Meleek Thomas earns first NBA start as he carves out role with Cavs

In the NBA, rookie Meleek Thomas made his first start for the Cavaliers on November 2 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. This marked the start of a prominent role for the Cleveland team. Thomas was called up to start in place of Peyton Watson, who had been ruled out due to a hamstring injury. However, the Cavaliers fell short in a tight 117-112 defeat, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander putting on a MVP-level performance.

This was Thomas' fourth career game with the Cavs, and his name being called as a starter added to his growing list of accomplishments in the league. "It means everything to me," Thomas said with a smile after the game. "Dreams of getting here are wonderful, but to contribute to winning so early in the season and help your team, it just means the world to me.

I can't thank my teammates enough." Thomas' impact on the Cavs rotation has come much faster than most second-round rookies. In the four games he's played, Thomas has scored double digits in each, and against the Thunder, he matched Donovan Mitchell with a team-high 17 points alongside five rebounds and a steal. The Cavs coach, Kenny Atkinson, was clearly impressed with Thomas' performance, stating, "He's gonna be a heck of a player."

Thomas' performance and potential were enough to secure him the No. 34 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. His versatility in offense and ability to create his own advantages make him a valuable asset to the team, as Atkinson noted. The Cavs' coach is confident that Thomas will continue to make an impact, especially once the team is fully healthy and can utilize him interchangeably with other starters like Donovan Mitchell and James Harden.