In the eyes of the skeptics, the Brooklyn Nets have effectively punted all hope of competing for a postseason appearance in 2024-25. Trading Mikal Bridges for a draft-oriented return certainly signaled a shift in priority from immediate returns to a long-term rebuild.
If you ask Cam Thomas, however, trading Bridges was simply an example of a door opening for someone new to step into a leadership role.
Brooklyn traded Bridges to the cross-bridge rival New York Knicks for Bojan Bogdanovic, Mamadi Diakite, Shake Milton, six first-round draft picks, and a 2025 second-rounder. It was a resounding statement by the Nets that the future is more of a priority than the present.
Despite that development, Thomas told Erik Slater of Clutch Points that his primary goal for the 2024-25 season is to become a leader in Brooklyn—a statement that doesn't quite speak to a losing mentality.
"Just being more of a leader. I’m really honing in on that and starting early with that. I kind of did it towards the second half of last year because it’s something I wanted to try as the year went on. I’m gonna try to start this year off focusing on that because, honestly, I am [a leader]. I think I’m the second-longest tenured guy on the team, so I am one of the leaders on the team. So I’m definitely trying to hone in on that."
If the Nets are going to turn the ship around and play postseason-caliber basketball at any point in the near future, then Thomas will need to succeed in that pursuit.
Cam Thomas is preparing to become the leader of the Brooklyn Nets
Thomas, 22, has been with the Nets since they selected him at No. 27 overall in the 2021 NBA Draft. He's improved in each of his three seasons in Brooklyn, progressively establishing himself as a high-level scorer who could ultimately become the go-to scoring option on a playoff team.
In 2023-24, the 22-year-old averaged 22.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.2 three-point field goals made on .442/.364/.856 shooting.
Thomas set career-best averages across the board, including the 31.4 minutes per game he played after seeing a mere 16.6 per contest in 2022-23. He also recorded four 40-point games and went off for at least 30 points on 15 different occasions in 2023-24.
Thomas took his game to another level during the final 18 games of the 2023-24 season, posting 26.6 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.7 three-point field goals made on .453/.372/.888 shooting.
The fact that Thomas is capable of that level of individual play at just 22 years of age is an undeniably promising sign for the Nets. As he's mentioned, however, the next step toward becoming a true franchise player is being an individual around whom his teammates are willing to rally.
It's no easy feat for a player at any age to accomplish, but if Thomas can set the tone in the locker room, the impact of his production will be magnified.
While many have their sights set on Cooper Flagg at the 2025 NBA Draft, Thomas is looking to make the most of what he can bring to the table in the present day. It's all that can be asked of a player who's honed his craft while the franchise he plays for has been thinking beyond his contributions.
A pending free agent looking to prove that he can be the player who leads Brooklyn to prominence, Thomas is putting in the work to become the leader his team needs him to be.