Is Cam Thomas the Next Brooklyn Nets Star?

In his third year in the NBA Cam Thomas is finally getting a chance to play big and regular minutes. The patience has undoubtedly paid off for him. Through three games this season Thomas is averaging 33 points. He didn’t start the first game but came in and scored 36 points in just 25 minutes off the bench.

Ever since that first game he has been starting and scored 30 points the next game followed by 33 points, right at his average. Can he keep this up and be the next star of the NBA and the Brooklyn Nets? It is possible. Let’s look more into this rising star Cam Thomas.

In the 2021 NBA Draft Thomas was selected late in the first round at pick No. 27 by the Nets. He averaged just 17 minutes and started two games and really only played when injuries happened to players playing ahead of him. He did show flashes of potential like during a stretch in February where he scored 20 or more points in six of eight games. He also had 10 total 20-point games as a rookie.

The next year was more of the same. Thomas only played when injuries occurred. Remarkably, he scored 43 or more points in three straight games when they were short handed at one point. Still, he was relegated to bench duty soon after that.

Whenever he was given a chance he has shown he can be an elite scorer. Now, finally it seems like this year he will get the chance to actually start and play 30+ minutes per night on a regular basis.

His current points per game average is good for fourth in the league but he is still averaging less minutes per game than anyone else in the top 10 or scorers besides Stephen Curry. Cam Thomas is on a wild tear to begin the season but don’t expect him to keep up these numbers to this extent. He is shooting over 61% from the field while his career average is just 43%.

Thomas should be an effective 20+ point per night scorer this year and possibly increase that to become a star in the next few years. He has gone on big scoring stretches throughout his career but consistency will be key and will determine if he becomes a star.

By Jack Stradley, I’m a sports writer always looking for a gripping story and a hot take.