“Fight on, Dribble on” is a weekly column by Joseph Domingot about how Trojans are performing in the NBA.
Since February 1, nine Trojans featured on NBA hardwood in the past week on the cusp of trade deadline day and the NBA All-Star break.
It is important to note that one former Trojan was traded to another franchise during deadline day. Chimezie Metu was part of a three-team deadline day trade that took him from the Phoenix Suns to the Memphis Grizzlies.
However, this week, we will be putting the spotlight on two former Trojan centers, who were both First Team All-Pac-12 during their sole seasons playing at Galen Center. Let’s take a look at both former NBA lottery picks in the past seven days.
Evan Mobley
After being sidelined for about two months with a left knee injury, Mobley has returned in stunning style despite a minutes restriction. He has shown flashes offensively in limited playing time while dominating on the defensive end of the ball. Mobley has averaged 18.8 points and 11 boards per game while only playing about 26 minutes a night.
On February 3 against the San Antonio Spurs, Mobley showed his case for being an All-Defensive player. Matching up against the 2023 No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama, Mobley held the Frenchman to just 20% from the field. Mobley also notched a double-double with 28 points and 10 rebounds in a 16-point victory for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Two nights later, Mobley had an all-around solid game against the Sacramento Kings. He dished out seven assists, while putting up his second consecutive double-double of 11 points and 14 rebounds to help the Cavaliers extend their winning streak to six games.
Against the Washington Wizards on February 7, Mobley arguably had his most efficient night in his three-year NBA career. The 2021 No. 3 overall pick went 9-for-10 from the field and 2-for-2 from behind the 3-point arc, scoring 22 points and tallying eight rebounds in a dominant win in the nation’s capital.
In a second night of a back-to-back against the Brooklyn Nets, Mobley earned his third double-double during the week with 14 points and 12 rebounds to stretch the Cavaliers’ win streak to eight games.
Cleveland currently sits second in the Eastern Conference, and Mobley’s return is helping to close the gap to the Boston Celtics, who currently sit 4.5 games ahead of the Cavaliers with about 30 regular season games remaining.
Onyeka Okongwu
In his past four matchups, Okongwu has averaged 18.5 points per game and 9.5 rebounds per game despite being limited to a role off the bench. After Atlanta Hawks center Clint Capela went down with a left adductor strain on, Okongwu has shone in his recent starting role the past few nights, averaging 4.8 offensive rebounds per game in the last week of NBA basketball.
Against the Phoenix Suns on February 2, Okongwu tallied 15 points and seven boards with great efficiency. He shot 88% from the field and 100% from three in a nine-point win over the Suns.
Okongwu arguably had his career night two days later against the Golden State Warriors. The No. 6 overall pick from 2020 played 36 minutes after taking over for Capela, notching a career high 22 points and grabbing 16 rebounds in a thrilling overtime victory over the Warriors. The Hawks had won four consecutive games at this point.
Against the Los Angeles Clippers in the final game of Atlanta’s seven-game home stretch, Okongwu went 8-for-10 from the field, scoring 18 points in a close five-point loss to the Clippers.
In the final game of the week against the No. 1 seed Celtics, the former Chino Hills standout collected 10 rebounds and 19 points to reach his second double-double in three games in another single-digit loss to a championship contender.
Despite losing two on the bounce, the Hawks will look for Okongwu to keep playing the way he is as the team is part of the play-in tournament hunt.
“Fight on, Dribble on” runs every Friday.