The Cleveland Cavaliers advanced to the second round of the 2024 NBA Playoffs before being ousted by the eventual champion Boston Celtics, and expectations are now heightened for the Cavs to continue growing and making deeper playoff runs.
NBA legend Kevin Garnett said he believes that one Cavs star needs to take the next step in order for the team to get to the next level.
Garnett said it’s time for Evan Mobley to get mean and improve in various ways.
“Evan, you too nice, my dude, start calling for that mother——!” Garnett said, via All the Smoke Productions.
KG says it’s time for Nice Guy Evan Mobley to get mean ?
The Big Ticket details what adjustments the young star needs to make before the Cleveland Cavaliers level up in the NBA’s Eastern Conference.⁰⁰Catch the latest Ticket & Truth: https://t.co/CuMYJuyWpi pic.twitter.com/ExdDrjmds2
— All the Smoke Productions (@allthesmokeprod) October 2, 2024
Garnett complimented Mobley for having so much skill and being capable of doing so many different things on the court but stressed that he’s the third piece in Cleveland and has to get meaner for the team to get better.
K.G. said Mobley “has to be a presence,” which is a notion many fans would agree with given the fact his numbers have remained almost the same in each of his three seasons in the league.
His efficiency and playmaking have gradually improved since coming into the league, but he took fewer shots last season and there were plenty of times when it was easy to forget he was on the court.
As the No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Mobley came into the league with all the talent in the world and many had reasonable expectations of him being a perennial All-Star.
Garnett is right, and if Mobley can turn into a legitimate star, the Cavs could have a chance at challenging the Celtics, New York Knicks and the other top Eastern Conference teams.
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