Since the Cleveland Cavaliers drafted big man Evan Mobley at No. 3 overall in the NBA’s 2021 first round, most statistical metrics have graded him out as a superior player to Houston’s Jalen Green. That, of course, is who went to the Rockets one pick earlier at No. 2 overall.
There is, however, some important context. Mobley is playing for a Cleveland team with talented and accomplished veterans Donovan Mitchell, Jarrett Allen, and Darius Garland. With that as the core, the Cavaliers are in position to win now, and Mobley can play to his strengths while gradually developing his weaknesses.
In Houston, Green is playing for one of the league’s youngest teams — and one with the NBA’s worst record for three straight seasons. The 21-year-old is regularly asked to carry the load. The surrounding infrastructure of Green with the Rockets, relative to Mobley and the Cavaliers, is very much an apples-to-oranges comparison.
Furthermore, it’s worth noting that with both players still in only their second NBA seasons, there’s considerable time left for growth and development. Green shouldn’t be close to his peak.
Nonetheless, the efficiency numbers are what they are, and Mobley has also been a more effective defender to this point. With that in mind, The Ringer’s Bill Simmons, who’s had harsh things to say about Green in the past, went in on the Rockets guard, yet again.
Here’s a sampling of Simmons’ comments from a new podcast:
I’m very close to Jalen Green over Mobley being, like, a borderline draft catastrophe. We’re edging that way. It felt that way in the moment. It was like, ‘Man, this Jalen Green better be really good, because Mobley … I know what he is.’ That game last night (versus Boston, a team Simmons is a fan of) was really crazy.
Mobley had 25 points and 17 rebounds on 10-of-14 shooting (71.4%) in that game, which Cleveland won in overtime.
Bill Simmons says he's very close to calling the #Rockets decision to draft Jalen Green over Evan Mobley a "borderline draft catastrophe." pic.twitter.com/2fHBgAHZFY
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) March 8, 2023
Last season, after Simmons directed disparaging and profane remarks at Green, Houston’s prospect attempted to clear the air with the veteran NBA media personality in a podcast appearance.
Ten months later, the beef may now be back on. Green responded to Simmons’ comments with this tweet, which he quickly deleted.
Bill Simmons still on that?
Jalen Green in a recently deleted tweet:
Still crazy to me how Bill Simmons has an MVP vote… pic.twitter.com/MJtQ4TGL22
— BigE 🚀 (@BigE_Houston) March 8, 2023
Time will tell whether there’s another podcast recording between the two. As for the basketball comparison, Mobley is averaging 16 points (55.1% FG), 9.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game with the Cavaliers this season, while Green is averaging 21.7 points (41.4% FG), 3.8 rebounds, and 3.6 assists with the Rockets.
Green leads all second-year players in scoring.
Curiously, Simmons didn’t mention Detroit’s Cade Cunningham, who was also drafted ahead of Mobley in that 2021 class. Cunningham, the No. 1 pick, has missed most of the 2022-23 season with a shin injury. When he has played, his true shooting percentage (49.2% to 53.6%), effective field-goal percentage (45.3% to 48.5%), and player efficiency rating (14.1 to 14.2) were all worse than Green’s.
Cunningham finished behind Green in those categories as a rookie, as well, and he came in with fewer 2021-22 win shares. Thus, if Simmons isn’t willing to give Green and the Rockets the benefit of the doubt by waiting a longer period before forming a final judgment (relative to Mobley), it isn’t clear why the Cunningham and the Pistons aren’t being subjected to the same criticism.
