© Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports
Cam Thomas talks about how he's grown during the 2023/24 season
Cameron Thomas is just in his third year but is already cementing his reputation as a talented scorer. He could hit shots from impossible angles, as he has a natural knack for shot-making.
Coaches are adopting double teams to contain him and force him to pass. That is the ultimate sign of respect from coaches and defenders because it proves Cam is a dangerous scorer. Thomas realizes the attention he’s garnering, which has led to him making adjustments.
“Just staying true to myself and not letting anybody change me. That’s how I really try to approach the game,” Thomas said in a post-game interview after losing to Orlando. “Even now, when teams are trying to blitz me a lot on the screens, it can be frustrating because you wanna come off and get one-on-ones and open shots, but at the same time, you just gotta read the game and play through it.”
Cam continues to evolve
With every game, Thomas displays maturity and a willingness to learn. It shows that the 22-year-old is ready to embrace a superstar role for the Nets when allowed to do so. Of course, he is only in his third year, meaning his growth is still ongoing.
You can see how he’s added dimensions to his game, going from a pure bucket-getter into a dynamic offensive star with playmaking abilities. Under Coach Jacque Vaughn, Cam showed flashes of this, but with Coach Kevin Ollie, Thomas is becoming a complete star.
He has also learned how to deal with more attention on him. Cam has continued to improve because he knows teams will look to stop him and take him away from the game.
“That’s what I really got better at this year. Because we played Atlanta, and it caught me off guard, and I struggled that game a lot with the blitzing, but then you look at the film and just know where you can attack and how to read it. So it’s been good growth for me in that area,” Cam continued.
Cam will be the Nets’ torchbearer
With continued improvement and trust from the coaching staff, it’s hard not to see Cam as the Nets’ biggest star. He’s already in a starring role alongside Mikal Bridges, but he’s ready to take the reins and be at the forefront.
Cam has the right attitude to be a star, and everyone within the Nets organization sees it. With how he’s adapting to defensive schemes set up to stop him, the future is bright for Thomas and Brooklyn.
