MINNEAPOLIS — Cam Thomas is finally making his Nets return.
But he’s coming back to a different Nets team. And he’s going to have to change with it.
After nearly eight weeks out with a left hamstring strain, Thomas is slated to play Saturday at the Timberwolves. It will be the 24-year-old off-guard’s first appearance since getting hurt Nov. 5 at Indiana.
Advertisement
“Yeah, CT is expected to play,” said Jordi Fernández. “It’s just how he feels, and no pressure. I still feel like he does what he does. He’s done a good job getting himself back into shape and healthy, and we just want to see his superpowers out there. So, no pressure for him to have to do too much; just be yourself and help the team compete and go get a win.”
That would be a first this season. The Nets were 0-7 with Thomas on the floor, 0-7 going into the Pacers tilt where he got hurt just minutes after tipoff.
Brooklyn had been on pace for the worst Defensive Rating in history (128.5), but during Thomas’ absence they’re 9-12 with the sixth-best Defensive Rating (111.7).
Cam Thomas during a Dec. 18 Nets game. Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Has seeing that turnaround lit a fire under him to be a part of it?
Advertisement
“I just want to get back on the court and play,” said Thomas. “It’s obviously good seeing them playing well. I just want to get back on the court and play.”
The Nets’ point differential per 100 possessions is 10.7 better without Thomas, in just the 10th percentile, per Cleaning The Glass. They’ve been 11.7 points better on defense, putting him in just the third percentile.
Lengthy, switching defense and egalitarian offense have worked. And Fernández insists that Thomas not only can adjust, but must.
“I just want him to balance his scoring ability with his playmaking ability. That means he’s creating not just points for himself, but points for others. If he does that, it’s what the team needs from him,” said Fernández. “I’ve seen it before he got hurt.
Advertisement
“Last year, the game at Chicago and at Cleveland, he had outstanding games where he scored at a high level but also assisted at a high level. So, that’s what I want from CT: to impact the game at every single level. I want him to be solid defensively, a good defender, a great playmaker and a great, efficient scorer. He’s more than capable to do all those three things. If he doesn’t, then I’m going to have to sit down with him and try to help him get there.”
That March 13 tilt in Chicago was Thomas’ last before being shut down by a third hamstring injury. He handed out a career-high 10 assists that night. Can he apply lessons learned to his upcoming return?
“I don’t know, we’ll see,” said Thomas. “I’m not going out there hunting assists, chasing assists or stats. I’m going out there to play the game, to win. So we’ll see how that goes.”
Cam Thomas during a November 2025 game against the Pacers. AP
Thomas’ gravity can draw double-teams. But can he play less iso and swing the ball quickly? His average dribbles per touch (3.67) is second highest on the Nets. Michael Porter Jr. — who has emerged as an efficient focal point — is third lowest.
Advertisement
Can Thomas adapt? The Nets — and scouts across the league — will soon find out.
“Every team adjusts when a certain player goes out,” said Thomas. “We’ll figure it out. Just go out there and play ball. It’s not rocket science. We just go out there, figure out who’s out there together and figure out how to play amongst each other.
“It’s been a while. … Obviously, it’s going to be a learning curve for a few games, but we’ll figure it out quick. We’re pros, we’ll figure it out. So, just going to make it back on the court and play, figure it out and just try to keep stacking wins.”
The “figuring it out” part will be fascinating to watch.
Advertisement
“That’s more of a coaching question. Trying to fit guys in where they go, that’s not my job. I do my best to do my job. That part I leave up to them,” said teammate Noah Clowney. “Obviously, his scoring ability is second to very few. So having a scorer like that — somebody who’s grown as a playmaker as well — makes it easier for everybody.”