James Harden Challenges Evan Mobley to Play With ‘Ultimate Confidence’

James Harden said after the Cleveland Cavaliers' practice Tuesday that what Cleveland needs most from Evan Mobley this season is ultimate confidence.

Mobley went without an All-Star selection, an All-NBA spot, or an All-Defensive nod in 2025-26. He had made all three the season before, as Roundtable reported at media day.

Victor Wembanyama won Defensive Player of the Year in April as the award's first unanimous pick. He led the league with 3.08 blocks per game. Chet Holmgren and Ausar Thompson were the other finalists. Mobley was not.

Harden said Mobley is capable of dominating the game on both ends at a high level.

"I think just ultimate confidence," Harden said. "I think he works extremely hard. He's focused. He wants to be great, which is the first mindset. So just building that confidence, making sure it's continuous. It's night in and night out."

"And of course, shots aren't gonna be made every single night, but I think the overall mindset of dominating the game is the most important thing," Harden continued. "Which he's capable of doing on both ends at a high level. So I think building that confidence and keeping that confidence to where it needs to be is gonna be beneficial for our team."

A left calf strain cost Mobley seven games in February. Over 65 games, he put up 18.2 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 3.6 assists a night. He blocked 1.7 shots per game and shot 54.6% from the field. His free throw percentage was 60.6%, and he hit 29.7% of his 3-point tries.

In the playoffs, Mobley reached double figures in 16 of Cleveland's 18 games and averaged 17.0 points and 8.1 rebounds, according to The Associated Press.

A year earlier, he collected 35 first-place votes for Defensive Player of the Year. That was 10 more than Atlanta's Dyson Daniels. No Cavalier had won the award before.

That season also brought his first All-Star selection and a career high in scoring. For his career, he has averaged 16.7 points and 9.0 rebounds. In the summer of 2024, he agreed to a five-year, $224 million rookie max extension.

Off the court is the most important part of the relationship for Harden.

"I think off the court is the most important, like hanging out, just going to dinners, just small things like that, understanding each other," Harden explained. "It translates. It's much easier to communicate on the court. Obviously we're both talented, so I think just the communication helps anybody."

"And for him, it's just — he helps me on the defensive end, make me communicate and have my back," Harden noted. "And then offensively, just trying to get him as many easy points as possible. Because we do that, and then our team is a lot better. It helps Jay, it helps Don, it helps our entire team. So I think it starts with us two."

Jay is Jarrett Allen. Don is Donovan Mitchell, who said at media day that most people do not understand progress is not always linear.

Mobley spent the summer on go-to moves for when he catches the ball in certain spots.

"That's part of the edge," Mobley said at media day Sept. 28. "You always want to see yourself get some of those awards and stuff, especially when you feel like it's [deserved]. But I know what I have to do, and that's what I'm focused on this year."

Cleveland took him third overall in 2021 out of USC. Born in San Diego, he played high school ball at Rancho Christian in Temecula, California. Mobley is 25, 12 years younger than Harden. Teammates call him Four, after his jersey number.

Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson has compared the role he envisions for Mobley to Kevin Garnett's. Mobley has appeared in 43 playoff games for Cleveland.

On Thursday night, the Cavaliers visit LeBron James and the Philadelphia 76ers. ESPN has the 7 p.m. ET broadcast.