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CLEVELAND — Rookie Meleek Thomas experienced a milestone moment on November 2 when he was introduced as a starter for the first time in his NBA career as the Cleveland Cavaliers hosted the Oklahoma City Thunder. The opportunity arose because Peyton Watson was sidelined with a hamstring injury, thrusting Thomas into the opening lineup.
The Cavaliers ultimately fell 117-112, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander delivering an MVP-caliber performance for Oklahoma City. For Thomas, it was just his fourth professional game since being selected No. 34 overall by Cleveland in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Hearing his name announced among the starters marked another achievement on Thomas' NBA wish list. "It means everything to me," Thomas said after the game. "You obviously dream of getting here, but then to be able to contribute to winning so early in the season, being able to help you guys out, it just means the world to me. I can't thank my teammates enough."
Immediate Impact
Thomas has integrated into the Cavaliers' rotation far quicker than most second-round rookies typically do. In his four appearances, he has reached double-digit scoring each time. Against the Thunder, he shared team-high scoring honors with Donovan Mitchell, posting 17 points along with five rebounds and a steal.
Early on, Thomas has the look of one of the biggest steals of the second round. "I mean, for a rookie, guys gonna be really good. He's gonna be really good," Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said. "Obviously trust him enough to throw him in at the end of the game, too. Guy is gonna be a heck of a player. We found a guy that can really help us."
Thomas logged a career-high 26 minutes against Oklahoma City, a number that was partly inflated by injuries to Watson and Jaylon Tyson. Nevertheless, it has become evident almost immediately that Thomas will hold a place in the rotation no matter who else is available. Across all four games, he has played at least 19 minutes, scored at least 10 points, and recorded at least one steal while learning to play alongside Mitchell and James Harden.
That trio has been particularly effective when on the floor together. "I would say I've grown a lot," Thomas said of playing with the star guards. "Those are very ball-dominant guys, so you got to work your way to know how they play and what works best off of them. Just me finding the windows, finding the right space to be in, knowing their tendencies and also knowing mine and how they can mesh at the same time."
Offensive Versatility
Thomas' offensive versatility, especially how it might complement Mitchell's and Harden's games, was a key reason the Cavaliers were high on him in the draft. "It was like, man, to support Don and James with all the pressure in today's game, his skillset fits because he creates separation," Atkinson said. "I know the other night it was about shooting and all that [when he shot 6 of 10 in his NBA debut], but he also has an ability to create an advantage of his own. What's the word? Shiftability. He's really shifty. He has the shooting. He has the off-ball stuff. That's why I think we're so excited about him, that he's not one dimensional."
It remains uncertain how often Thomas will be named a starter once the Cavaliers are fully healthy. However, there is no longer any question about how frequently Atkinson will call on him off the bench to ensure he gets ample minutes as a rookie making an impact on a contending team.
Originally reported by yahoo.