“Who is going to break out this year?”
“Which young player is going to make the biggest jump?”
“Who will make their first All-Star game?”
These questions run rampant on NBA social media during the offseason. Everyone wants to predict who will be the next player to make an unexpected jump, or to take the step from being a good player to being a star. It hasn’t taken long for some of those breakout players to show themselves in the newly commenced 2024-25 season, and some guys are turning into bonafide all-league talents right before our eyes. Let’s talk about two of them.
Evan Mobley
Evan Mobley was a special prospect. His draft night comparisons were (rightfully) lofty, and his rookie season proved to be grounds worthy of calling him the next Kevin Garnett or Anthony Davis. The USC product was a Defensive Player of the Year finalist by his second year in the league. Heading into 2024-25, though, his growth hit a sort of plateau. His output, statistically at least, was very similar throughout his first three NBA campaigns. Nothing wrong with consistency, but people wanted to see more.
We are now seeing more.
Through the first week of the new season, Evan Mobley has been one of the most impressive players relative to his status. He’s playing with heightened confidence and making a star-level impact in multiple ways. Jarrett Allen is still very good and highly underrated, but it’s safe to say Evan Mobley is on the brink of becoming the second best player on this Cavs team.
What’s different about the way Mobley is hooping? His improvement has been the most obvious and significant on offense. New head coach Kenny Atkinson has empowered him more than J.B. Bickerstaff ever did. The big fella is playing a more outside-in based style of ball and it’s making him into an incredibly dynamic weapon. He’s letting the three-ball fly more willingly than ever, even hitting pullups. If he can become a respected threat from outside, his game and Cleveland’s offense will become much more dangerous.
More importantly than the shooting, though, Mobley has looked unafraid and aggressive in putting the ball on the floor and getting to the rack. We’re seeing him take the ball coast-to-coast and euro step into scoop layups. Even in the age of hypertalented bigs, that is not normal for a guy of his size. The young star has been barreling into the chest of defenders and shedding off contact like it’s nothing. As a result, he’s getting to the free throw line more often than before.
Mobley’s creation burden has been higher than ever so far— he’s getting unassisted buckets at a career-best rate. He’s also making plays for others, sucking in help defense with his aforementioned driving chops and opening up teammates. This level of skill has always been there, at least in theory— there’s a reason why he garnered the comparisons that he did coming out of college. Now, it’s finally coming to light on a night-to-night basis.
Of course, you can’t talk about Evan Mobley without mentioning his defense. He might be the way-too-early favorite for DPOY, as the Cavaliers have been excellent as a team on that end and he is the key cog of their defensive gameplan. Mobley has almost no holes in his stopping skillset. He can switch onto anybody and shut down drives. He can be the primary rim protector as a center. He’s one of basketball’s best helpside shot-blockers. No matter how he plays offensively, he’ll always be an elite player because of how good he is on D, and that fact is nothing new.
Overall, we are witnessing the jump from Mobley that we’ve been waiting for. If he keeps this up, it will be huge for Cleveland’s status and future as a team.
Chet Holmgren
Woo-wee. Goodness gracious. OMG. WTF?!?
All of these are appropriate reactions to how Chet Holmgren has played to start this season. The guy has looked, conservatively, freaking incredible. The Thunder have been running through their competition and Holmgren has been arguably the main catalyst to that success. He dominated three-time MVP Nikola Jokic on opening night and hasn’t let up since. If you’re looking to make a bet on who will make their first All-Star game this season, put the house on Chet.
His offensive bag is freakish in a way that can only be out-freaked by Kevin Durant or Victor Wembanyama. He’s skinny as heck but it doesn’t even matter because he has the power and bravado to put defenders into the rim when he drives. His handle is so silky for a seven-footer and he has no problem creating buckets for himself. He’s scoring like a superstar and the scariest part is that his three-ball hasn’t even started falling yet.
Holmgren’s roll man prowess and P&R chemistry with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander are off the charts. If he catches the ball around the free throw line, it’s over for the defense. He’s either effortlessly draining a middie or viciously throwing down a driving dunk. Shoutout Jalen Williams, but the Minnesotan and the Canadian are OKC’s true duo of the future, and to see them playing so well in actions together is thrilling for lovers of ball and terrifying for opposing teams hoping to win a championship in the next decade.
Holmgren was an all-world defender as a rookie and things have been no different in year two. He’s a tyrannical warden protecting the rim— he doesn’t let anyone score points in his paint. His timing for blocking shots is impeccable. He eats up so much space inside with his length and stature. Best of all, he takes pride in getting stops and wears his emotions on his sleeve.
Chet Holmgren spent his rookie year in the shadow of Victor Wembanyama, but right now he looks on par with his extraterrestrial peer. His play has been sensational and he’s sending the message that he’s going nowhere. Holmgren will be a commanding force in the West for years to come.
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