Nets guard Cam Thomas has transformed his game this season, becoming increasingly potent as a scorer, but also adding play-making to his bag of tricks, according to Brian Lewis of the New York Post.
“I’d say I’ve grown as a passer because I’m playing more. If anybody doesn’t really play much, then they get in for a few spurts — I mean, let’s be real — nobody’s looking to pass when they first get in, they’re looking to get some buckets,” Thomas said. “I’d probably say really just me playing more and knowing I have more opportunity to find the guys.”
Thomas, averaging 21.9 points while shooting 44.5% from the floor and 36.2% from three, has more than doubled his assist average from last season. In his past nine games, he’s averaging 4.3 assists while contributing 26.0 points per game. Because of his play, his teammates have been giving him rave reviews.
“It’s been beautiful watching him grow and everybody is reaping the benefits,” Nic Claxton said. “He’s got to keep going and we’re gonna follow him.”
Thomas is heading into the last year of his rookie deal next season, so the Nets will soon face a significant decision on him. As Lewis writes, Brooklyn will need to determine whether to extend him, let the market determine his value when he hits restricted free agency, or see if they can package him in a trade for a star. For what it’s worth, teammate Dennis Schröder believes Thomas is deserving of a big payday. Thomas is eligible for a rookie scale extension this offseason.
“That’s a max player right there,” Schröder said, per SNY (Twitter link).
We have more from New York:
- Nets interim head coach Kevin Ollie is also a firm believer in Thomas. According to Lewis, Ollie believes Thomas should be in the conversation for the league’s Most Improved Player award. “He should be in there, definitely, just with his body of work,” Ollie said. “I know he has a lot of guys he’s competing with as well. But with his body of work, his consistency and him being able to score the ball in the capacity that he’s scoring is always great.” Thomas has seen the biggest scoring increase from last season to this one of any player in the league, jumping from 10.6 points to 21.9 points per game.
- Nets guard Lonnie Walker‘s playing time has dipped while playing under Ollie, from 18.1 minutes per game to 15.2. “All the little things: playing defense rebounding, making the right plays,” Ollie said when asked how Walker could earn more minutes, per Lewis (Twitter link). “That’s just how it is. So have him understand that and when your shot’s not falling, doing the other things to make an impact on the game.” Walker is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
- Knicks center Isaiah Hartenstein blames the Nets for his fall to the middle of the second round in the 2017 draft, which potentially cost him millions, according to The New York Post’s Stefan Bondy. “They red-flagged me for my knee. I never had knee problems in my life,” Hartenstein said on the ‘Roommates Show’ podcast with hosts Jalen Brunson and Josh Hart (Apple Podcasts link). “The only thing I had something with [was] my back. I knew that. So I’m like, maybe it’s my back.” Hartenstein said he heard he was projected between the Nos. 15-35 pick but instead fell to 43. Second-round picks are given smaller salaries and fewer guarantees than first-rounders. The Nets used pick No. 22 on Jarrett Allen in that draft. Hartenstein is set for unrestricted free agency this offseason and looks to be due for a payday after capitalizing on his opportunity with New York.
- Brunson came just one point shy of tying Carmelo Anthony‘s single-game franchise scoring record when the Knicks fell to the Spurs in overtime on Friday, The Athletic’s Fred Katz writes. Brunson dropped 61 points, a new career high, while connecting on 25 of his 47 shot attempts. He set the franchise record for field goals made and had the most field-goal attempts in a game since Kobe Bryant shot 50 in his final game. However, Victor Wembanyama‘s 40-point, 20-rebound double-double allowed the Spurs to upset the Knicks despite Brunson’s 61.
- As Bondy writes in a separate story, head coach Tom Thibodeau wasn’t thrilled with how the refs called Brunson, who shot just six free throws. “A foul is a foul. That’s what I do know,” Thibodeau said, noting the 32-12 free throw discrepancy in favor of San Antonio. “And what I’m hearing [from the referees], I don’t really like. I don’t know what else you could do, what else you can say. It’s clear as day. It really is that simple.“
Before the All-Star break all the coaches were complaining about too many fouls being called because it slowed the pace and drove up scores, now that there seems to be a more concerted effort to mitigate fouls they’re all whining about not enough fouls being called.
Thibs is complaining that the game isn’t being called consistently, not that there aren’t enough fouls. Spurs had 32 FT to the Knicks 12. Brunson had 47 shots and over a dozen drives but only had six FTs. That’s what Thibs is complaining about. Consistency.
I was at the game. It was pretty simple – the Knicks attempted to be extremely physical with Wemby and the less experienced Spurs, especially when trying to come back in the second half. They had a lot of non shooting fouls and the Spurs were in the bonus very early in each quarter – especially the last two. I was surprised the Spurs handled it actually because they have tended to wilt when that happens.
Spurs attacked the rim all night, while only Brunson did for Knicks and on about 10 of those drives there was no one close enough to foul him….
I did think he should have had two “and ones” but that went both ways.
I was at the game as well. The Knicks tried to get physical with Wemby, but he held his own. The Knicks didn’t dominate the paint for rebounding like they normally do on the offensive end and the Spurs were dropping their shots. Was a great game until the very last play. Prince had an open shot underneath and gave it up.
Dennis Schröder commenting on how much a PG should be paid is like consulting Anthony Bennet on who should be drafted first overall.
Cam you have come a very long way since the day you blew up the pavilion with the game winning shot.
Good Job.
Unfortunately, for the NYK, last night could well have been a playoff preview in terms of officiating. The good news is that Thibs will get consistency from the officials. The bad news is it won’t be in what constitutes a foul, but in who gets the foul calls. What will be consistent is that 1) Brunson will NOT get calls, and 2) the league’s made men (its marketed stars) will get calls. Maybe one of these years the books get opened for Brunson, but it’s obviously not this year.
At least Brunson may now have the distinction of being the only player to score 60 points with only taking 6 free throws. At least in the Stern-Silver era. In today’s league, it’s amazing that someone could handle the ball that much and not get more than that.
32-12 is ridiculous…… Knicks had their chances. I think they were tired. They weren’t running around like Spurs. Wemby had a huge 2way game. Schedule only gets tougher now. Thunder, Heat, Kings.
Knicks signed Brunson and Hartenstein as FA. How’s that looking now …….
We need Randle and OG. Can’t wait for that.
I think we beat the Heat and Kings. Thunder, not so much, no idea how we’re favored in that game.