One man’s Misfortune is another man’s fortune, doesn’t the saying go something like that? Victor Wembanyama was the odds-on favorite to win the Defensive Player of the Year before his season ended early due to blood clotting in his right shoulder. Regardless of stretching expressions to fit an article’s agenda, it is unfortunate that budding star Wembanyama is now out for the season, but it does open the door for Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star big man, Evan Mobley to win his first Defensive Player of the Year award. Today I will explain why Mobley deserves this award much more than the new betting odds favorite, Jarren Jackson Jr.

Mobley Does More With Less

Evan Mobley averages fewer blocks per game (1.6) than Jaren Jackson Jr. (2.3), but the difference is clear between the two. That difference is efficiency. Jackson is a notorious fouler, averaging 3.5 fouls per game, consistently finding himself in foul trouble. Mobley however commits just 2.2 fouls per game allowing for Mobley to stay on the court longer, and be more effective. This correlation between fouls and shots blocked makes sense as an attempted block is an often called foul, showing Mobley is a more well-rounded shot blocker despite having fewer blocks per game. Jackson can be sloppy and commit unnecessary fouls when it comes to attempting to block shots. This is further proven by the fact that Mobley holds opponents to 46.2% shooting at the rim compared to Jackson’s 50.1%. It is much harder to score on Mobley.

Mobley Can Guard all Five Positions

Jackson’s main focus on defense is to be an interior defender, the same cannot be said for Evan Mobley. Mobley is consistently switching on defense, swinging between big men and guards at a much better rate than Jackson, allowing 40.8% on jump shots compared to Jackson’s 44.8%. Then we get to pick-and-roll defense, one of Mobley’s best talents. Mobley Ranks in the 96th percentile in regards to pick-and-roll defense whereas Jackson ranks in the 74th percentile. Evan Mobley is the definition of a Swiss army knife when it comes to defensive play.

True Defensive Impact

The Cleveland Cavaliers are currently top 3 in defensive rating (106.2) as a team, whereas Jaren Jackson Jr’s Grizzles are not even ranked in the top 10. This can be tied to Mobley by looking at defense when Mobley is on and off the court. When Mobley is checked into the game, the Cavaliers’ defense improves by allowing  7.1 points fewer per game, whereas when Jackson is on the court the Grizzles only improve by allowing 3.8 points fewer per game. The Cavaliers are a much better defensive team compared to the Grizzles, and Evan Mobley is a big part of that.

Mobley’s true defensive impact, outside of basic stats like blocks and steals is much greater than Jackson’s, and I am not saying Jackson is a bad defender because he truly is one of the association’s best, Mobley is just better this year. Mobley has come close to winning the Defensive Player of the Year award before, finishing 3rd in the 2023 season when he was just 21 years old. Now, on a much more built frame, with more experience in the league at just 23, it is time for Evan Mobley to secure Defensive Player of the Year, because he is much, much more deserving than Jaren Jackson Jr, and that is a fact.