Carmelo Anthony, one of the league’s greatest scorers, has officially stamped Meleek Thomas as the most impressive rookie at Summer League. Forget the lottery picks for a second, because this 19-year-old guard, selected way down at 34th overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers, went to Las Vegas and torched the competition, averaging a league-best 27.3 points per game. That’s not just a good showing, that’s a statement.
The Steal of the Draft is Already Balling Out
In college, Meleek Thomas put up a solid 15.6 points per game, but he was always in the shadow of his backcourt partner, Darius Acuff Jr., who ended up as a lottery pick. Thomas didn’t get that lottery love, falling all the way to the second round. Cleveland snagging him at 34th overall? After his Summer League performance, that’s already looking like one of the biggest steals of the entire draft. The dude caught everyone’s attention, plain and simple.
Across four games in Vegas, Thomas didn’t just score, he *owned* the court. Beyond his ridiculous 27.3 points, he added 3.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and two steals per game. That kind of all-around performance from a 19-year-old second-round pick meant he earned a spot on the All-Summer League First Team. He was standing shoulder to shoulder with guys like Caleb Wilson, Cameron Boozer, Brayden Burries, and Yaxel Lendeborg, many of whom were lottery selections. You can’t tell me that isn’t impressive for a kid drafted in the second round.
Melo’s Unfiltered Take on Thomas
When a legend like Carmelo Anthony, one of the all-time scoring greats, comes out and says he’s impressed, you listen. Thomas proved he absolutely belongs in the NBA, and frankly, he should have been picked much higher. Melo laid it all out on the “7 PM in Brooklyn” podcast. He said, “When I get there, I’mma show you why I wanted this so bad. So, he came out up against the wall, up against the eight-ball, drafted second round. Could have been a top 20 pick. Up against the eight-ball, drafted second round. Now, you get an opportunity to play in the Summer League against all these guys that went before you. And he’s showing up.”
That’s real talk from Melo, and it’s a huge vote of confidence for a 19-year-old rookie. Thomas has a bright future ahead of him, and Cavaliers fans have every right to be hyped. Getting to play alongside established stars like Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley on a competitive team? Yeah, Thomas is definitely in a position to thrive. The kid showed up in Vegas, and the league is on notice.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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