Former Kansas State and Memphis forward Nae'Qwan Tomlin put on a show in Cleveland’s Las Vegas Summer League opener, scoring 30 points and grabbing five rebounds — but the Cavs fell just short in a 116-115 loss to the Indiana Pacers.
Tomlin was efficient, shooting 12-of-16 from the floor, hitting 3-of-7 from beyond the arc, and going 3-of-4 at the line. He also added two assists and two steals in 27 minutes.
Nae'Qwan Tomlin's handle and body control at 6'9" are really impressive
— Tony Pesta (@Tony_Pesta) July 11, 2025
Dropped 30 points on 12/16 shooting yesterday. Showed a variety of moves pic.twitter.com/1onTBWx3kx
The 24-year-old forward, currently on a two-way contract with Cleveland, appeared in five games during the 2024-25 NBA season, starting the last one. He’s averaged 7.2 points and 4.2 rebounds in 12.6 minutes per game, showcasing his efficiency in limited playing time.
Tomlin saw his heaviest workload in the regular-season finale, playing 47 minutes and posting 24 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, and a block in a 126-118 loss to the Pacers. He shot 8-of-21 from the field, including 2-of-8 from three-point range in that game.
He is set to make $636,434 on his two-way deal for the upcoming season.
Tomlin’s college career was a rollercoaster. He was a standout for Kansas State during the 2022-23 campaign, helping lead the Wildcats to a deep NCAA Tournament run. However, his time there ended prematurely after he was dismissed following an arrest for disorderly conduct related to a bar altercation.
He then transferred to Memphis, where he played 21 games and averaged 14 points and six rebounds in 26 minutes per game.
The Cavaliers will look to bounce back when they play their second Summer League game Saturday at 3:30 p.m.