Evan Mobley said he wants to learn from James Harden and believes a full season together can unlock more for both Cavaliers stars.
James Harden said Monday at the Cleveland Cavaliers media day that, because of who he is, Evan Mobley might not have known how to talk to him when he arrived in a February trade. Mobley took questions at Rocket Arena later in the day.
Mobley Says Harden's Arrival Changed Cavaliers' Roles
Mobley said the pieces were still moving when Harden arrived late in the season.
"I wouldn't say me personally, but it's definitely different getting a guy of that stature coming onto your team, and everyone kind of finding their roles and how he's gonna fit in and all that," Mobley said. "So he came in a little later in the season as well, so we're trying to get things going and all that."
"But I think him and me and Don and James and everyone that's available right now, going into training camp, I think that's gonna be real beneficial for us, to where we can all work those things out that we might not have around that time," Mobley continued.
Harden said earlier in the day that he wanted to give teammates "comfortability" to come to him, and that he had built "some really good stuff" with them over the last few months.
He played 26 regular-season games for Cleveland after the Clippers sent him east for Darius Garland, a two-time All-Star, and a 2026 second-round pick. The Cavaliers went 19-7 in those games, according to Yahoo Sports.
He fractured his right thumb in his seventh game with the team, on Feb. 24 against New York, and missed two games. Through those seven games, he averaged 18.9 points and 8.0 assists.
On Feb. 25 in Milwaukee, Cleveland played without Harden, Donovan Mitchell, and Mobley, who sat for left calf injury management, according to NBA.com.
Mobley Wants to Learn From Harden While He Can
Harden being a legend who is still playing is part of the appeal for Mobley. He views their time together as an opportunity to understand how one of the league's most accomplished veterans operates.
"It's very cool just to be able to pick his brain and get to know how he operates and why he operates that way," Mobley explained. "It's also cool that he's from a similar place that I'm from, and he's a legend in the game, but he's currently playing as well."
"So it's like there's a lot of benefits and factors that go into it," Mobley added. "I'm trying to take it all in and learn as much as I can [while] he's here playing with us. So, yeah, I don't take it for granted."
Harden was born in Los Angeles and played high school basketball at Artesia in Lakewood, California. Mobley was born in San Diego and played at Rancho Christian School in Temecula, California, before one season at USC.
Cleveland drafted him third overall in 2021, and he put up 18.2 points and 9.0 rebounds a night over 65 games in 2025-26.
Harden is an 11-time All-Star and the 2018 MVP. He turned 37 on Aug. 26, and his new deal with Cleveland runs through 2028-29 if he picks up his player option. Mobley turned 25 in June, 12 years younger.
Mobley Expects Chemistry With Harden to Keep Growing
The chemistry between them had little time to build last season. Mobley expects that to change with a full training camp and season together.
"I think our chemistry is just gonna grow. I mean, we had a small sample size last year," Mobley said. "So I think the more we play, the more minutes we get together, I think it's just gonna keep unlocking a lot of things for him and for me."
Harden averaged 19.2 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.7 turnovers in 18 playoff games, according to the Akron Beacon Journal. Mobley averaged 17.0 points and 8.1 rebounds in the same run, and Mitchell led the team at 26 points per game, according to The Associated Press.
Harden described a summer of movies, bowling, and a Walsh Jesuit–Archbishop Hoban high school football game with teammates, along with a Cleveland Browns game Sunday. Mitchell, for his part, said Mobley "was our best player in the playoffs."
Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson is keeping his starting five to himself for now. Under the Spain itinerary, the Cavaliers practice Wednesday through Saturday and scrimmage Sunday.
