<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4Wei80_0vt6Cl6x00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4Wei80_0vt6Cl6x00" width="1280" height="720" ><p>CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cavs big man Evan Mobley ranks 21st on <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/topic/40-most-influential/">The 40 Most Influential People in Cleveland Sports</a>, our ranking of the people who currently wield the most influence over Cleveland’s sports happiness.</p><p>In this series, we are picking the top 40 athletes, front office personnel, owners, and even those who work on the periphery of sports, to see who does the most to shape the happiness of Cleveland sports fans.</p><p>The 40 Most Influential: <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2024/09/which-40-people-most-control-clevelands-sports-happiness-we-start-the-countdown-monday.html">See how we are determining the Top 40 and the full list so far</a>.</p><p>Next up, the key to the Cavs future:</p><h2>No. 21. Cavs Big Man Evan Mobley</h2><p>You either think he’s overpaid or think he’s a future star. You see young Kevin Garnett on defense or a bystander on offense. But the next thing Cleveland sees from Evan Mobley could determine the Cavs’ future, which is why Mobley lands at 21st on our top 40 most influential list.</p><p>New coach Kenny Atkinson was hired to help Mobley just as much as he was hired to appease star guard Donovan Mitchell, and perhaps the two reasons are connected. Mitchell, like the rest of us, saw a glimpse of Mobley’s potential during Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics, during which Mobley scored 33 points to go with seven rebounds, four assists and two blocks. And in signing a three-year extension months later, Mitchell deemed Mobley’s potential worth betting on.</p><p>If Mitchell’s bet cashes, Mobley is the face of a bright Cavs future. The big man may never lead Cleveland in scoring, but he will always anchor their defense, he can serve as a playmaking hub, and if he can also – crosses fingers – develop a passable 3-point shot, then he will change Mitchell’s existence, both in driving lanes and in the Eastern Conference hierarchy.</p><p>If Mobley’s development stagnates, Cleveland has decisions to make. Is Jarrett Allen the right frontcourt partner for a fellow non-shooting big who needs space? Can the Cavs justify paying $200 million to a player who averages 14 career points per game in the playoffs? And how long can they expect Mitchell to believe in his bet?</p><p>Mobley’s next 12 months will tell us a lot. Besides Mitchell’s commitment, I’m not sure the Cavs can point to a bigger variable than Mobley’s development. So no matter how you see the young big man, you can’t dispute his influence over the city.</p><h2>The 40 Most Influential People in Cleveland Sports (so far):</h2><ul><li>No. 40: <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2024/09/where-does-michigans-sherrone-moore-rank-on-our-list-of-the-40-most-influential-people-in-cleveland-sports.html">Sherrone Moore, Michigan football coach</a></li><li>No. 39: <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2024/09/where-does-baltimore-ravens-coach-john-harbaugh-rank-on-our-list-of-the-40-most-influential-people-in-cleveland-sports.html">John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens coach</a></li><li>No. 38: <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2024/09/where-does-steelers-edge-rusher-tj-watt-rank-on-our-list-of-the-40-most-influential-people-in-cleveland-sports.html">T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher</a></li><li>No. 37: <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2024/09/where-does-browns-quarterback-jameis-winston-rank-on-our-list-of-the-40-most-influential-people-in-cleveland-sports.html">Jameis Winston, Browns quarterback</a></li><li>No. 36: <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2024/09/where-does-ohio-state-football-quarterback-will-howard-rank-on-our-list-of-the-40-most-influential-people-in-cleveland-sports.html">Will Howard, Ohio State quarterback</a></li><li>No. 35: <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2024/09/where-does-steelers-quarterback-justin-fields-rank-on-our-list-of-the-40-most-influential-people-in-cleveland-sports.html">Justin Fields, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback</a>.</li><li>No. 34: <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2024/09/where-does-steelers-coach-mike-tomlin-rank-on-our-list-of-the-40-most-influential-people-in-cleveland-sports.html">Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers coach</a>.</li><li>No. 33: <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2024/09/where-does-bengals-quarterback-joe-burrow-rank-on-our-list-of-the-40-most-influential-people-in-cleveland-sports.html">Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback</a>.</li><li>No. 32: <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2024/09/where-does-chiefs-tight-end-travis-kelce-rank-on-our-list-of-the-40-most-influential-people-in-cleveland-sports.html">Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs tight end</a></li><li>No. 31: <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2024/09/who-ranks-31st-on-our-list-of-the-40-most-influential-people-in-cleveland-sports.html">Tom Hamilton, Guardians radio announcer</a>.</li><li>No. 30: <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2024/09/where-does-former-browns-voice-jim-donovan-rank-on-our-list-of-the-40-most-influential-people-in-cleveland-sports.html">Jim Donovan, former Browns radio voice.</a></li><li>No. 29: <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2024/09/where-does-chiefs-quarterback-patrick-mahomes-rank-on-our-list-of-the-40-most-influential-people-in-cleveland-sports.html">Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs quarterback.</a></li><li>No. 28: <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2024/10/where-does-ravens-quarterback-lamar-jackson-rank-on-our-list-of-the-40-most-influential-people-in-cleveland-sports.html">Lamar Jackson, Ravens quarterback.</a></li><li>No. 27: <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2024/10/where-does-lakers-forward-lebron-james-rank-on-our-list-of-the-40-most-influential-people-in-cleveland-sports.html">LeBron James, Lakers forward</a>.</li><li>No. 26: <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2024/10/where-does-browns-cornerback-denzel-ward-rank-on-our-list-of-40-most-influential-people-in-cleveland-sports.html">Denzel Ward, Browns cornerback</a></li><li>No. 25 <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2024/10/where-does-guardians-first-baseman-josh-naylor-rank-on-our-on-our-list-of-the-40-most-influential-people-in-cleveland-sports.html">Josh Naylor, Guardians first baseman</a></li><li>No. 24 <a href="https://www.cleveland.com/sports/2024/10/where-does-guardians-outfielder-steven-kwan-rank-on-our-list-of-the-most-influential-people-in-cleveland-sports.html">Steven Kwan, Guardians outfielder</a></li><li>No. 23 Emmanuel Clase, Guardians Closer</li><li>No. 22 Jarrett Allen, Cavs Center</li></ul></div></body>

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Where does the Cavs’ Evan Mobley rank on our list of The 40 Most Influential People in Cleveland Sports?

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Cavs big man Evan Mobley ranks 21st on The 40 Most Influential People in Cleveland Sports, our ranking of the people who currently wield the most influence over Cleveland’s sports happiness. In this series, we are picking the top 40 athletes, front office personnel, owners,...

Where does the Cavs’ Evan Mobley rank on our list of The 40 Most Influential People in Cleveland Sports?

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