Former Utah State Aggie Sam Merrill Has Career Night vs Mavericks
Feb 3, 2025, 11:43 AM | Updated: 1:03 pm
SALT LAKE CITY- Sam Merrill, who is Utah State’s second all-time leading scorer, is having one of his best years in the NBA, averaging just shy of 19 minutes per game for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
While Merrill’s average production this season is seven points, he found his groove last night against the Dallas Mavericks, tying a career-high of 27 points, all from beyond the three-point arc.
Sammy was on a HEATER last night! #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/9gDjo08SjQ
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) February 3, 2025
The Cavaliers took advantage of a depleted Dallas Mavericks squad that was less than 24 hours removed from the Luka Dončić trade, leading by 31 points by the end of the first quarter.
The large deficit allowed some extended minutes for some guys off the bench, including Sam Merrill who entered the game to start the second quarter. Merrill went 4/4 from three-point range in the second quarter to help Cleveland lead 91-46 at halftime.
straight heat. 🔥@smerrill05 | #LetEmKnow https://t.co/Hun6pamuEw pic.twitter.com/gQIu5CkmkN
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) February 2, 2025
Sam Merrill checked back into the game with 5:12 remaining in the third quarter where he would knock down one three-pointer as the frame came to a close.
Merrill turned the flame thrower back on, playing the entirety of the fourth quarter, knocking down four more three-pointers, including one with less than two minutes left in the game to break the Cleveland Cavaliers franchise record for most three-pointers in a game by the team.
Sam Merrill finished the game with a pure hooper’s stat line of no assists, no rebounds, and 27 points on 64% from the field, hitting nine of his 13 three-point attempts, all of them catch-and-shoot. He only dribbled twice.
Sam led the Cavaliers in scoring and got some love from his teammate Donovan Mitchell with a water bottle shower to cool him off during his post-game interview.
Sam Merrill.
That’s it, that’s the tweet. pic.twitter.com/pL69jt02mM
— RODDY (@ust8_) February 2, 2025
Sam Merrill In The NBA
Following a Mountain West Conference Championship run in his senior year at Utah State, Sam Merrill entered the NBA Draft where he was a second-round pick, going 60th overall to the New Orleans Pelicans. This only started his journey around the league in the early stages of his career as he would never suit up for New Orleans.
Sam was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in a multi-team deal where he would begin his professional career in the G League. He would be called up throughout the season, making 30 appearances for the Bucks in the regular season and eight in the playoffs, playing a role in an NBA Championship run and finishing his rookie year with a ring.
RELATED: Former Utah State Aggies Carving Out Roles With NBA’s Best
The following year, Merrill was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies where he only played in six games before getting waived halfway through the 2022-2023 season.
That offseason, Sam spent a few brief months with the Sacramento Kings before being waived prior to the regular season. Still seeking a home, Merrill became a part of the Cleveland Charge, the Cavaliers’ G League affiliate, and following a 10-day contract in March 2023, he signed a multi-year deal with the Cavaliers, finally finding the system that allowed him to shine.
Merrill is now in his second year with the Cavaliers and has become a key part of their bench rotation, providing an offensive spark when the starters are off the floor.
