Evan Mobley Wins 2024-25 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Over Dyson Daniels, Draymond

Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Evan Mobley was named the NBA's top defensive player for the first time Thursday, taking home the 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year Award.

Mobley beat out fellow finalists Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green to win the award.

In his fourth NBA season, the 23-year-old Mobley enjoyed a career year offensively with 18.5 points and 3.2 assists per game, but he also excelled defensively, putting up 9.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per contest over 71 appearances.

Mobley has been considered a defensive stalwart throughout his career, as he finished third in the DPOY voting during his second NBA season in 2022-23, and was named an NBA All-Defensive first-team selection that year as well.

While Mobley's counting stats this season were not as dominant as some of the past Defensive Player of the Year winners, his triumph was a recognition of the Cavs' overall team success in many ways.

At 64-18, the Cavaliers had the second-best record in the NBA this season. They also delivered some impressive defensive metrics as a team, holding opponents to 45.4 percent shooting, which ranked third in the league.

Mobley's win was a case of the best defensive player on the best team in the NBA getting their due, and it also had something to do with a top contender falling out of the race.

After finishing second in DPOY voting as a rookie in 2023-24, San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama was the odds-on favorite to win the award this season after a dominant first half.

However, the Spurs announced in February that they were shutting Wemby down for the remainder of the season due to deep vein thrombosis, which opened the door for Mobley and others to emerge.

Wembanyama figures to be right back in the mix next season, but he will have to beat out the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in Mobley.