​Arkansas basketball star Meleek Thomas expected to be picked in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft. He wasn’t. Projected to be a No. 26 pick by some outlets and experts, Thomas fell all the way to No. 34 in the second round. The Cleveland Cavaliers were willing to step up and take Thomas. Few NBA rookies had more to prove coming into the NBA Summer League than Thomas. So far, the young man is playing like someone who has a lot of statements to make.Thomas played one of the best summer league games of 2026 on Sunday. He went for 30 points with 7 assists and 4 steals. The Cavaliers lost to the Detroit Pistons, but that didn’t really matter. The Cavs have to be thrilled at the sight of Thomas delivering on his potential and validating the belief that Cleveland got the steal of the 2026 draft.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe 30 points speak for themselves, but Meleek Thomas did that while handing out a bunch of dimes and playing feisty, aggressive defense as well. People are going to look at the scoring, as they always do and always will, but Thomas was a helper on offense and a vital presence on defense. The Cavs, like any NBA team, would want to see an NBA draft prospect prove he belongs on the court as soon as possible, not needing a few weeks of summer ball or (worse) months into his rookie season to finally understand how to handle himself. Thomas has already checked that box, at least to a degree. Yet, it’s better than that.Thomas is known as a quality shooter, and he hit four 3-pointers on Sunday in the game against the Pistons. Fulfilling primary expectations — doing the one thing everyone knows he does well — was only the beginning for Meleek. What he really needed to prove is that, first of all, he could facilitate offense in addition to making shots. He did that versus Detroit. He is in the process of establishing himself as a versatile offensive player, not merely a shooter. He is making himself that much harder for NBA opponents to guard against. That will increase his value right then and there.One other thing Meleek Thomas needed to show is that he could be an NBA-level defender. Teams need to see two-way quality in order to give young players more minutes as reserves off the bench. Thomas’ four steals against Detroit give the Cavs clear evidence he can get after it at that end of the floor.The short summary: Not only Meleek Thomas not a one-trick pony on offense (he can pass and make plays in addition to shooting), but he isn’t just an all-offense player. He’s a two-way force. This is the versatility and depth of quality which will lead to a long and lucrative NBA career if sustained.