NBA Draft Thursday, July 29, 2021 Brooklyn, New York, USA Evan Mobley to Chris Bosh, Anthony Davis, Giannis, players like that. I definitely just see a good amount of similarities between all THE MODERATOR: If you could start out with an opening of those players. But I feel like I'm my own player and I statement about what you'll bring to your new team. have my own tendencies, which makes me unique. EVAN MOBLEY: I'm just here to be the best player, best Q. How do you plan on taking the Cleveland Cavaliers person I can be at the Cleveland Cavaliers. I'm here to closer to that next championship? It's been a while. show what I have, hopefully be Rookie of the Year, Rookie of the Month as many times as I can. That's what I'm trying EVAN MOBLEY: I'm just here to do my best, bring to bring to the team. everything that I've got to this city, to the team, get to know everyone. I feel like we definitely can have a great year Q. With the Cavs also having Jarrett Allen on their this next coming year. roster, what do you see as the fit between the two of you and what could you learn from him at the center Q. How did growing up alongside your brother, position? playing basketball with your brother, add to your motivation in playing the game? EVAN MOBLEY: Jarrett Allen is a great player. I feel like I can learn a lot from him. He's been in the league for a EVAN MOBLEY: It added a lot of motivation. Me and him, while, so me and him, I feel like we can definitely do we were both top players growing up. He would get his damage in the league in this coming season. accolades, I would get mine. So it was just kind of like competition. It just motivated us more and more to keep Q. What were your thoughts and feelings when you getting better. heard your name called with the third pick? What was that moment like for you? Q. With their young core of Darius Garland, Collin Sexton, Isaac Okoro at the moment, what do you see EVAN MOBLEY: I was in shock. Like, I really made it; from them that you can add -- what do you bring that like, I'm here. I've just got to continue what I'm doing, keep you can add to that young core? staying in the gym and keep getting better. EVAN MOBLEY: Just another young player that can run Q. What was going through your head today as you with them. A lot of them are young athletes, fast. I'm fast. arrived here and just kind of seeing this all -- being in I'm an athlete. So I feel like that whole entire lineup, also person but kind of realizing that it is your draft day? with Jarrett Allen, we can definitely shock a lot of teams What was your thoughts and feelings about the day and get out and run a lot. and kind of leading up to this moment? Q. The name of the game is obviously versatility, but EVAN MOBLEY: It was like a roller coaster. Sometimes when people look at you as being a 7-footer they're I've got like this burst of excitement and stuff because I probably thinking center. What is it about your skill knew it was draft day, and then sometimes I was chilling. set that you feel isn't apt to being a 7-footer and what Most of the time, though, I was super excited, especially on you can show at the pro level that maybe you weren't the way over here, and then seeing the whole arena and able to at USC? everything, all the energy in the arena, it was crazy. EVAN MOBLEY: I feel like my guard skills and ball Q. I want to ask you, for anybody that wants to get handling, a lot of 7-footers don't have, as well as my familiar with your game, compare yourself to maybe an shooting. Those few attributes are some attributes that NBA player or a couple players. Who does your game most 7-footers don't have and more guards I would say resemble as far as that goes? have. Those skills I definitely feel like are some strong attributes that not a lot of big guys such as me have. EVAN MOBLEY: A lot of people have been comparing me 110864-2-1015 2021-07-30 01:21:00 GMT Page 1 of 2 Q. Your potential assists were a number that a lot of us have noticed while studying your game, while getting to know you better in the Cleveland media. Being able to play with Darius Garland and Collin Sexton, do you think you're going to be able to show off your playmaking ability at the next level? EVAN MOBLEY: Yeah, definitely. Especially with the floor opened up even more, I definitely feel like I can show off my playmaking ability even more, as well as with those shooters. They're going to knock them down. So I'm going to just be trying to make the best plays possible. Q. With Cleveland hosting All-Star this year, is that a goal of yours as a rookie to make the All-Star team? EVAN MOBLEY: Yeah, it's definitely a goal. I'm trying to get everything. Q. When you look back at your freshman year at USC and just the growth that you had in multiple areas, where did you see yourself grow the most that is the most beneficial coming into the league? EVAN MOBLEY: I feel like I was more of a dominant player. On that team I had to be more of a scorer, more a focal point on the team, so I feel like that whole dynamic developed with me very well during that whole entire season. Q. Also with your dad as an assistant coach at USC, obviously watching you play basketball growing up when you were younger and being a coach for you at USC and him being here tonight, what is that relationship like between the two of you and how special is it for him to be here with you through this whole process? EVAN MOBLEY: It's great because he's been there since day one all the way up, coaching me. Now he's coaching me at USC, and then now he's here on draft night. He's been with me the whole night, and it's really special. 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