The Brooklyn Nets snapped their early-season losing streak with an impressive 115-102 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. Several Nets pitched in and helped the team pull away in the second half, and of course, Cam Thomas was at the center of the attack.
Thomas finished with a game-high 32 points, 25 of which came in the second half. He managed to do this despite shooting a lowly 2-for-8 on his three-pointers. He was not afraid to get in the mix defensively either, racking up two steals.
It is no secret that Thomas has confidence in himself, but his postgame comments will catch the eyes of the entire borough.
When asked if Thomas' late offensive roar was the result of taking advantage of a good matchup, he gave this reassuring reply:
"I feel like I always have the right matchup," Thomas said, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post.
Thomas' performance and comments speak volumes about his abilities and things to come for the Nets. First, the fact that Thomas remained assertive when his deep-range shots were not going down signals that he will not give up during a down period. This type of resilience is a special quality that could indicate Thomas might ascend higher than anyone can predict.
Second, if a player says that he feels like he always has the right matchup, that means he feels like no one can stop him. And if Thomas continues to play the way he has been playing, no one may be able to stop him. Even greater, no one may be able to stop the Nets.
Thomas is proving the Nets can trust him
Since joining Brooklyn in 2021, Cam Thomas has increased his points-per-game marks every year. There has been no question of his offensive talent. But there have been concerns about whether or not he can improve his efficiency and become more of a reliable defender. Through the first part of the 2024-25 season, Thomas is answering those questions with confidence.
His early field goal percentage is at 47.7 percent compared to his 2023-24 percentage of 44.2, and his steals-per-game mark is at a career-high 1.5. The fourth-year guard still has plenty of growing to do, Most notably, he needs to remain consistent through the course of the season.
Thomas and the Nets will continue to be tested, but he is moving toward cementing his status as a franchise cornerstone, and his confidence will only rub off on Brooklyn and make everyone better.