Meleek Thomas of the Cleveland Cavaliers is proving why he could be one of the steals of the 2026 NBA Draft, erupting for 35 points, three rebounds, three assists, and two steals in Monday’s 90-73 Summer League victory over the Miami Heat. Thomas was very efficient from the field, shooting 14-23 overall and 5-9 from three.
This game marked his second 30-point performance in just three Las Vegas Summer League appearances as the Cavaliers earned their first win of the tournament.
Thomas was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the 34th overall pick in the second round of the 2026 NBA Draft. He was then immediately traded to Cleveland in exchange for the 29th pick and a 2032 second-round selection.
Thomas signed a four-year, $9.3 million contract with the Cavaliers, and his play in the Summer League has proven him to be worth every penny so far.
Against the Heat, Thomas came out on fire. He scored 11 points in the first seven minutes, showcasing his ability to score the basketball from all over the court.
His 35-point outing tied the Cavaliers’ Summer League franchise record and was just seven points shy of the all-time NBA Summer League scoring record of 42.
Cleveland’s first game of the summer came against the Indiana Pacers, where the Cavaliers fell 99-93. Thomas scored 20 points while adding five rebounds, three assists, and a steal in his debut. He shot 7-15 from the field and 2-5 from three.
The Cavaliers lost their second game 103-94 to the Detroit Pistons, despite 30 points, four rebounds, seven assists, and four steals on 10-24 shooting and 4-10 from beyond the arc from Thomas. So, finally getting a win must feel good for Thomas and the Cavaliers.
Through three Summer League games, Thomas has proven to be one of, if not the best, players in Las Vegas so far. He’s averaged 28.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.3 steals on 50% shooting, including 45.8% from three.
Thomas’ College Season
The breakout Summer League star spent one season at Arkansas, where he averaged 15.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting 43.5% from the field. He also lit it up behind the arc, shooting 41.6% from three-point range.
Thomas credits this confidence to his college head coach, John Calipari.
“I feel Coach Cal seen my potential as soon as he recruited me, that you could be a player that plays at the next level,” Thomas said. “He keeps his players humble; I can tell you that. You come in at the beginning of the season, he’s going to put you through the gauntlet.
“He’s going to make you condition. He’s going to see if you want it. He’s going to put you through a lot of the things to see if you’re going to give up or not. And then when you get through the first part of things, it’s like, all right, you got through the hard part. Now stay consistent.
“Once you stay consistent and show him that you can constantly get better, which I’ve done this past season in Arkansas, then it’s like he likes to say, you got a real chance. Just stay the course, do what you got to do. And as he continues to tell you, you got a real chance, on top of me already thinking I have a huge chance, it goes hand in hand.Â
“Him installing that approach and me having that confidence in myself as a player allows me to know that I am going places.”
While Cleveland hoped Thomas could eventually become a reliable backcourt scorer, his early Summer League performances have exceeded expectations. His ability to create his own shot, knock down perimeter jumpers, and contribute as a playmaker has made him one of the most exciting rookies to watch in Las Vegas.
If Thomas can keep producing like this, he will enter training camp with a legitimate chance of getting some real minutes on a Cavaliers team looking for another young scoring threat to add to its rotation.
