Rookie guard Meleek Thomas scored 16 points in 19 minutes off the bench on Monday night, helping the Cleveland Cavaliers rally for a 127-125 overtime victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 34th overall pick in June’s NBA draft had waited two games for his debut, and he made the most of it.
“It was on my mind I was going to be on my best version. Have a great showing, stand out and make sure people leaving the gym know my name,” said Thomas.
A Strong Debut
Thomas averaged 15.6 points and shot 41.6% from 3-point range at Arkansas last season. He carried that form into his first NBA game. He entered for Peyton Watson with 5:53 remaining in the first quarter, missed his first shot, a 28-foot 3-pointer from the right wing, and then scored on a running layup with 3:39 left in the opening period.
Thomas played 10 minutes in the first half and led Cleveland with 10 points at the break. He finished 6 of 10 from the field, including 4 of 5 from beyond the arc, and added two rebounds and one steal. His 16 points were the second-most by a Cavaliers rookie in his debut off the bench. Brevin Knight scored 18 against Houston on Oct. 31, 1997, after being the 16th overall pick out of Stanford.
Teammates Praise the Rookie
All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, who led Cleveland with 25 points, was effusive about the performance.
“It is very rare to ride the coattails of a rookie riding into the half,” said Mitchell. “For him to be the spark in his first game of the year is not normal. He made some mistakes but they were aggressive. He was fearless and trying to impact the game.”
Mitchell also highlighted Thomas’s defensive focus. “His attention to detail defensively surprised me,” he said. “Offensively he makes shots. He’s trying and willing to learn. We definitely got lucky with him but he set a high precedent for himself.”
Thomas had drawn pre-draft comparisons to CJ McCollum, as both are 6-foot-3 guards and McCollum excelled from beyond the arc. Thomas spent time with Mitchell and James Harden during preseason workouts, which bolstered his confidence.
Why Thomas Got His Chance
Coach Kenny Atkinson said he had not played Thomas against Philadelphia or Brooklyn because of matchup problems. Against Minnesota, he decided to see what the rookie could do, as the Cavaliers needed a third ball handler on the court to take pressure off Mitchell and Harden.
“It was an amazing feeling. It was kind of everything I expected. I knew I had to stay ready and my moment will come. You can’t keep a star in the closet,” said Thomas.
Overtime Comeback
Cleveland trailed by 15 points in the first half before rallying in the third quarter and eventually securing the win in overtime. Thomas did not play the final 9:35 of the game, yet Mitchell credited him for the victory.
“In this league, you have to do it over and over. Since the day we drafted him we were bullish on him,” said Atkinson.