From Glen Davis and Marcus Smart to Issac Bonga and Talen Horton-Tucker, Rajon Rondo has played with plenty of talented rookies over his 15-year career.
Evan Mobley, however, may be cut above the rest. In a statement to Cavs reporter Serena Winters, Rondo delivered some heavy praise to the USC product, calling him the most talented rookie he has ever played with.
“He might be the most talented rookie I’ve every played with, being able to control so many things on the court, even without scoring the basketball.”
Mobley was drafted 3rd overall in the 2021 Draft to a Cavs team still very much down on their luck. Since the departure of LeBron James, the franchise has been stuck in a perpetual loop of dysfunction and mediocrity.
As a talented young forward with star potential, Mobley is starting to change things in Cleveland, to the point where even opposing coaches are wishing for the chance to work with him.
“Tristan Thompson. John Henson. Ante Zizic. Andre Drummond. Larry Nance Jr. None of them were it. Not long term anyway,” wrote Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. “Allen and Mobley look the part. Especially Mobley, the rookie who plays beyond his years and has aroused hope for the franchise. A source said multiple coaches have recently expressed jealousy to Bickerstaff that he gets to coach the Rookie of the Year frontrunner.”
Already, Mobley has emerged as the face of the Cavs franchise and the key to unlocking their future potential. This season, he’s averaging 15 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game on 50.8% shooting.
More impressively is Cleveland’s 3rd place standing in the East. With a 30-19 record so far, they lead the Bucks, Nets, and Sixers in the standings.
No matter how the season ends for the Cavs, they have a lot to be excited about. If Mobley continues his current trajectory, they could become a legitimate title contender in no time at all.
