Cam Thomas has all the time gotten his buckets in bunches…a whole lot of buckets in bunches.
He led the complete Hampton Roads space in scoring as a freshman at Oscar Smith Excessive Faculty in Chesapeake, VA. He left Oak Hill Academy as this system’s all-time main scorer regardless of having solely performed there for his junior and senior seasons. He then led all NCAA DI freshmen in scoring throughout his sole season at LSU. It didn’t matter who Cam performed with or towards. His accountability was all the time the identical: rating, rating and rating some extra.
That each one modified when he fell into the Brooklyn Nets’ lap at choose No. 27 within the 2021 NBA Draft. Not solely would he be becoming a member of a company with championship-or-bust expectations, however he was additionally becoming a member of a roster that wasn’t hurting for scoring. Do the names Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden ring a bell?
On one hand, Cam had first-class entry to work with and be taught from three of the perfect offensive gamers in hoops historical past. On the opposite, he needed to wait his flip and take care of inconsistent enjoying time, one thing he’d by no means skilled at that time in his younger profession. Even then, Cam by no means misplaced even the smallest little bit of confidence. It was examined, however that confidence is what obtained him right here. And there’s a tad little bit of “loopy” blended in there, too. All of the greats have it. However we all know how the phrase goes: It’s solely loopy till you do it.
Within the sparing minutes he was given, Cam confirmed flashes of his scoring brilliance. But, on any given evening, he might play wherever from 4 minutes to 17 minutes or also have a DNP. It was like this for many of his first two years within the League.
After which, in February 2023…he erupted. Amidst the Nets transferring on from their huge three of KD, Kyrie and Harden and attempting to determine what course they’d transfer in, Cam obtained a number of extra home windows of alternative. And he took full benefit. With Harden lengthy gone, Kyrie simply traded to Dallas and KD in commerce rumors, Cam was unleashed. All of it got here collectively as he made historical past, changing into the youngest participant to attain 40-plus factors in three straight video games. And these 40-pieces have been environment friendly, the works of a real skilled scorer.
This previous ’23-24 season, it began to slowly however certainly all come collectively. Cam began in 51 of the 66 video games he performed in, averaging 22.5 factors in about 31 minutes per sport, a 12-point improve and 15-minute improve from the season prior.
And now we’re right here. The Nets simply accomplished a large commerce, and there are a lot of questions on which course the workforce is headed. There’s additionally a completely new teaching employees, together with Jordi Fernandez on the helm. However even with all of the questions, there’s one factor that’s for sure. The Nets have a greater than succesful primary scoring choice in Cam Thomas.
It’s a heat Friday afternoon in July at SLAM HQ in New York, and the 6-3, 22-year-old combo guard who sits throughout from us is getting ready to what might be, a technique or one other, a defining season in his profession. He sat down to debate his offseason, proving doubters mistaken, his love for Kobe Bryant and extra.
SLAM: How’s the offseason been going?
Cam Thomas: It’s been good. Simply laying low, resetting, preparing for subsequent season. It’s been actual good.
SLAM: Have you ever developed some form of routine, or do you strategy every offseason in a different way?
CT: I normally attempt to go along with a clear slate since you by no means know. Stuff modifications from yr to yr, like coaches, schemes, and many others. This summer time was most likely the longest I took off—about two or three weeks. Then I obtained proper again to it.
SLAM: You’re largely recognized on your potential to attain on the highest stage, and also you’ve improved as a scorer annually since coming into the League. Are there any particular stuff you’re centered on bettering for subsequent season?
CT: Nah, probably not. I simply wish to maintain engaged on all the things. Final summer time, I attempted to place extra emphasis on catch-and-shoot taking pictures, and I feel I used to be means up within the League percentage-wise on catch-and-shoot [this past season]. So, simply proceed to work on that and fine-tuning the abilities I had coming into the League, like my off-the-dribble stuff and ending across the basket, [while] nonetheless bettering on catch-and-shoot, attempting to have the perfect proportion within the League.
SLAM: The Nets have been a part of one of many largest strikes this offseason when Mikal Bridges went throughout the bridge to the Knicks. This positions you for the largest function of your profession up to now. How have you ever begun to strategy and put together for this elevated function, not solely bodily however mentally?
CT: Simply figuring out that and embracing it. Attacking it head-on. I’ve form of been having these roles [as the leader of the team] ever since I used to be in highschool and school. So, I’m probably not nervous about it. I’m simply excited to get it going and to attempt to do it within the League. I’m probably not nervous about it in any respect; I’m simply prepared.
SLAM: You’re on a brief listing of probably the most gifted younger guards within the NBA. What do you assume it’s worthwhile to do to get to that subsequent stage?
CT: Simply doing all the things—doing it constantly. I had the largest leap in factors from my second yr to my third yr. I used to be at 22.5 [points per game], so I feel attempting to get into that 25 ppg vary, upping the playmaking and simply attempting to maintain bettering my all-around sport. And hopefully, it results in wins.
SLAM: Are you impressed by the doubters, or would you say you’re fully self-motivated?
CT: It’s a bit little bit of each…I don’t actually fear concerning the doubters as a result of I’ve all the time had them. No one actually believed in my expertise and scoring potential—even at Oak Hill, and even in school, and even within the League. So, I’m used to it. Now, it’s actually simply self-motivation. Even right down to sliding within the draft all the best way down to choose 27. I nonetheless carry that chip on my shoulder. And even with the Nets, not enjoying constantly my first two years. I’ve that in my again pocket so I can continue to grow and maintain bettering…to point out why you must have performed me in my first two years.
I’m not centered on attempting to show myself anymore. Everyone is aware of I’m one of many prime younger scorers—prime younger guards—within the League now. So, it’s actually simply attempting to maximise my potential, see the place I can take it and change into the perfect participant I will be, this yr, and for years to return.
SLAM: There’s clearly a lofty confidence it’s essential to should be an elite scorer within the League, not to mention as an undersized guard. What do you assume is the primary supply of that mentality?
CT: I’d most likely say rising up in [the Hampton Roads area]. It’s bodily there. Everyone’s preventing for a similar objective, sports-wise. I really feel that helped me in a means. And actually…Kobe Bryant. Simply studying his mentality and idolizing him, that’s part of it, too. That’s actually how I formed my mentality: Kobe and my hometown. On the similar time, that’s simply in me.
SLAM: Do you have got any particular particular person or workforce targets for subsequent season? Are you involved with All-Star, All-NBA and people varieties of particular person accolades?
CT: Individually, I simply attempt to keep within the second. No matter occurs, occurs. If I get it, I get it. If I don’t, I don’t. I simply wish to maintain bettering. So far as the workforce, the objective is to be higher day-after-day and attempt to win as many video games as we are able to. Truthfully, we don’t know what our workforce might appear like going into subsequent season. However no matter it appears like, we simply wish to be the perfect workforce we will be and attempt to put product on the ground for Brooklyn.
SLAM: What ought to Nets followers and Cam Thomas followers anticipate subsequent season?
CT: Pleasure. Leisure. [I’m] hoping all the things results in wins on the finish of the day. We’ll see. It’s completely different within the League. However I’m ready, not nervous in any respect. I’ve executed it within the League, however I wish to take it to a different stage, for positive.
Portraits by Marcus Stevens. Motion images by way of Getty Pictures.