Feb 6, 2023; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (24) celebrates his three point shot against the Los Angeles Clippers during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
NBA: Los Angeles Clippers at Brooklyn Nets
Despite the loss, Cam Thomas had the best performance of his young career, instilling his future with the now Kyrie-less Brooklyn Nets.
After his ultra impressive 44-point breakout performance in the Nets win against the Washington Wizards on Saturday, Thomas managed to top that in his next game with 47 points in Monday night’s loss to the Clippers. This makes him just the second youngest player to put up back-to-back 40+ point performances only behind LeBron James.
“That’s great company that I have my name mentioned with [LeBron James],” said Thomas. “I’m a Kobe guy though, so if you said Kobe I would’ve been a little more excited.”
Despite not being grouped with his idol, it’s always a remarkable feat to reach heights only LeBron James has ever conquered.
Cam Thomas has looked unbelievable in this recent stretch. In the first 32 games of the season, Thomas averaged 6.6 PPG on 42.4% FG, 32.4% 3PT, and 77.9% FT, and those numbers exploded in his last 4 games averaging 32.8 PPG on 56.7% FG, 59.2% 3PT, and 88.4% FT. This includes the two games without Kyrie Irving where Thomas has been scoring a more-than-pedestrian 45.5 points per contest.
Just how impressive is this stretch for Cam Thomas in perspective with his peers? Despite his Summer League Co-MVP in 2021, Cam has gotten a lot less play than the contemporaries of his draft class, but has already lapped that group in a huge category.
Highest scoring games by a player from the 2021 draft:
1. Cam Thomas — 47*
2. Cam Thomas — 44*
3. Jalen Green — 43
4. Jalen Green — 41 (tie)
4. Jalen Green — 41 (tie)
6. Evan Mobley — 38 (tie)
6. Franz Wagner — 38 (tie)*happened in last 2 games player
Holy buckets. pic.twitter.com/yU2PUUhUmj
— Phil (Dixon) (@FilipmyCup) February 7, 2023
In his last two games, Cam Thomas managed to score more points in both those games than any other member of the 2021 draft class has scored in a game in their career. That’s right; not Jalen Green, Cade Cunningham, Franz Wagner, Scottie Barnes, Evan Mobley, or anyone else.
No need to get too excited, it’s only two 40 point performances, but this has been the first real opportunity for Cam Thomas to let his scoring prowess breath. In those two games he managed to match the total amount of 40 point games Kyrie Irving has had all season, and is just one short of Durant in that department. Scaling the scoring is something that has to be worked on when the offensive engine of the team Kevin Durant returns, but this is as good of a performance you can ask from a 21-year old, late-first round pick in the wake of losing one of your superstars.
There’s still long, long ways to go before reaching the heights of Kyrie Irving, but for now the Nets have found a massive bright spot in what’s been a disastrously disappointing season. The future is bright for Cam Thomas.
