Meleek Thomas scores 16 in NBA debut as Cavaliers beat Wolves in OT

Cavaliers rookie Meleek Thomas scored 16 points in 19 minutes in his NBA debut Monday, helping Cleveland beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 127-125 in overtime, according to ESPN and the Associated Press. The game was played in Cleveland on Oct. 26, 2026.

The debut line

Thomas made six of 10 field goals and four of five from three-point range, and added two rebounds and a steal, per DAZN. Sports Illustrated reports the same shooting splits.

Cleveland trailed by 15 in the first half before rallying in the third quarter and winning in overtime, according to the AP. Heavy notes that Minnesota had entered the night undefeated.

Why he played now

Thomas did not play in the Cavaliers' first two games, according to ESPN and the AP. Atkinson said he kept Thomas out against Philadelphia and Brooklyn because of matchup problems. He turned to the rookie against Minnesota because Cleveland needed a third ball handler to take pressure off Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, the AP reported.

How Cleveland landed him

The Cavaliers selected Thomas with the 34th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, according to Yahoo Sports. It was the fourth pick of the second round.

Cleveland did not hold that pick originally. WholeHogSports reports the Cavaliers acquired it from Sacramento. According to WholeHogSports, the Kings received No. 29, which they used on UConn's Alex Karaban, while Cleveland got No. 34 plus a 2032 second-round pick. The deal created salary savings and financial flexibility.

Thomas was largely projected as a first-round pick, and WholeHogSports called his slide one of the more surprising results of the draft's opening night.

Contract

Hoops Rumors, citing Jeff Goodman, reports Thomas signed a four-year, $9.3 million contract. Those terms are a report, not an official team announcement.

Scouting profile

At Arkansas, Thomas averaged 15.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists, shooting 43.5% from the floor and 41.6% from three, per Yahoo and the Akron Beacon Journal. He made the SEC All-Freshman Team, and Arkansas won its first SEC Tournament title since 2000 before losing to top-seeded Arizona in the Sweet 16. 247Sports lists him as a consensus five-star recruit and the No. 13 player in the 2025 class.

He measured 6-foot-3 barefoot with a 6-foot-6¾ wingspan at 189.6 pounds at the May combine, per WholeHogSports. Cavaliers president Koby Altman called him one of the best shot makers in college basketball, according to SI. The same outlet says he can be disconnected on defense when he is away from the ball, and WholeHogSports notes some scouts have concerns about his athleticism and his ability as a driver.