Since he first sprouted to 7 feet, towering expectations followed Evan Mobley wherever he went. As the nation’s top recruit, coaches offered up lofty comparisons to superstars such as Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo. At USC, where he carried the Trojans to the Elite Eight, scouts salivated at the uncommon skill set for his size, while critics wondered if he was too timid or too unselfish to ever exceed the arbitrary ceilings they set.
Every step of the way, the spindly 7-footer soared past those limits with his head down, barely paying mind.