Evan Mobley was a big winner in more ways than one Thursday night.
For starters, the fourth-year forward was named the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year, after taking a significant individual leap this season as part of the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ ascension to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
But, by winning that honor, Mobley — who also is expected to be an All-NBA selection sometime over the next couple of weeks — also ensured that the max rookie contract extension he signed last summer will go up by roughly $45 million over the next five years, turning it into a five-year, $269 million pact.
Mobley, the first Cavalier to win this award, has been focused all season for Cleveland, averaging 18.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.6 blocks for the Cavaliers in helping Cleveland be the wire-to-wire leaders of the East. In addition, Mobley’s impressive array of defensive skills, particularly as a help defender, continued to push forward a Cavaliers team that hopes to return to true championship aspirations for the first time since LeBron James led them to four straight NBA Finals from 2015 to 2018.
