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.

Cleveland Cavaliers forward-center Evan Mobley, a major part of the team’s eighth-ranked defense, wins Defensive Player of the Year award.

Mobley received 35 first-place votes, 10 more than second-place finisher Dyson Daniels of the Hawks. The Warriors' Draymond Green came in third, while the Thunder's Luguentz Dort, Rockets ' Amen Thompson, Clippers ' Ivica Zubac and Bucks ' Giannis Antetokounmpo also received first-place votes.

Garland previously said that the Cleveland Cavaliers' offensive gameplan has been to "pick on" the Miami Heat guard.

With the back-and-forth between Miami Heat star Tyler Herro and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Darius Garland, there’s no doubt an immense amount of excitement ahead of the rest of the first-round playoff series.

Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro brings a jolt to the team's first-round series against the Cleveland Cavaliers by clapping back at fellow All-Star Darius Garland.