Constantly improving since his arrival in the NBA, Cam Thomas continues to rise. First on the bench, then as a starter last season, he is now the leader of the attack since the departure of Mikal Bridges to the Knicks.
Being the leader of the franchise does not seem to scare him, better, it is a challenge that he wishes to take up.
” I know what awaits me and I accept it. I tackle it head on. I've kind of played that role since I was in high school and college. So I don't really worry about it,” he confides in SLAM. “I'm just excited to get out there and try to make it in the NBA. I don't really worry about it at all, I'm just ready.”
Last season, Thomas finished the season with a 22.5 point average, ranking 26th in the scoring league. However, his new responsibilities will have to go beyond just numbers and points scored.
“I have to do everything with consistency. I had the biggest increase in points between my sophomore and junior years. I was at 22.5 points per game, so I think I have to try to get to that 25-point-per-game range,” he confides. “I have to improve my playmaking and continue to improve my game as a whole. And hopefully that will lead to wins.”
A future All-star?
Last season, an average of 25 points per game allowed one to enter the top 15 of the league's best scorers and to rank between players of the caliber of Kyrie Irving (14th at 25.6 points per game average) and Anthony Davis (15th at 24.7 points per game average).
Whether it's on a collective or individual level, this season will be one of development. Cam Thomas will have to take another step forward this season, this time as a leader and demonstrate that he belongs at the top of the NBA's roster.
“I'm not trying to prove myself anymore. Everybody knows I'm one of the best young scorers, one of the best young guards, in the league now, ” continues the Nets player. “So I'm just looking to make the most of my abilities, see how far I can go and become the best player I can be, this year and for years to come.”
By breaking the 25-point-per-game mark, Thomas could be in the All-Star conversation, which would be ideal as he enters the final year of his contract.
“Individually, I just try to stay in the moment. No matter what happens, “ he concludes. “If I get it, I get it. If I don't, I don't. I just want to keep getting better. As far as the team goes, 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 no matter what it looks like, we just want to be the best team we can be and try to give it our all on the court for Brooklyn.”
| Cam Thomas | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2021-22 | BRK | 67 | 18 | 43.3 | 27.0 | 82.9 | 0.2 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 8.5 |
| 2022-23 | BRK | 57 | 17 | 44.1 | 38.3 | 86.8 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 10.6 |
| 2023-24 | BRK | 66 | 31 | 44.2 | 36.4 | 85.6 | 0.4 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 2.9 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 22.5 |
| Total | 190 | 22 | 44.0 | 34.4 | 85.5 | 0.3 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 0.5 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 14.0 | |
How to read the stats? GM = Games Played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots Made / Shots Attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers Attempted; LF = Free Throws Made / Free Throws Attempted; Off = Offensive Rebound; Def = Defensive Rebound; Tot = Total Rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal Fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose Balls; Ct: Blocks; Pts = Points.
