Averaging 21 Points, 11 Rebounds! Harden Turns Allen into Cavaliers’ Super Core

As the NBA regular season enters its final stretch, the Eastern Conference remains fiercely competitive. Since James Harden joined, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ offensive efficiency has soared, and young center Evan Mobley—nicknamed Allen in this context—has emerged as a team cornerstone.

Before Harden’s arrival, Allen had limited touches and modest scoring output. Since Harden joined, over 8 games, Allen has averaged 21.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, with a 75% shooting percentage and 6.7 free throws per game. Even during a game Harden missed due to a finger injury, Allen still scored 27 points, demonstrating his rise as a core player.

Allen leads the team in win shares per 48 minutes at 0.206, followed by Harden at 0.177. Offensively and defensively, Allen is well-rounded: offensive rebound rate 10.4%, defensive rebound rate 23.8%, block rate 3.1%, and only 19.2% usage rate. Harden’s presence has unlocked Allen’s scoring potential, allowing him to produce high-efficiency numbers consistently.

When Allen is on the court, Cavaliers’ performance improves significantly: in wins, he averages 17.3 points and 9.3 rebounds, with 68.4% true shooting; in losses, 11.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 62.9% true shooting. Since Harden’s arrival, Allen’s numbers consistently exceed winning benchmarks, with a true shooting rate of 74%.

Financially, the Cavaliers benefited as well: Allen’s 2024 contract was a 3-year, $90 million deal, with a current salary of just $20 million—yet he has become the team’s super core.

Overall, the Harden-Allen duo stabilizes Cleveland’s ceiling and floor in the East, with further improvements in perimeter defense needed to challenge the conference’s elite.