Cleveland Cavaliers forward-center Evan Mobley is the recipient of the Hakeem Olajuwon Trophy as the 2024-25 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year. A four-year NBA veteran, Mobley has been named the Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year for the first time. The 7-footer is the first player to earn the honor with the Cavaliers.

Cleveland Cavaliers big man Evan Mobley, one of the best shot-blockers in the league, was named the 2024-25 NBA Defensive Player of the Year on Thursday. Mobley ranked sixth in the NBA with a career-best 1.

Evan Mobley is the first NBA Defensive Player of the Year award winner in Cavs history. The USC alum grabbed an award that legends like LeBron James, Brad Daugherty, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cliff Robinson, Larry Nance, Hot Rod Williams, and others could not secure during their runs with the team.