Why Meleek Thomas didn't get picked in NBA Draft first round

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Meleek Thomas was widely expected to be a first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.

The opening night came and went without the Arkansas guard being chosen, though.

The second round is on Wednesday night, and Thomas shouldn't last much longer.

But at least for now, he lingers.

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Why didn't Meleek Thomas get picked in the first round of the NBA Draft?

There's no obvious reason here, but teams decided to go in other directions.

Part of the problem was that this is a stacked draft class. Almost all of the picks in the first round felt like good ones.

Thomas is a great player, too, and usually in the low-20s in draft rankings, but 30 picks came and went without him.

Thomas averaged 15.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and shot 41.6% from 3-point range in 2025-26 for the Razorbacks.

Most of that seems ready for the NBA.

He's also 6-foot-5, although maybe being a bit slight of frame hurt his cause.

The reality is that NBA teams must not view Thomas with quite enough upside to be a first-rounder.

He'll be an early second-rounder instead.