Kenny Atkinson didn’t wait long to get excited about Meleek Thomas.
The Cavaliers are still sitting at 0-2 in Summer League, but Cleveland’s coach already sounds convinced the No. 34 pick from Arkansas is far more than a second-round flyer. After Thomas backed up his pro debut with another eye-catching outing against Detroit, Atkinson didn’t hide how impressed he was.
“So excited," Atkinson said during the broadcast of Cleveland's Summer League matchup with Detroit. "I just told John [Wall] we got a steal.
Maybe every coach comes up here and says that, but to get him in the second round, like, like, I’m pinching myself. [He has] a great feel.
He hasn’t had a turnover yet in Summer [League], and you can see that he can pass. I didn’t even know he could pass like that.
Obviously, he’s got the shooting and [is] elite competitive defensively. So, I’m, like I said, just pinching myself.”
That’s not the kind of praise a coach hands out casually, especially for a rookie trying to break into a roster coming off a 64-win season. Cleveland is loaded, which means Thomas won’t be handed anything. But Atkinson’s comments made the point loud and clear: the rookie already checks a lot of the boxes this staff cares about.
Thomas first turned heads in his debut against the Indiana Pacers, putting up 20 points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal in 27 minutes while committing zero turnovers. Cleveland lost 99-93, but the performance had the look of a player who belonged immediately. He ran the offense with poise, stayed under control, and never seemed rushed.
Instead of chasing the loudest play on the floor, Thomas kept making the right one. He handled the ball cleanly, set the tempo, and showed a level of comfort that stood out for a first-year player in his first professional game.
He followed that up against the Pistons with an even bigger line: 30 points, seven assists, four rebounds and four steals. This time he did turn it over twice, but the overall package still looked like the kind of talent that had him graded as a first-rounder before draft night.
The scoring has been there from the start. Thomas has knocked down shots off the catch and off the dribble, and he’s looked every bit like the polished scorer Arkansas saw in him. What’s pushing the excitement higher, though, is everything else: the passing, the defensive activity, the feel.
Atkinson pointed to that directly when asked how Thomas can get on the floor for Cleveland.
“That’s it. That’s how he’s going to get on the floor," Atkinson said when asked about how Thomas can earn minutes for the Cavaliers.
"And, you know, we obviously talked to Cal, right? And Cal said that to us.
Don’t underestimate his defense.”
That fits the way Cleveland wants to operate. With the stars already in place, a rookie is going to have to earn minutes by doing the little things, defending, and making smart plays that help the team win.
The Cavaliers are still chasing their first Summer League win, but Thomas has already given them something useful: a real look at a young player who can score without forcing it and compete hard on the other end. He’s been Cleveland’s most encouraging young presence so far, and if this keeps up, Atkinson’s “steal” line might age very well.
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Kenny Atkinson Just Gave Cavaliers Fans A Reason To Believe Again
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Kenny Atkinson did little to cool the buzz, instead leaving the impression that something significant could be brewing for the roster. The exact move remains unclear, and James next stop is still unresolved, but the tone around Cleveland has shifted enough to make fans wonder whether this summer could still deliver a familiar face and a major jolt to the teams future. [Read more 🡒]
Why Kenny Atkinson Thinks Cavs Rookie Could Be More Than A Flier
Kenny Atkinson did not hide his enthusiasm when the Cavaliers landed Meleek Thomas in the second round of the NBA draft, and the early Summer League returns have only added to the intrigue. Through two games, Thomas has looked like more than a developmental add-on, putting up points while showing enough all-around activity to make Clevelands staff keep watching closely.
What stands out most for Atkinson is the rookies defensive upside, which could be the clearest path to real minutes on a roster that will demand reliability on both ends. His college coach has made a similar point about Thomas length and room to grow physically, and if that side of his game translates the way Cleveland believes it can, the rookie might end up being a lot more than a simple flier. [Read more 🡒]
This Cavs Reunion Trade Idea Feels Built For LeBron Rumors
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The problem is the basketball case is hard to square with what Cleveland already has built, especially with the cost attached to the deal and the questions that come with the player at the center of it. Even with the LeBron-adjacent buzz hovering around the concept, the fit looks awkward on paper, and the Cavs would have to decide whether the nostalgia and star power are worth the hit to their current structure. [Read more 🡒]