CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers spent all season referring to young phenom Evan Mobley as “Rookie of the Year.” Turns out, that label was premature.
Mobley, the third pick in the 2021 NBA Draft who helped transform the Cavaliers into a playoff contender after three years of futility, was edged out by Toronto Raptors swingman Scottie Barnes in the closest vote in nearly two decades. The league announced Barnes as the winner Saturday afternoon, shortly before the Raptors hosted the Philadelphia 76ers in the first-round playoff series.
From a global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters, Barnes received 378 total points, including 48 first-place votes. Mobley finished in second place, compiling 363 points -- and 43 first-place votes. The 15-point difference between first and second marks the closest margin since the current voting format began in 2002-03. Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham -- the No. 1 pick -- finished a distant third with 153 points.
Players were awarded five points for each first-place vote, three points for each second-place vote and one point for each third-place vote.
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Barnes averaged 15.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.7 blocks in 35.4 minutes. He led all rookies in minutes while ranking third in points and rebounds and finishing fifth in assists, steals and blocks. A starter in every game he played, Barnes also topped Mobley in many advanced metrics -- Player Efficiency Rating, Win Shares, Box Plus-Minus, Value over Replacement Player and RAPTOR.
The Cavs were hopeful Mobley would become the third Rookie of the Year recipient in franchise history, joining LeBron James (2003) and Kyrie Irving (2011). But Cleveland’s late-season slide, combined with Toronto’s second-half surge, likely played a role in the outcome. Mobley also missed five of the final seven regular-season games with a sprained ankle.
The ROY favorite for most of the season, Mobley averaged 15.0 points on 50.8% shooting to go with 8.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.7 blocks and 0.8 steals in 33.8 minutes. He was pivotal in the Cavs doubling their season win total -- a 22-game increase, the second-biggest jump in franchise history.
“His impact on winning is the most important thing,” Bickerstaff said when asked to make the case for Mobley in early April. “If that’s what we say we value in this league then to me you can see what he’s done for us when he’s been able to be on the floor in that manner. We should reward guys who play the game with the respect of the game and the bigger picture that the game doesn’t solely revolve around them -- their numbers, shots, points and all those things. Evan has never had that issue. Evan has ever only done what the team has asked him to do -- help contribute to winning.
“We could have given him more plays, more shots and all those things but that would go against who Evan is. His skill set, his numbers, all those things, everybody can see.”
Apparently not enough voters saw it.
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