Evan Mobley takes on NBA’s unicorns, proving himself among the elite

CLEVELAND, Ohio - A “unicorn”♑ is a way of saying something is unusual, rare, or unique.

The cliche has been thrown around an abundance in the NBA, especially a🍸fter the term was turned into✤ a group of high school phenoms coined “Unicorn Fam,” a rendition of “Jelly Fam” or “Jam Fam.”

Although his quiet personality never required him to join a group to gain social media notoriety, the Cavs’ Evan Mobley more than fits the bill for a rare-breed player. He was ESPN’s No. 3 overall ranked player in the 2020 recruiting class. Jalen Suggs, who is a part of Unicorn Fam and the Orlando Magic, was ESPN’s No. 6-ranked player in the same year’s recruiting class. Unicorn Fam’s creator, Jalen Green of the Houston Rockets, was the No. 1-ranked player in that clasꦉs.

But the Cavs halted the second-ranked combo guard in the class of 2020 and the rest of the Magic squad in a 106-94 Game 7 win on Sunday.

Moble꧑y has never cared about standing out or being flashy, as indicated by his demeanor on the court that calls for a hardy one-time hand clap to celebrate a stellar defensive possession. But he’s been called a unicorn since he entered the NBA.

After last year’s playoffs that seemed to move too fast and be too physical for the skinny 7-footer, Mobley faced the ultimate test and opportun𒈔ity for redemption in this year’s p💟layoffs.

Frontcourt running mate Jarrett Allen suffered a rib contusion in G𝓀ame 4 that kept him out for the last three games♔ of the series against the Magic. Mobley, who is generally the team’s power forward, was tasked with sliding to the center position against a physical, burley Magic team that focused their game in the paint with the option of having four different players 6-foot-10 or above on the court at all times.

Mobley, for a majority of the series, was lined up with Paolo Banchero, an All-Star, who proved himself as a growing weapon in this year’s playoffs but not against Mobley. Banchero was 16 of 50 from the field and 4 of 13 from 3-point range, along with nine turnovers in his matchup minutes against Mobley. Wendell Carter Jr., when Mobley had to switch ♏over to him, especially with Allen missing the final three games of the series, Carter scored a grand total of 18 points against Evan 🐈Mobley on 8 of 23 from the field and 2 of 9 from 3-point range.

The 22-year-old has high standards for himself, and there were timeꦐs when he was seen to get frustrated with himsel﷽f during Game 7, whether it was a missed opportunity on offense -- he was 5 of 8 from the floor -- or a rare defensive miscue.

“That’s the 🍰playoffs. It’s definitely harder, more high intensity,” Mobley said. “J.A. was out as well, so it was just meꦿ out there just trying to hold down the paint for our team, and I was just out there trying to do the best I can.”

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Not to mention, Mobleyౠ rolled his ankle in Game 6.

But there weren’t any excuses or complaints about the daunting task or any questions about whether he’d play through the injury.🍒 Mobley has endured two injuries that have kept him out for extended periods this season. In December, he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery. In 🌄March, Mobley suffered a left ankle injury that had him out for multiple games. Each time, Mobley returned earlier than expected. Each time, Mobley returned with a newfound purpose or drive to continue to excel in the Cavs’ lineup.

Game 7 was no different.

Mobley grabbed a playoff carಌeer-high 16 rebounds and had five blocks for the second consecutive game while tallying 11 points. He is the first Ca🧔vs player in franchise history to block five or more shots in two straight playoff games.

“He is elite on that end of the floor,” Cavs coach J.B. Bickerstaff said of Mobley’s defense. “It’s not just the shot blocks. They don’t track how many times people didn’t go in the𓆏re because they saw him standing there. But one of the things that’s unique about Evan and special about Evan is, it’s the Bill Russell effect. When he blocks shots, he doesn’t just block ‘em o꧂ut of bounds. He blocks ‘em, and a lot of times, we come back and get possession on his blocks.

“That’s special. And it’s understanding of how important possessions are and how thoꦐse blocks can start our breaks for us.”

The final offensive possession for the Magic epitomized Mobley’s defensive dominance. Blocked shot, deterred shot, forced turnover. All caused simply because of Mobley’s presence in the paint with less than a minute left in a game that was already decided. Mobley 🌊didn’t care. He wasn’t giving an inch.

Through the first round in the playoffs this postseason, Mobley has 102 contest♏ed shots. The next closest is Brooke Lopez at 🔜66. Isaiah Hartenstein and Joel Embiid have 65. And then, in terms of loose balls recovered, Josh Hart has 13 and Mobley has 12.

Mobley is also the first in Cavs history to record 11 or more points, 16 or more rebounds, and five⛄ or more blocks in a playoff game. The Cavs outscored the Magic 17-11 on the fast break.

With the quick turnaround and Game 1 against Boston on Tuesday, theꦕre is no certainty of the timeline for Allen’s return, but the Cavs can have confidence that Mobley is growing as a force on the interior all on his own.

As the spotlight shines brighter, the Celtics pose a new challenge for the Cavs. Although Mobley doesn’t care about the nicknames he’s received, he may have the chance to cut another hornꦗ of a “basketball unicorn” — Boston’s Kristaps Porzingis — in his way of advancing past the Eastern Conference Semifinals.