Kevin Love: Evan Mobley should have won Rookie of the Year
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley turned in a tremendous rookie campaign this season, and came up just short of winning Rookie of the Year. In fact, the final tally went down as the closest race in history.
Cavaliers forward Kevin Love thought Mobley should have won.
Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes was crowned the Rookie of the Year last month after receiving 48 of the 100 first-place votes from a global panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. He finished with 378 total points, topping the 363 points for Mobley.
It was the smallest margin in the balloting under the current voting format, which began in the 2002-03 season.
Certainly, the Rookie of the Year race proved to be rather difficult to predict with Mobley and Barnes battling back and forth throughout the year. Detroit Pistons guard and finalist Cade Cunningham also had a case to win, despite a slow start to the year.
Love, speaking with Taylor Rooks of Bleacher Report, was impressed by Mobley.
I think it’s going to be when it’s all said and done, you’re going to say, ‘Kevin Love took a backseat to Evan Mobley.’ I saw him and I’m like, ‘Oh, wow! I get it.’ I’m obviously biased but I thought he should have won Rookie of the Year. I know it was a very close battle. Scottie Barnes is a beast. Cade Cunningham: Awesome player. I love Evan’s makeup. I love his brain and how he lets everything come to him.
“I thought he should’ve won Rookie of the Year.”
K-Love talks Evan Mobley’s growth amid a competitive ROY race this season
Tap in now ➡️ https://t.co/03ruOImHHY pic.twitter.com/UFKGa5WduX
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 13, 2022
Love thoroughly loved what Mobley brought to the Cavaliers this season and often sung his praises all year long. He believes Mobley can become a perennial All-Defensive player and a consistent double-double threat each night.
Certainly, the tight finish this season in the Rookie of the Year voting further demonstrated how talented the class is. It could go down as one of the best ever with Mobley and Barnes leading the way, and several others right behind them.
This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!
