From NBA Summer League standout to "Race Horse Q," discover how Nae’Qwan Tomlin’s ferocious hustle and transition scoring secured his standing with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The rise of Nae'Qwan Tomlin in the last calendar year has been one of the Cleveland Cavaliers' best stories.
After dominating the NBA Summer League, the Cleveland Cavaliers had high hopes for Nae'Qwan Tomlin to be a rangy, athletic forward in their future rotation. Their optimism turned out to be true, as the 25-year-old earned a two-way contract conversion into a standard deal with his performances in the first half of the season.
In the second game of a mini-series with the Miami Heat, the Cavs were missing a ton of players. That allowed Tomlin the opportunity to play his first significant minutes with the group, producing a plus-20 in 18 minutes of action. Cleveland head coach Kenny Atkinson went to him the next game, where Tomlin posted a career-high 18 points vs. the Toronto Raptors.
As the season progressed into the winter months, Atkinson continuously went to Tomlin. He was chaotically energetic, playing with a nastiness that stood out over everybody else. There wasn't an offensive rebound he couldn't secure, oftentimes sneaking around but also just flat-out wanting it more than his opponent.
Tomlin was fun to watch in transition, as he sped up and down the floor with a dead sprint every time Cleveland grabbed a board. Atkinson nicknamed him "Race Horse Q" to describe the 94-foot gallop. His interior finishes carried ferocity and emotion, and any hustle play to turn the momentum came with a scream.
One of the best nights of Tomlin's season was against the Los Angeles Lakers on national television, when he and Jaylon Tyson stole the show with their defensive intensity against the likes of Luka Doncic and LeBron James.
It was only a couple of weeks afterward that the Cavs signed Tomlin to a two-year, $3 million guaranteed contract.
Tomlin's role unfortunately faded after the trade deadline, due in part to roster changes and a general dip in performance. He always brought the energy and hustle, but the offensive piece is still a work in progress.
REGULAR SEASON STATS
5.8 POINTS | 2.9 REBOUNDS | 0.8 ASSISTS | 47.8% FG | 23.5% 3PT | 77.0% FT
There's an entire offseason for Tomlin to improve as a three-point shooter and in his reads, which should give him an opportunity with the Cavs. Earning guaranteed money with his first half of the season indicated that the organization is a believer.
It will be fun to follow along with Tomlin's maturation as a player next season.
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