. Mobley contests the second most shots per game in the NBA behind Spurs center Jakob Poeltl, with opponents shooting just 43.8 percent. He fights eight shots around the basket per game, and opponents shoot 8 percent worse than expected on those shots. He fights seven shots per game outside of 15 feet, which is a big number for a 7-footer that teams don’t really try to attack on a regular basis.