Cleveland Cavaliers star Evan Mobley has the most to prove next season, according to NBA analyst Grant Hughes. The Cavaliers lost their last 5 games, including a 93-130 loss to the New York Knicks on 2026-05-26.
What happened?
Evan Mobley, who has been with the Cavaliers since 2021, had a disappointing effort last season, with his 3-point shooting dropping to 37.0 percent and his free-throw shooting cratering to a career-worst 60.6 percent. Mobley's defense also slipped from his all-world standards. The Cavaliers made the Eastern Conference Finals this year for the first time since 2018, but lost to the New York Knicks in four games, with Mobley being outplayed by Karl-Anthony Towns.
Why it matters for Cleveland Cavaliers
Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report wrote that Mobley is easily one of the best players, but even the league's top talents have questions to answer. Mobley enters the second season of his five-year, 30-percent max contract, and the Cavaliers need him to play like a superstar next season. If he doesn't, the Cavaliers will regret not moving him for Jaylen Brown or Giannis Antetokounmpo, two former Finals MVPs.
What comes next?
The Cavaliers' core remains the same, with James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, Mobley, and Jarrett Allen. They will face LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers in their first game of next season, which will be an electric atmosphere. The Cavaliers need Mobley to bounce back from his disappointing season and lead the team to success. With the Cavaliers having lost their last 5 games, including a 93-130 loss to the New York Knicks on 2026-05-26, they will be looking to turn things around next season.
