Cleveland Cavaliers forward/center Evan Mobley has been named the recipient of the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy as the 2024-25 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year, the league announced on Thursday night.

After a Game 1 performance that barely left a fingerprint on the Cleveland Cavaliers’ playoff win over the Miami Heat, Evan Mobley could’ve shrugged, chalked it up to circumstance, and faded into the background.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are taking control of their series in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat.

The Cleveland Cavaliers survived a late scare from the Miami Heat in Game 2 of their first-round series, pulling away in the end with a 121-112 win after the Heat stormed back to begin the fourth quarter.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have emerged as one of the best teams in the association, thanks in large part to how new head coach Kenny Atkinson unlocked their offense and made it the deadliest in the association.

Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Miami Heat was supposed to be a showcase of Cleveland’s depth.

Before opening the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat, you might’ve had to scroll far down the Cleveland Cavaliers’ depth chart to find Sam Merrill’s name.