The Cleveland Cavaliers have enjoyed a nice boost off of their bench from an unexpected player. Well, unexpected to some. We’ve been singing Nae’Qwan Tomlin’s praises since last spring — but other people
are finally starting to take notice.
Former champion and Milwaukee Bucks’ head coach Doc Rivers is one of them.
“Tomlin… he’s like a freaking energy guy, energy guys are huge,” Rivers said before his Bucks played the Cavs. “You need guys like that for your team.”
Tomlin has been a bright spot for Cleveland during some early-season struggles. He scored 18 points in 22 minutes against the Toronto Raptors last week and has changed the momentum of games through his energy. He’s a purposeful player who plays every minute like it’s do-or-die. For two-way players like Tomlin, those minutes are invaluable when it comes to earning more opportunities.
“Quite honestly, there are guys who need to play like that,” Rivers said about role players like Tomlin and Milwaukee’s own Andre Jackson Jr. “Andre, I know if I put him in at any point, he’s going to play hard.”
Surviving the 82-game gauntlet that is the NBA regular season can be a drag. Having players who are willing to come off the bench and play with competitive fire can go a long way. Not only for lifting their team on nights where the star players aren’t bringing enough energy — but for keeping them active in practice.
“Where you really need them is practice,” Rivers said. “I always tell my own story, Leon Wood, I made the All-Star team and I swear to God, it was because of that one guy.”
Tomlin is still in the early stages of earning rotational minutes in the NBA. He hasn’t even gotten a standard contract yet. But he’s garnering attention because of his effort. And as he grows more accustomed to the game, he might be able to do more than just provide energy. Tomlin has the potential to be a genuinely impactful player at some point in his career. For now, he’s helping the Cavs more than the usual two-way player.
