Cavaliers rookie Meleek Thomas waited two games for his shot, then made the most of it, scoring 16 points off the bench in Cleveland’s 127-125 overtime win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday. As first reported by ClutchPoints, Donovan Mitchell made sure everybody noticed.
“Everybody in here needs to give Meleek Thomas a round of applause,” Mitchell said. “For a rookie debut, that kid’s gonna be special.”
Thomas got it done in just 19 minutes at Rocket Arena, shooting 6-of-10 from the field and a scorching 4-of-5 from three, with 2 rebounds and a steal. The win also handed Minnesota its first loss of the season.
The IAHHM Take
This is exactly the kind of story we live for: a rising player who wasn’t handed anything. Thomas, 20, sat out Cleveland’s first two games while Kenny Atkinson went with other guards in the second unit. When the door finally opened, he walked in shooting.
Remember how he got here, too. The former Arkansas standout went No. 34 overall in the second round to the Sacramento Kings, who traded him to Cleveland for Alex Karaban, the No. 29 pick. Second-round guys usually have to fight for minutes. Going 4-of-5 from deep in an overtime win over an undefeated team is how you start winning that fight.
One game isn’t a career, and the Cavs’ guard rotation is crowded. But when your franchise star calls you special in front of the whole locker room after one night, that’s a co-sign that carries weight. For more early-season NBA, read up on Devin Booker’s record home opener.
Should Atkinson keep Thomas in the rotation full-time, or was this a one-night heater?
Source: ClutchPoints
