What Cavs’ Evan Mobley thinks about his huge incentive to win DPOY

At the end of Cleveland Cavs All-Star Evan Mobley’s DPOY race, the top candidate revealed more than 45 million reasons he’d love to win this year’s Defensive Player of the Year award. Still, after Tuesday’s 135-113 win against the Chicago Bulls, Mobley listed reasons why he’s most deserving of the award, which he says is at the top of the list of reasons he’s a top candidate for DPOY.

Mobley discussed his campaign for this year’s Defensive Player of the Year award, which would come with a $45 million incentive. In a recent interview, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst didn’t hesitate to mention it, per Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective.

“It’d be crazy not to mention this: if you win Defensive Player of the Year or you make All-NBA, which you have a strong case for, it’s like a $45 million bonus. Now, look, I’m not going to sit here and say I’m accusing you of thinking about money all the time, but having said that, $45 million. You’re already guaranteed a beautiful number, but it’s a huge thing,” Windhorst said. “Obviously, Defensive Player of the Year, I mean that carries with you for the rest of your life and everything, but nobody would blame you if you said I think I’d like to get $45 million.

“Have you thought about that at all?” Windhorst asked.

Mobley didn’t hold back in his response.

“It’s definitely been a thought through my head, but the main thing is just getting what you deserve,” Mobley replied. “I feel like I put out a great season so far on both ends, on the All-NBA and Defensive Player of the Year terms. I feel like you should get what you deserve.”

Green is the odds-on favorite to win (-200) DPOY. However, Mobley is next at +245.

Evan Mobley endorses himself for DPOY after Cavs win

David Richard-Imagn Images

After Cavs veteran Tristan Thompson called out Draymond Green’s emergence as having the best odds of winning Defensive Player of the Year, Cavs All-Star Evan Mobley explained what separates him from the pack.

Mobley made his case during his postgame availability, per HoodiGarland’s X, formerly Twitter.

“My biggest thing is a guy my size, my wingspan, my agility; you don’t really see that in the contenders. There’s nobody even close to that,” Mobley said. “And also the stats, as well, speak for itself. The blocks, the fouls, I mean, I don’t foul. Steals, deflections, also, people don’t even go up against me in the paint, so that’s not even a stat.”

Darius Garland: “I can go on podcasts and do the same thing for my boy.”

Evan Mobley: “Guy my size, my wingspan, my agility. You don’t really see that. There’s nobody close to that. People don’t even go up on me in the paint.“

Darius Garland: “TALK YO TALK.” pic.twitter.com/db6SxrSAKj

— ¹⁰ (@HoodiGarland) April 9, 2025

Mobley and Green’s race toward DPOY will come to an end soon.

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