Evan Mobley: 2023 All Defensive 1st Team

[ice cream man]

I don’t think it’s possible to overrate Mobley other than making some outlandish comment like he’s already a top 50 all-time player. With his impact on the court I’m willing to say he’s our best player today. He’s KG on defense and has unlimited potential on offense. Great bball IQ. Looks like he’s put on a bit of muscle. He doesn’t even look like a real human. Can’t wait to see him play.

 

[red.]

 

[bleedwineandgold03]

Like I said he does look stronger. Dude is going to be a beast

 

[-Akronite-]

The comparisons are usually to guys like Duncan or Garnett, but I am excited to see some more Giannis-like moves from him. That clip of him holding the ball away with one hand while making his move is sick. I hope he uses his long strides to Euro-step to easy buckets more often. He may not have the thunder of the Freak but he has great touch.

 

[Dylan Windler's Mom]

why does every site have Mobley lised at 6'11? isn't he a legit 7 footer/

 

[cavsfever]

The comparisons are usually to guys like Duncan or Garnett, but I am excited to see some more Giannis-like moves from him. That clip of him holding the ball away with one hand while making his move is sick. I hope he uses his long strides to Euro-step to easy buckets more often. He may not have the thunder of the Freak but he has great touch.

Yeah I've been wondering about this. Mobley's age-20 rookie season compares very well statistically to Giannis' age-20 sophomore season (in fact it's clearly superior). But somehow I just don't feel he has Giannis' offensive ceiling. He just doesn't seem to, as you say, have the sheer thunder. WIth that said, I do feel like he has more potential as a three point shooter that needs to be developed.

Maybe I'm just being a pessimist but it also seems like Mobley is closer to his final ceiling somehow? Giannis REALLY improved every single year over his first 5-6 years in the league, from intriguing bench player all the way to MVP-level team leader. Does anyone feel like Mobley can make that kind of giant leap? I feel like Mobley came in more polished as a coach's son with a year of college already. Giannis was coming out of the Greek system and EXTREMELY raw initially. But does Mobley have explosive growth in him? I find it hard to say because he felt to me like an experienced player from day one in the league, so I just don't have a clear intuition.

 

[foucault87]

Yeah I've been wondering about this. Mobley's age-20 rookie season compares very well statistically to Giannis' age-20 sophomore season (in fact it's clearly superior). But somehow I just don't feel he has Giannis' offensive ceiling. He just doesn't seem to, as you say, have the sheer thunder. WIth that said, I do feel like he has more potential as a three point shooter that needs to be developed.

Maybe I'm just being a pessimist but it also seems like Mobley is closer to his final ceiling somehow? Giannis REALLY improved every single year over his first 5-6 years in the league, from intriguing bench player all the way to MVP-level team leader. Does anyone feel like Mobley can make that kind of giant leap? I feel like Mobley came in more polished as a coach's son with a year of college already. Giannis was coming out of the Greek system and EXTREMELY raw initially. But does Mobley have explosive growth in him? I find it hard to say because he felt to me like an experienced player from day one in the league, so I just don't have a clear intuition.

Giannis is like 99th percentile for improvement from where he started. Expecting anyone to develop like that is a mistake. It happens once a generation. Mobley started higher on the curve imo but that doesn't mean their peaks are that far apart

 

[All4One1ForAll]

Giannis is the wrong comparison. Mobley doesn’t have the same explosion off the dribble or the same ball handling ability. Giannis was able to play PG as a 21 year old under Kidd. Mobley is more of a true big and he’s more of a fluid athlete than an explosive one. Garnett is the one that makes the most sense in terms of play style. KG is one of the 10ish greatest players ever, so long way to go before he has that kind of impact, if ever. But he should be the one Mobley’s watching the most film of. The point forward playmaking, the defensive versatility, the awareness off the ball for help D, the mid range jumper, the touch around the rim…

 

[cavsfever]

Great point @All4One1ForAll. Agree very much on Garnett being the right comparison, not Giannis. KG with a three point shot would be an ideal for Mobley.

He still has a lot to learn to get close to Garnett’s impact. Garnett was the ultimate point forward - he never tried to play like a guard or a perimeter player but passed decisively and brilliantly from the forward position. Mobley had a bit of an overdribbling problem last year, he really should not be trying to penetrate with his dribble or play like a guard on offense in any way. As I recall his game Garnett never overdribbled, but used his height to see over the defense and deliver the ball where needed quickly and decisively. Mobley has a lot to learn from Garnett as a passer

On D Garnett took responsibility for the entire team defense and was kind of the quarterback on defense. Mobley might not have quite the personality for that, certainly not for Garnett’s constant yelling etc., but it would be great if he got himself to that point of seeing and taking responsibility for the overall team defense.

 

[foucault87]

One point id like to add on the kg Mobley comp. KG was one of the lowest mistake players in nba history on defense. His anticipation was incredible. Always rotating at the right time and in the right place. As we saw last year, Mobley did a lot of that as well, constantly rotating ahead of the offense and being disruptive. I really like that as a starting point for him to build out his D on

 

[Kizzle]

One point id like to add on the kg Mobley comp. KG was one of the lowest mistake players in nba history on defense. His anticipation was incredible. Always rotating at the right time and in the right place. As we saw last year, Mobley did a lot of that as well, constantly rotating ahead of the offense and being disruptive. I really like that as a starting point for him to build out his D on

Mobley will affect games more than KG and this is coming from someone who knows what prime Garnett was about.

I honestly don’t think there is a good comparison for Mobley. He’s his own guy. When he starts tailoring his offense more towards post scoring or face up then I’ll be able to safely compare him to someone but as of right now he’s still pretty raw


It is extremely satisfying that he’s so good so young though. The ceiling is sky high.

 

[foucault87]

Mobley will affect games more than KG and this is coming from someone who knows what prime Garnett was about.

I honestly don’t think there is a good comparison for Mobley. He’s his own guy. When he starts tailoring his offense more towards post scoring or face up then I’ll be able to safely compare him to someone but as of right now he’s still pretty raw


It is extremely satisfying that he’s so good so young though. The ceiling is sky high.

There is actually one perfect comparison...Paul. Pierce.

 

[CleveRocks]

Found a video of the Mobley brothers practicing with K Durant.

That Durant guy is pretty good...

My take aways.

Mobley and Brobley are both pretty good at finding the cutter for easy buckets.
Mobley can score from anywhere.
Mobley is pretty Good defensively, but can't stop Durant level player consistently ( who can?) Without help.

Brobley is pretty good offensively, has range, can split defenders for the dunk, good passing skills

Brobley is a WIP defensively, hasn't the instincts of his sibling..

Brobley not as smooth an athlete either..

Not sure who all the other guys were, but white leg band guy looked like Caris, and if that's him I am duly impressed. Good effort on defense ( but also could not stop durant). Looked like FVV on Durants side. Dude with the hair on waz also pretty hard to stop..

 

[jjvors]

That Durant guy is pretty good...

My take aways.

Mobley and Brobley are both pretty good at finding the cutter for easy buckets.
Mobley can score from anywhere.
Mobley is pretty Good defensively, but can't stop Durant level player consistently ( who can?) Without help.

Brobley is pretty good offensively, has range, can split defenders for the dunk, good passing skills

Brobley is a WIP defensively, hasn't the instincts of his sibling..

Brobley not as smooth an athlete either..

Not sure who all the other guys were, but white leg band guy looked like Caris, and if that's him I am duly impressed. Good effort on defense ( but also could not stop durant). Looked like FVV on Durants side. Dude with the hair on waz also pretty hard to stop..

How can anyone stop Durant? He's 7 feet tall and has a great jumper. The best approach is to crowd him so he can't take a jumper and force him to drive. He's vulnerable when dribbling and when crowded.

 

[Randolphkeys]

I think Mobley is the only #1 on a championship team from the draft. But Scottie Barnes is 100% a #2 championship type. While Mobley is a Duncan at his ceiling, Barnes reminds me of a different Scottie,....Pippen.

I really love Barnes's game.

RCF had that draft nailed. Just about everyone was excited about Barnes over Cade, Kuminga and Green before the lottery. Once it became clear Houston liked Green's sizzle over Mobley's steak, we all got on board with Mobley as a generational talent.

I still really like Barnes and he is going to be the offensive alpha in Toronto in the next two years. Great player, but Mobley over Barnes 10 times out of 10. Don't look back.