Cam Thomas always got his buckets in bunches…lots of buckets in bunches.
He led the entire Hampton Roads area as a freshman at Oscar Smith High School in Chesapeake, Virginia. He left Oak Hill Academy as the program’s all-time leading scorer despite only playing there his junior and senior seasons. He then led all NCAA DI freshmen in scoring in his only season at LSU. It didn’t matter who Cam played with or against. His responsibility has always been the same: score, score and score some more.
That all changed when he fell into the arms of the Brooklyn Nets with the No. 27 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Not only would he be joining an organization with championship or bust expectations, he was joining a roster that wasn’t hurting for scoring. Do the names Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden ring a bell?
On the one hand, Cam had a prime opportunity to work with and learn from three of the best offensive players in hoops history. On the other hand, he had to wait his turn and deal with inconsistent playing time, something he had never experienced at that point in his young career. Even then, Cam never lost confidence even in the slightest. It was tested, but that confidence is what got him here. And there’s a little “craziness” mixed in there too. All adults have it. But we know how the phrase is derived. “It’s only crazy until you do it.”
In the sparing minutes allotted to him, Cam showed his scoring brilliance. However, on any given night, he could play anywhere from four to 17 minutes or even have a DNP. That was the case for most of his first two years in the League.
And then, in February of 2023… he caught fire. With the Nets moving on from their big three of KD, Kyrie and Harden and trying to figure out where they’re going, Cam got a few more opportunities. And he took full advantage. With Harden long gone, Kyrie just traded to Dallas and KD in trade talks, Cam was unleashed. It all came together when he made history by becoming the youngest player to score 40-plus points in three straight games. And these 40 pieces were effective, works of a real professional scorer.
In the last 23-24 season, it slowly but surely started to come together. Cam has started 51 of his 66 games, averaging 22.5 points in nearly 31 minutes per game, up 12 points and 15 minutes from last season.
And now here we are. The Nets just completed a huge trade and there are a lot of questions about where the team is headed. There’s also an all-new coaching staff, including Jordi Fernandez at the helm. But even with all the questions, one thing is certain. The Nets have more than one scoring option in Cam Thomas.
It’s a hot Friday afternoon in July at SLAM headquarters in New York, and the 6-3, 22-year-old combo guard sitting in front of us is on the verge of a defining season, one way or another. his career. He sat down to discuss his offseason, proving the doubters wrong, his love for Kobe Bryant and more.
SLAM: How is the offseason going?
Cam Thomas. It’s been good. Just lay back, reset, get ready for next season. It was really good.
SLAM: Have you developed a routine or do you approach each offseason differently?
CT: I usually try to go with a clean slate because you never know. Things change from year to year, like coaches, schemes, etc. This summer was probably the longest I took off, about two or three weeks. Then I went right back to it.
SLAM: You are primarily known for your ability to score at the highest level and have improved as a goalscorer every year since entering the League. Are there specific things you are focused on improving next season?
CT: No, not really. I just want to keep working on everything. I tried to put more emphasis on catch and shoot last summer and I think I had a very high catch and shoot percentage in the league (this past season). So just keep working on it and improving the skills that I had coming into the League, like my off the dribble stuff and finishing at the basket, (while) still improving on catching and shooting, trying to have. best percentage in the League.
SLAM: The Nets were part of one of the biggest moves this offseason when Mikal Bridges made the jump to the Knicks. This positions you for the biggest role of your career so far. How did you begin to approach and prepare for this increased role, not only physically, but also mentally?
CT: Just knowing it and accepting it. Attacking it head on. I’ve kind of had those roles (as a team leader) since I was in high school and college. So I don’t really worry about it. I’m just excited to get it going and try to do it in League. It doesn’t bother me at all. I’m just ready.
SLAM: You are on the short list of the most talented young guards in the NBA. What do you think you need to do to get to that next level?
CT: Just do it all – do it consistently. I had the biggest jump in scores from my sophomore year to my third year. I was scoring 22.5 ppg, so I think I was trying to get into that 25 ppg range, picking up the game and just trying to continue to improve my all-around game. And hopefully that leads to wins.
SLAM: Are you inspired by doubters, or would you say you’re completely self-motivated?
CT: A little bit of both… I don’t really worry about the doubters because I’ve always had them. No one really believed in my talent and ability to score, not even at Oak Hill, not even in college, not even in the League. So I’m used to it. Now, that’s really just self-motivation. Even with a draw to slide to 27 all the way. And even with the Nets, not playing consistently my first two years. I have that in my back pocket so I can continue to grow and improve… to show you why you should have played me my first two years.
I’m no longer focused on trying to prove myself. Everybody knows I’m one of the best young scorers in the league right now, the best young guards. So it’s really just trying to maximize my abilities, see where I can take them and become the best player I can be for years to come.
SLAM: Obviously, there’s a lot of confidence you have to have to be an elite scorer in the league, let alone an underrated point guard. What do you think is the main source of that mentality?
CT: I would probably say growing up (in the Hampton Roads area). It’s physical there. Everyone is fighting for the same goal, athletically speaking. I feel like it helped me somehow. And indeed… Kobe Bryant. Just reading his mind and idolizing him, that’s part of it too. That’s really how I shaped my mindset, Kobe and my hometown. At the same time, it’s just in me.
SLAM: Do you have specific individual or team goals for next season? Are you concerned with All-Stars, All-NBA and those kinds of individual awards?
CT: Individually, I just try to stay in the moment. What happens, happens. If I get it, I get it. If I don’t, I don’t. I just want to keep improving. As for the team, the goal is to get better every day and try to win as many games as possible. Honestly, we don’t know what our team might look like next season. But whatever it looks like, we just want to be the best team we can be and try to put a good product out there for Brooklyn.
SLAM: What should Nets fans and Cam Thomas fans expect next season?
CT: Excitement. Entertainment. (I) hope it all leads to wins at the end of the day. We will see. It is different in the league. But I’m ready, I’m not worried at all. I’ve done it in League, but I want to take it to another level, of course.
Portraits by Marcus Stevens. Action photos via Getty Images.
