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.

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.

Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Evan Mobley was named the NBA's top defensive player for the first time Thursday, taking home the 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year Award. Mobley beat out fellow finalists Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green to win the award.