Evan Mobley rebounds the ball during the game against the Brooklyn Nets on April 8, 2022.

Rookie big man Evan Mobley returned to the starting lineup in Cleveland’s 118-107 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Friday after missing the previous five matchups with an ankle sprain.

The contender for the Kia Rookie of the Year award finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks in 34 minutes of action.

"Ladies and Gentleman, there's your 2022 Rookie of the Year"@evanmobley | #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/R4M8sNRXnA

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) April 9, 2022

The Cavs rookie suffered an ankle injury during the first half of Cleveland’s 107-101 victory against Orlando on March 28. He landed awkwardly on Magic forward Franz Wagner’s foot after contesting a shot.

Mobley, whom Cleveland drafted third overall in last year’s Draft, is averaging 15 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks for Cleveland this season.

Friday’s loss saw the Cavaliers drop to eighth place in the Eastern Conference, with teams 7-through-10 separated by just by just one game.