As he prepares for another season in charge of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Kenny Atkinson singled out a player on the roster as a future MVP candidate. Surprisingly, he wasn’t referring to Donovan Mitchell.
In a recent interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio, Atkinson spoke specifically about Evan Mobley and praised the progress the young forward made last season. “Evan had to stretch out his game a little. He’s no Eddie Johnson, but he’s getting there,” the coach began.
Breaking down aspects of Mobley’s evolving skill set, Atkinson added: “He shot 38 percent from three. You saw him in different ways, even shooting some off-the-dribble threes, and he can spread the floor.”
The forward clearly had his best NBA season yet. Mobley was a key piece for the Cavaliers and posted career highs in several categories, including points per game (18.5) and assists (3.2). His performance earned him his first All-Star selection, as well as the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award.
Evan Mobley #4 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts during a game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center.
While Atkinson acknowledged Mobley’s strong numbers, he made it clear that the 23-year-old still has room to grow. “I think he’s gotta get stronger, right? But he’s 23. Everybody wants it now, but it’s gonna take some time.”
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If he continues developing at this rate, Mobley could soon join the league’s elite. Atkinson made that prediction without hesitation: “Wait till this guy is 26 years old. I don’t wanna oversell it, but he’s gonna be an MVP candidate. I don’t see a world where that doesn’t happen.”
During the 2024–25 regular season, the Cleveland Cavaliers were the top team in the Eastern Conference, finishing with an impressive 64–18 record. While they ultimately fell short in the playoffs—eliminated in the semifinals by the Indiana Pacers—their regular-season dominance highlighted the team’s long-term potential.
Mobley was a major contributor to Cleveland’s success, as Atkinson emphasized. But he wasn’t the only standout. Point guard Darius Garland also earned an All-Star nod thanks to his strong regular-season play, while Donovan Mitchell remained the team’s top star.
The 28-year-old shooting guard led Cleveland in scoring, averaging 24.0 points per game, along with 5.0 assists and 4.5 rebounds. His efforts earned him a fifth-place finish in MVP voting behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Jayson Tatum.
If Kenny Atkinson’s bold prediction comes true and Evan Mobley reaches true superstar status in the coming years, his rise—combined with Mitchell’s elite production—could firmly establish the Cavaliers as contenders in the Eastern Conference for years to come.
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