Timofey Mozgov was not a vital part of Cleveland’s incredible NBA Finals win over Golden State last year—in fact, he averaged only 5.0 minutes and 1.4 points per game—but even as his role with the Cavaliers shrank to something minimal by the end, he was a vital part of the fabric that made that roster special.
He was the beloved “Big Fella Mozzie,” as LeBron called him, and at different points throughout his two years with Cleveland he was an important contributor.
Congrats to my brother Big fella Mozzie on the deal with the Lakers!! Enjoy LA. Dinner on you
The 7-foot-1 Russian center won a championship ring, was a part of a very tight-knit team, and had a blast. It was a good fit. With that being said, there was no way Cleveland was going to match the four-year, $64 million contract Los Angeles offered him in the offseason—it wouldn’t have made sense for Cavs management.
Though he made the right objective financial decision, Mozgov misses the Cavs. “To be honest I miss that place,” Mozgov said, per 60smol.com. What made it so special? “Everything was special,” he said.
The Cavs, as expected, are flourishing. They’re 27-8, first in the East, and look like they’ll cruise to the top seed in their conference…and then cruise to the NBA Finals for the third straight year.
Meanwhile, the Lakers are struggling. After a decent start, they’re 14-26 (3-7 in their last 10), and they’re on pace to win 29 games.
“So far we got some tough losses,” Mozgov told 60smol.com. “But I think we’ll soon play the same as played in the beginning of the season. Be together and enjoy the game. We’ll be good.”
The Lakers have a first-year head coach (Luke Walton) and a young roster (centered on D'Angelo Russell, Julius Randle, and Brandon Ingram). Mozgov is certainly experiencing some growing pains going from a contender to a team in full-on rebuilding mode.
But he may not end up sticking around Los Angeles that long. Though Mozgov is playing on a monster deal, there’s a chance a contender who’s looking to add size could make a move for him.
