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The Cleveland Cavaliers may have exited the postseason earlier than hoped, but they didn’t walk away from the year empty-handed. Sure, it still stings to watch the Eastern Conference Finals from their couch. However, the Cavs might have gained something just as valuable as playoff wins with the latest round of NBA awards: Undeniable validation of their core.
For the first time in nearly a decade, Cleveland placed two players on the All-NBA teams, a milestone that speaks volumes about the organization’s trajectory. LeBron James and Kyrie Irving were the last Cavs teammates to pull off the feat, and now Cleveland has another dynamic duo to hang its hat on.
Donovan Mitchell landed on the All-NBA First Team, the pinnacle of personal achievement in the regular season, and Evan Mobley, meanwhile, followed with a Second Team selection, a rare feat for a player in just his fourth year, and joins his All-Defensive and Defensive Player of the Year honors.
This kind of recognition doesn’t happen by accident. And in Cleveland’s case, it’s not simply recognition for regular-season success. It’s a statement that what the Cavs are building, spearheaded by Mobley and Mitchell, could lead to a championship sooner rather than later.
Donovan Mitchell stepping back allowed Evan Mobley, Cavs to thrive
Mitchell, now firmly entrenched as the heartbeat of this team, didn’t arrive at this honor by inflating his stats or chasing headlines. This season, his game was sharper, smarter, and more mature. He balanced aggressiveness with composure, scoring with facilitation. He understood that leadership sometimes meant stepping back so others could step forward.
And no one stepped up more than Mobley.
The 23-year-old big man wasn’t just good. He was essential. Mobley expanded his offensive arsenal while maintaining the discipline and intelligence that make him one of the most adaptable defenders in the league. In just one season, he became the kind of player who doesn't just fill roles. Instead, he became one who defines them.
Together, Mitchell and Mobley formed a duo that reshaped the Cavs’ identity. What began as a talented team with promise evolved into a unit led by two of the most complete players in the league.
For Mobley, that development wasn’t incidental. Mitchell’s intentional effort to involve Mobley more in the offense was a turning point. Early in the year, he asked the coaching staff for more time on the floor with Mobley, believing that success wouldn’t come unless the young forward grew into a star right alongside him.
“Donovan, a big reason why he re-signed, is Evan Mobley,” Cavs president of basketball operations Koby Altman said. “… He said ‘I want to force feed Evan to make sure he’s going to be ready for the playoffs’ and that’s not going to stop.”
The growth that soon followed came quickly. From a breakout All-Star appearance to anchoring the frontcourt defensively, Mobley made the kind of jump that franchises dream of. His impact wasn’t always loud, but it was constant and respected across the league.
Cleveland's superstar duo got the recognition they deserve
Recognition came in waves: All-Star, All-Defensive First Team, and finally, All-NBA Second Team. Yet, Mobley didn’t dwell on the honors. He viewed them the way great players do. Each award is a step towards greatness, not the final destination.
But the brilliance of this pairing isn’t just in the accolades. It’s in how they mesh. Mitchell brings fire, Mobley brings control. Mitchell delivers the knockout punches, Mobley grinds out the rounds. Their All-Star Weekend win in the Skills Challenge may have been played for fun, but it highlighted something deeper: chemistry rooted in trust and shared ambition.
The Cavaliers have seen a duo capable of rewriting the franchise’s story before in LeBron James and Kyrie Irving. But unlike the LeBron-Kyrie era, this version is being built brick by brick, through sweat, patience, and belief in development.
The All-NBA selections reflect more than individual excellence. They represent a franchise on the rise, one no longer content with regular-season relevance. Cleveland is thinking bigger now. It has to. Because when Cleveland's two best players are being recognized as among the league’s elite, the expectation shifts. From building toward something to the Cavs being ready for something.
Mobley is growing into the kind of star who makes winning a habit. Mitchell is proving he can lead without always needing the ball. And the front office knows the opportunity window isn’t just open. It’s widening.
The next step is clear: translate regular-season excellence into playoff dominance. That’s the only way banners get raised and why the Cavs aren’t chasing echoes of past glory. They’re charting a path toward something new. And with Mitchell and Mobley leading the charge, the future in Cleveland isn’t just a dream, it's reality.
