The Cleveland Cavaliers had a banner season by the franchise’s usual standards in 2024-25 as they secured the best record in the Eastern Conference before losing to the eventual Eastern Conference Champion Indiana Pacers in the second round of the playoffs.
The Cavs became one of the NBA’s most balanced and physically imposing teams throughout the season and the play of center Evan Mobley was a big reason why.
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Mobley averaged a career high 18.5 points last season but doesn’t appear willing to rest on his laurels based on recent workout footage that surfaced on Friday.
Mobley turned heads as he ran “like a gazelle” giving fans something to think about headed toward October’s beginning of NBA action.
May 13, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley (4) warms up before game five between the Cavaliers and the Indiana Pacers of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
“@evanmobley4 moving like a 7 foot gazelle,” the IG page pjfperformance wrote on Friday along with raw video of Mobley’s workout.
“The work is working.”
The post was liked over 59,000 times as of Friday afternoon.
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The page is the official account of Paul Fabritz, a self-described NBA performance specialist, strength and conditioning coach and basketball training coach.
The video showed Mobley chasing a basketball that was thrown by a trainer and then working on his moves with the ball while running down the track.
Mobley Fully Committed to Cavaliers’ Success
Mobley’s workout prowess and offseason fitness level are good signs that the former number three overall pick from 2021 is committed to chasing a championship in Cleveland.
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Mobley signed a five-year rookie max extension in July 2024 that will keep him in Cleveland until 2030 unless a trade or other surprising situation occurs.
The Cavaliers big man has improved his shooting from both the three-point stripe and the free throw line in recent years and has the size and consistency that could allow him to continue to ascend as one of the league’s best big men.
His playoff scoring average dipped down to 17.1 points per game, suggesting that he still has plenty of improvements to make and is likely destined to continue being a second or third scoring option rather than a player who consistently dominates and puts the Cavaliers on his shoulders as a scorer.
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With Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland in the fold, the Cavaliers don’t need Mobley to be the second coming of Hakeem Olajuwon or Shaquille O’Neal.
That being said, Mobley’s focus on conditioning could help him reach previously unseen levels as he continues to make a name for himself as one of the league’s best big men.
Related: Lonzo Ball Facing Potential Change After Cavaliers Announce Unfortunate News
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 29, 2025, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.