Kendrick Perkins Sends Blunt Message to Cavaliers About Evan Mobley

ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins said on “NBA Today” that Donovan Mitchell and James Harden have to make Evan Mobley the player the Cleveland Cavaliers go through.

A clip of the segment went up on X on Friday afternoon, about 3 1/2 hours before Cleveland hosts the Philadelphia 76ers at Rocket Arena. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. ET on Prime Video. Philadelphia is 8-1. Cleveland is 4-4 and lost twice to the Oklahoma City Thunder this week.

The benchmark Perkins set is a box score that reads 25 points and 12 rebounds before anyone has to watch the game.

“Stop holding back Evan Mobley,” Perkins said. “He’s one of the most skilled bigs in this league. And for the last two years, I’ve been on this stage asking when are they gonna unlock a different version of him? When are we gonna see him take that Anthony Davis type lead, where we can know and look at a box score without watching a game, and say Evan Mobley is gonna give me 25 and 12?”

“If Donovan Mitchell and James Harden doesn’t put that key in his back,” Perkins continued, “and let him know that, hey man, you’re that guy we’re going to go through you, then he’s never gonna be the best version of himself.”

Mobley has not had 25 points and 12 rebounds in the same game this season. He came closest Oct. 28 against the Washington Wizards, with 24 points and 12 rebounds on 8-of-12 shooting. He made 5 of 6 from 3-point range that night.

His season high of 27 points came three days later in Milwaukee. He had 5 rebounds in that game.

Through eight games, Mobley is averaging 18.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.5 assists. He has made 56 of his 100 field-goal attempts and 17 of his 35 3-point tries. Four of the eight have been double-doubles, most recently 16 points and 10 rebounds in Wednesday’s 124-116 loss in Oklahoma City.

Mobley took 9 shots in a 114-111 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Oct. 29. Jarrett Allen took 8. Mitchell had 19 field-goal attempts, and Harden had 14. Mobley finished with 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists.

Two nights later, Cleveland won 136-111 against the Milwaukee Bucks. Mobley and Allen took 16 shots apiece and went a combined 23-of-32, and Allen added 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 assists. Mitchell and Harden attempted 15 shots between them.

“The coaches were telling everyone to get the ball to the bigs, reward the bigs,” Allen said. “Honestly, the game plan was just to play like ourselves. Get the ball moving and play Cavs’ hoops.”

Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson said the Milwaukee win was probably Cleveland’s first complete game, with four connected quarters.

“It was great because that was part of our film session,” Atkinson said. “Reward these guys because they’re both playing great. And good job by our perimeters, finding those guys in the right spots.”

Allen’s prediction in training camp was that Mobley would take another step this season.

“I didn’t lie to you guys because I know what I saw in Evan,” Allen explained. “And he still has a ways to go. He’s going to be even better than he is now.”

Cleveland drafted Mobley third overall out of USC in 2021. In 2024-25, he was named Defensive Player of the Year, the first in franchise history, and made his first All-Star team and the All-NBA Second Team. He averaged 18.5 points and 9.3 rebounds that season.

Mobley had 18 points and 8 rebounds on 7-of-13 shooting in the Oct. 22 opener in Philadelphia. The 76ers won 114-106.

Allen is questionable Friday with a right knee contusion from Wednesday’s game. Tyrese Proctor and Peyton Watson are also questionable. Jaylon Tyson and Nae’Qwan Tomlin are out.

Philadelphia lists center Adem Bona as doubtful. Center Ariel Hukporti and forward Dominick Barlow are out.

Cleveland hosts the New York Knicks on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET.