5 players who deserve to be first time NBA All-Stars in 2023

4. F Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers

Evan Mobley doesn’t even turn 22 years old until the end of the (post)season. The future is bright for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Mobley is a major reason why.

Mobley was a strong Rookie of the Year candidate last year and even a sleeper All-Star candidate. While his scoring hasn’t leaped this season – likely thanks to the arrival of Donovan Mitchell – the big man still has All-Star written all over him.

Mobley is hovering around double-double territory, averaging 15.2 points and 9.3 rebounds per game. He’s also blocking 1.3 shots per game, which is actually down from the 1.7 blocks per game he recorded as a rookie.

The big man has become a very efficient shooter, understanding he doesn’t have a consistent three-point jumper in his game yet. Attempting more than 90 percent of his shots from two, Mobley is shooting 55.9 percent from the field, which ranks 16th in the NBA.

His biggest impact, however, comes on the defensive end. In his rookie season, some were saying Mobley had multiple Defensive Player of the Year awards in his future. He may be able to capture his first one during his sophomore season.

He’s simultaneously one of the league leaders in both offensive and defensive rebounds. His block percentage ranks just outside the top 20 in the league, while his defensive rating ranks third. Plus, Mobley has already accumulated 2.0 defensive win shares, more than halfway to last year’s number and the best in the league.

As previously mentioned, multiple Cavs made their first appearance as All-Stars last season. The honor should be bestowed on Mobley this year.