Cam Thomas: ready for a new role as leader

In interviews with Erik Slater of Clutch Points and Mike Scotto of Hoopshype, Cam Thomas made it clear he sees the Brooklyn Nets as his team now following the trade of Mikal Bridges and he intends to assert himself as team leader. And while Sean Marks made have told ESPN on the weekend that the Nets are in a “little bit of rebuilding” Thomas steers clear of the word and the idea.

The interviews, conducted in Las Vegas, make it clear that Thomas sees his next steps clearly but says he has put aside his rookie contract extension and instead focus on what he can do to prove himself.

“If I get minutes and play, I feel like I’m one of the best players in the league, and I can really showcase myself,” said Thomas who averaged 22.5 points a game last season, 33rd in the NBA. Of the players above him on the scoring leader board, only two are younger than the 22-year-old: Cade Cunningham and Paolo Banchero, both overall No. 1 picks. His 11.9-point jump in scoring average was the highest of any player in the league.

Thomas spoke of his leadership goal in talking to both reporters.

“Just being more of a leader. I’m really honing in on that and starting early with that,” he told Slater when asked what can fans expect to see from him come October. “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.

Moreover, he said that he is already asserting that leadership and that he’s getting the respect for being the face of the franchise as well as the leading scorer.

“I have a good say on what goes on around here and people listen to what I say. So I definitely wanna be a good resource for the young guys and just help out as much as I can. And obviously, I hope everything leads to wins, but we’ll see.”

In the Scotto interview, he posed similar thoughts about being THE man on the roster.

“I want to go into more of a leadership role. I’ve been on the team the second-longest behind Nic Claxton,” he told Scott. “I’m going into my fourth year, and he just finished five years. More of that leadership role trying to lead the guys.

Thomas also said he hopes he’ll have the ball in his hands more and embraces the idea of being a playmaker rather than just a chucker.

“Having more opportunity to play with the ball in my hand and showcasing that I can do that,” he said when Scotto asked what else fans might see. “Most people saw the second half of the year that I was a totally different player with my playmaking, rebounding, and defending. I’m trying to maintain that throughout the whole year because I’ll have the opportunity to do that and have that stability throughout the whole year. It’ll be good.”

As for talk of a rebuild, Thomas said that’s not in his DNA nor his teammates. They will compete when on the court.

“We’re not going to treat this as a rebuild as people say we’re doing,” he told Scotto. “We’re going to go out there and compete and try to win every game. If we lose, we lose. We’re not going to throw games. We’re going to compete hard. It’s going to be entertaining and exciting with good, young Nets basketball. I can’t wait to see it...

“Teams have got to beat us. We’re not going to roll over and just let teams beat us by 30 because we’re young. We played a lot of close games last year, especially towards the end of the year when we played a lot of good teams.”

Thomas said he was surprised at the news of the Bridges trade to New York, he told Slater.

“I was getting ready to go back to New York. It was late at night, and I was packing to go back up, actually. And then somebody sent it to me and I was like, ‘Is that real?’ I was confused. And then they were like, ‘Yeah.’ I was like, ‘Oh, wow.’ Whatever happens, happens. I love Mikal. He’s a great guy, great player, but I guess that’s the direction we gotta go in, so we gotta see how it goes.”

He added that he doesn’t think his role will change dramatically, but it will be more enhanced.

“I wouldn’t say it changes,” he told Slater, “but [there will] probably be more of an emphasis on what I’m supposed to do, you know, scoring the ball and playmaking for the guys. So I wouldn’t necessarily say it changes what I do, because I’ve been doing the same thing since I’ve been here. I’ll probably just take it to a different level, for sure.”

Scotto also asked about his relationship with new head coach Jordi Fernandez.

“It’s been good. He’s very smart. He’s very detailed. I think he’ll be good for our young team. I think we’re going the young route, so that’ll be good for us because he’s all about the details and pushes us to be great. I can’t wait to actually get to work with him.”

Thomas spoke as well about his teammates and not just the young ones. Like Sean Marks, Thomas offered a positive take on Ben Simmons.

“I’m expecting him to be healthy and be ready to play,” he told Scott. “I’m not going into every year saying he’s not going to play. Never. He’s on the team, and I think he’s going to be healthy to play to start the year off. Whatever happens during the year happens. To start the year off, I feel like he’s going to be ready to play.”

And after watching Noah Clowney and Jalen Wilson play in Las Vegas, he was optimistic about their growth.

“I think a lot of people saw what Noah could bring last year towards the end of the year with his defending, being a lob threat, making an open three if we kick it to him. I think Dariq is still trying to figure his footing out in the league. It’s been a while since he’s played. He’s been hurt a lot. He has time. He’s really young. The potential is there,” he told Scotto.

“With Jalen Wilson, everyone saw him crashing the glass, bringing energy, and he can knock down an open three when you kick it to him. He’s a very good utility guy. He could definitely help us for sure.”

Thomas did admit to Slater how he’s “kinda used” to the “crazy stuff” that happens with the franchise but as he has in the past expressed confidence in Marks’ vision.

“I’m kinda used to it at this point, all this crazy stuff that’s been going on my first three years. It’s been crazy, but it’s just part of the business, like everybody says. You can’t really put your feelings into it or dwell on it. This is where Sean thinks we should go, so we gotta follow his lead and try to put the best product on the floor. We’re gonna try to do that.”