**Cavs Sign Evan Mobley to Maximum Rookie Contract Extension**
**CLEVELAND, Ohio —** The Cleveland Cavaliers have officially signed Evan Mobley to a multi-year contract extension, as announced by Koby Altman, the president of basketball operations, on Monday afternoon.
Sources informed cleveland.com on Saturday night that Mobley and the Cavs agreed to a five-year, $224 million maximum rookie contract extension, which could reach up to $269 million with incentives. Prior to this extension, Mobley was under contract through the 2024-25 season.
Drafted third overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, the Cavs saw Mobley as a potential franchise cornerstone capable of leading them to their second championship. The max contract extension solidifies this belief.
“We are thrilled to sign Evan to a long-term extension, solidifying his place as a cornerstone of our franchise,” said Altman. “Evan has quickly established himself as one of the premier defensive players in the league, and we’ve only scratched the surface of his overall potential. Since drafting him, he only knows winning basketball and has proven to be pivotal to our team’s success. His exceptional work ethic, versatility, and commitment to excellence both on and off the court truly embody what it means to be a Cleveland Cavalier. We believe Evan’s best basketball is still ahead of him, and we couldn’t be more excited to continue building something special together for many years to come.”
Despite undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery this past season, Mobley returned ahead of schedule. He achieved career highs in field goal percentage (.580, 11th-best in the NBA), three-point percentage (.373), free throw percentage (.719), rebounds (9.4), and assists (3.2), while averaging 15.7 points per game over 50 games.
Cleveland’s goals extend beyond the regular season, bolstered by their recent extension of Donovan Mitchell. Mobley’s playoff experience has been valuable, growing substantially from his first appearance in the 2022-23 season. His 2.17 blocks per game during the 2024 playoffs were the highest by any Cavalier in a single playoff since 1992 (Larry Nance, 2.71). He also set a franchise record for most blocks in a single playoff series with 21 against the Orlando Magic.
Known as a defensive standout since entering the league — earning NBA All-Defensive First Team honors and being a Defensive Player of the Year finalist in 2022-23 — Mobley showcased his offensive potential in the final game of the Cavs’ season against the Boston Celtics. On May 15, in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Mobley became the third-youngest Cavalier to score 30 or more points in a postseason game, tallying 33 points, seven rebounds, four assists, one steal, and two blocks in a 113-98 loss.
Mobley’s extension rewards his defensive prowess and brings expectations for consistent offensive improvement. The Cavaliers believe Mobley is key to their aspirations of reaching the NBA Finals again and have backed this belief with a significant financial commitment.
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