2025-26 Season

NAE'QWAN TOMLIN

Cleveland Cavaliers | Forward | 6-8

2025-26 Season

NAE'QWAN TOMLIN

Cleveland Cavaliers | Forward | 6-8 | Yr 1

5.8 PPG

2.9 RPG

0.8 APG

15.5 MPG

-4.9 Impact

Tomlin produces at an below average rate for a 16-minute workload.

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NET IMPACT BREAKDOWN

Every stat, every credit, every cost — per game average

-4.9

Scoring +4.5

Points 5.8 PPG = +3.6

Shot Making above expected FG% = +0.9

Creation +0.5

Creation 0.8 AST/g = +0.5

Turnovers -1.1

Turnovers 0.5/g = -1.1

Hustle & Effort +2.9

Rebounds 2.9 RPG = +2.9

Raw Impact +6.8

Baseline (game-average expected) −11.7

Net Impact

-4.9

18th pctl vs Forwards

PBP Credit: Every play is analyzed from play-by-play data. Scorers get difficulty-adjusted credit, assisters get creation value based on the shot opportunity they created, and turnovers are classified by type. Shot difficulty is derived from 1M+ shots across 4 seasons. Full methodology

TEAM COMPARISON

#15

Impact

#12

Creation

Hustle

#15

Defense

of 18 teammates (10+ games, 10+ min)

Donovan Mitchell +18.0 Jarrett Allen +12.6 Evan Mobley +12.4 James Harden +9.5 Jaylon Tyson +3.8 Darius Garland +1.7 Sam Merrill +1.5 De'Andre Hunter +1.3 Max Strus +0.1 Dean Wade -1.6 Keon Ellis -1.6 Craig Porter Jr. -2.4 Thomas Bryant -2.9 Tyrese Proctor -3.2 Nae'Qwan Tomlin -3.3 Larry Nance Jr. -4.7 Lonzo Ball -5.9 Dennis Schröder -5.9

Similar Players

Same position, closest production profile this season.

SKILL DNA

Percentile rank vs 234 Forwards with 10+ games

Scoring 26th

6.4 PPG

Efficiency 19th

51.8% TS

Playmaking 17th

0.9 APG

Rebounding 28th

3.2 RPG

Defense 21th

+4.9/g

Hustle 74th

+15.2/g

Creation 41th

+2.14/g

Shot Making 43th

+5.33/g

TO Discipline 92th

0.03/min

THE SEASON SO FAR

Nae'Qwan Tomlin's opening stretch of the season was defined by raw, high-chaos energy that swung wildly between game-wrecking interior dominance and frustrating defensive disorientation. When his motor was channeled properly, he was an absolute menace. He peaked on 11/13 vs TOR with a staggering +16.2 impact score. He poured in 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting that night, dominating the paint with relentless finishing. Even when his shot refused to fall, his sheer effort created immense non-scoring value. On 12/06 vs GSW, he scored just 6 points but earned a +4.8 impact by ripping down 12 rebounds and acting as a magnet for second-chance opportunities. Yet, his lack of situational awareness often carried a heavy hidden cost. During 11/30 vs BOS, he managed 7 points in 22 minutes but sank to a -2.5 impact because his habit of over-helping on drives surrendered wide-open perimeter looks.

Nae'Qwan Tomlin's midseason stint was defined by chaotic volatility, oscillating wildly between game-wrecking hustle and catastrophic lapses in awareness. When fully engaged, his length and motor made him a terrifying weapon off the bench. During the 01/21 vs CHA matchup, he posted a massive +6.9 impact score despite scoring just 6 points, generating immense value through relentless rebounding and sheer activity on the glass. He peaked shortly after on 01/30 vs PHX, pairing elite weak-side rim protection with a surprise 14-point outburst to register a brilliant +8.8 impact mark. However, his effectiveness completely cratered when his defensive focus waned. Take his 01/16 vs PHI performance, where a 9-point scoring boost was entirely negated by glaring defensive lapses that bled value and resulted in a -4.1 impact score. When Tomlin sticks to dirty work and rim-running, he swings games, but his tendency to fall asleep on rotations makes him a highly unpredictable gamble.

This stretch of the season was defined by maddening inconsistency, as Nae'Qwan Tomlin continually sabotaged his physical gifts with erratic defensive discipline. The hidden costs of his game were glaring on 03/31 vs LAL. Despite scoring a stretch-high 9 points, he posted a dreadful -3.3 impact score because he constantly bit on pump fakes and took terrible closeout angles. A similar story unfolded on 03/13 vs DAL, where his 8 points were entirely negated by poor perimeter spacing that cratered the offense for a -3.7 impact mark. Simplicity was his only saving grace. During 03/09 vs PHI, Tomlin scored just 2 points but still earned a highly positive +2.2 impact score. That success was built entirely on the margins through hyper-active weak-side rotations that deterred late-game attacks at the rim. Until he stops hunting empty offensive flashes and commits to the dirty work, he will remain glued to the end of the bench.

IMPACT TIMELINE

Game-by-game performance vs average. Green = above average, red = below.

Best Game

26 PTS vs WAS

Apr 12 | +20.4 impact

Worst Game

0 PTS vs WAS

Dec 13 | -22.3 impact

PATTERNS

Struggling. Tomlin has posted negative impact in 77% of games this season. The production rarely outweighs the cost.

Middle-of-the-road efficiency — shoots 45%+ from the field in 52% of games. Not automatic, but not a problem either.

Good defender on his best nights, but it comes and goes. Some games Tomlin locks in defensively, others he gets picked apart.

Tends to go on runs. Longest hot streak: 3 games. Longest cold streak: 17 games.

MATCHUP HISTORY

Based on 72 games with tracking data. Shows who guarded this player on offense and who he guarded on defense, with their shooting stats in those matchups.