Cavs’ Kenny Atkinson On Nae’Qwan Tomlin: ‘He Impressed Right Off The Bat’

Nae’Qwan Tomlin started close to the bottom and now he’s here. More specifically, Tomlin started with the Cleveland Charge after going undrafted, then signed a 10-day deal with the Cavaliers.

Now, he’s officially moved into two-way territory.

That’s a step up for Tomlin, and a well-deserved one at that, according to coach Kenny Atkinson.

“The front office watched (Tomlin) intently in the G League,” Atkinson said. “He impressed right off the bat. He picked things up.”

Tomlin, 24, is 6-foot-10 and finished his college career at Memphis before going undrafted by the NBA. The Cavaliers signed him to a camp deal in September.

Atkinson said he likes Tomlin’s energy, effort, and attitude. 

“Those things matter, right?” Atkinson said. “So earned that (two-way deal).”

Tomlin averaged 15.7 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game in 35 Tip-Off Tournament and regular season games with the Charge.

“Just from a maturity level. I was very immature early on. It just helped build character,” Tomlin told Jackson Flickinger of Fear the Sword of his journey to the NBA “Even when I was at Kansas State transitioning to Memphis, everything was just life lessons. It’s made me who I am today.”

In order to sign Tomlin to a two-way deal, the Cavs had to release a player. That player was forward/center JT Thor.

“He has a lot of talent,” Atkinson said. “He’ll land on his feet. It’s never an easy decision.”

The 6-9 Thor appeared in 165 games for Charlotte, but played a limited role with the Cavaliers this season, making just nine appearances and averaging 4.7 minutes per game. In his limited time, Thor recorded 28 points on 9-of-15 shooting across 42 minutes.

Thor also spent time with the Charge, where he averaged 14.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 24 Tip-Off Tournament and regular season games. However, his shooting struggles continued, as he posted a shooting line of .434/.276/.762.