Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas wasn’t able to take the floor for the Nets since he suffered his left hamstring strain in a 112-103 win at the Indiana Pacers on Nov. 5. Thomas returned for Saturday’s 123-107 win at the Minnesota Timberwolves and had one of the best performances of his career coming off the bench as he dropped 30 points and four assists in just 20 minutes.
Coming into Saturday’s game at the Timberwolves, Thomas made it clear that all he was concerned with was getting back on the court and reading the game the same way he did prior to his injury. Thomas also mentioned that he couldn’t rush the process of rehabbing from his hamstring strain, but that he felt great coming into the game and it looks like his play affirmed how he felt.
“It’s just his mindset. Also, he let the game come to him, he didn’t force it. Four assists to zero turnovers, he made the simple play every time,” Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez said after Saturday’s win in Minnesota. “I’m pretty sure the potential assists were high because he made the right play over and over and over. Sometimes, you cannot control if those are going to be assists, but he just played the right way.”
According to the Nets’ public relations staff, Thomas has the most points off the bench by a player this season and he also notched his sixth career game of at least 30 points coming off the bench, the most in franchise history. After last night’s scoring explosion, Thomas is now averaging 22.3 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 42.2% from the field and 35.8% from three-point range.
Thomas also notably finished the game instead of Terance Mann, who had been starting at the shooting guard during Thomas’ extended absence so that could be a situation to monitor in the future. For now, Thomas had quite the return to Brooklyn’s rotation with one of his best games this season so here is how social media reacted to him going off like he did:
Social Media ReactionSocial Media Reaction
I don’t know what Cam Thomas’ future in Brooklyn will be, but at the very least I’m gonna enjoy every single game and moment.
He’s a special scorer and someone who I’ll always have a soft spot for, no matter where he’s playing.
— Jac Manuell (@JacManuell) December 28, 2025Social Media ReactionSocial Media ReactionSocial Media ReactionSocial Media Reaction
Cam Thomas returned to the lineup and immediately made a winning impact!
🏀 30 PTS
🏀 3 REB
🏀 4 AST
🏀 3 3PM
Nets win in Minnesota for their third in a row. pic.twitter.com/gqxnFvoMY5
— NBA (@NBA) December 28, 2025Social Media Reaction
Today, we saw the best version of Cam Thomas
Entering today, just .14 of his shots were at the rim, and .52 from MR
Today: .31 Rim, .12 mid!, .43 Three
He shot 5/5 at the rim and took 9! FTS worked in the flow of the offense and limited bad shots
30/3/4 0 tovs 79.1% TS pic.twitter.com/ECFTG3vxNI
— Nets Film Room (@NetsFilm) December 28, 2025Social Media Reaction
Cam Thomas to all the, it’s time to move on from him, cut him for nothing, he doesn’t play winning basketball, blah blah blah. Misses 20 games and comes back and scores 30 and Nets win. 😂 pic.twitter.com/aOYDjMZQHE
— SAINT (@SAINTNET1) December 28, 2025Social Media Reaction
This is the absolute perfect role for Cam Thomas. Really hope he buys into it and wants to be a Net moving forward.
— Billy Reinhardt (@BillyReinhardt) December 28, 2025Social Media Reaction
Cam Thomas has been the best player on the court tonight and it isn’t close.
— C.J. Holmes (@HolmesScribe) December 28, 2025