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Nets coach Jordi Fern\u00e1ndez is happy to have Cam Thomas provide instant offense off the bench, but is looking for a better defensive effort from the high-scoring guard. AP Photo by Yuki Iwamura<\/p>\nBrooklyn guard Cam Thomas has said all the right things, including nothing at times, since being relegated to a reserve role here with the Nets. AP Photo by Bailey Hillesheim\n<\/p>\n
Nets coach Jordi Fern\u00e1ndez has watched his team grow exponentially since December.<\/p>\n
Mostly because of its steady uptick defensively.<\/p>\n
While the return of Cam Thomas hasn\u2019t bolstered Brooklyn\u2019s ability to keep teams from running up the score, the pending unrestricted free agent has demonstrated that he can still light it up offensively despite some of his defensive deficiencies.<\/p>\n
The Nets\u2019 leading scorer in each of the previous two campaigns, when deemed healthy enough to go, Thomas missed nearly seven weeks earlier this year due to a nagging left hamstring strain that cost him all but 25 games last season.<\/p>\n
Since returning, the 6-foot-3 shooting guard is averaging just over 21 points per contest off the bench, including 17 second-half points in Sunday\u2019s rousing victory over the Denver Nuggets at Downtown\u2019s Barclays Center.<\/p>\n
Thomas didn\u2019t take a single shot through the first half as Michael Porter Jr. spearheaded Brooklyn (11-22) to a 59-52 lead at the break.<\/p>\n
Porter poured in 16 of his 27 prior to intermission, but the Nets needed an offensive lift with the Nuggets trying to shut their former teammate down through the next two quarters.<\/p>\n
Enter Thomas, who finished 5-of-10 from the field, including 1-of-3 from 3-point range, to go with four rebounds and an assist in 22 minutes during his fourth game back from injury.<\/p>\n
With the Nets guarding a 10-point lead with 11 minutes left in regulation, Thomas made sure Denver wouldn\u2019t overtake Brooklyn and hand it a fourth consecutive defeat.<\/p>\n
He set up Danny Wolf for a layup, hit three free throws, sank a 12-foot runner and completed a 12-0 burst for the Nets with another layup to put the Nuggets down by 22 with 8:25 remaining.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe did the right thing for the team in the first half, passing the ball on the blitzes,\u201d Fern\u00e1ndez said of Thomas, who inked a one-year deal with a no-trade clause as a restricted free agent last summer after failing to come to terms on a long-term pact.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was aggressive and scored in the second (half). So, it\u2019s a perfect balance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas, who averaged just over 30 minutes per game the previous two seasons, is only logging about 20 a night since his comeback as a key reserve in Brooklyn\u2019s rotation.<\/p>\n
That might not sit right for a player that is looking to strike it rich in free agency next summer.<\/p>\n
But Thomas\u2019 unselfishness thus far in accepting his role may make him attractive to teams looking to acquire his services for the stretch run come the February trade deadline.<\/p>\n
If, of course, Thomas is amenable to waiving his right to stay with the Nets throughout this season.<\/p>\n
The leading scorer in the Southeastern Conference before Brooklyn selected him 27th overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, Thomas can get out of bed in the morning and score in double digits with limited minutes.<\/p>\n
Just ask his coach.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood scoring punch with the minutes that he\u2019s playing,\u201d \u00a0Fern\u00e1ndez\u00a0 ceded after Thomas put up 21 points off the bench in a blowout loss to Houston here last Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, his superpower is his scoring, but once again, I need better defense, I need better play-making,\u201d<\/p>\n
Nets coach Jordi Fern\u00e1ndez is happy to have Cam Thomas provide instant offense off the bench, but is looking for a better defensive effort from the high-scoring guard. AP Photo by Yuki Iwamura<\/p>\n
Thus far, Thomas has taken the \u201cno comment\u201d approach when asked if he was eager to jump back into the starting lineup, a role he embraced ever since the Nets decided to deal Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving out of Brooklyn in February 2023.<\/p>\n
Nets general manager Sean Marks readily admitted that he was impressed by Thomas\u2019 approach after the organization failed to deliver a more attractive, long-term offer to a player that has filled it up for Brooklyn with nine 40-plus point games in his career.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat defined it for me was he said, \u2018I\u2019m all in. I\u2019m all-in on Brooklyn, I want to be here.\u2019\u201d Marks said ahead of the team\u2019s season opener.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that showed maturity on his behalf\u2026 He has an elite skill and that\u2019s a skill that any coach and any team can capitalize on.\u201c<\/p>\n
Fern\u00e1ndez is doing just that. But he clearly prefers Porter as his primary offensive option, and as the on-the-floor leader of the youngest team in the NBA, one that came back from this year\u2019s draft with a historic haul of five first-round picks.<\/p>\n
Thomas expected to take the alpha role on a team that is slowly weaning Egor D\u0451min, Drake Powell, Nolan Traore, Ben Saraf and Wolf in this ongoing rebuild.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been good. It\u2019s obviously the rookies so it\u2019s definitely some growing pains,\u201d he said at the team\u2019s media day. \u201cBut at the end of the day, that\u2019s on me as one of the main scorers to pull them to the side.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fern\u00e1ndez started Thomas eight straight times before the Louisiana State University alum went down Nov. 5 in Indiana, the site of the Nets\u2019 first victory after seven consecutive losses to open the year.<\/p>\n
When he\u2019ll put him back in the first five, if at all, isn\u2019t clear yet, but Thomas has continued to do what he\u2019s done throughout his Nets career, regardless of whether it\u2019s off the bench or from the opening tip.<\/p>\n
Thomas and the Nets will seek their second straight win following a three-game slide Wednesday, when they host the Orlando Magic (20-17) at Barclays Center.<\/p>\n
Jase Richardson scored 20 points in a reserve role and Desmond Bane added 15 on Tuesday as Orlando suffered a 120-112 loss in Washington.<\/p>\n
The Magic were without the Wagner brothers, Franz (ankle) and Moritz (knee), in our nation\u2019s capital due to injury.<\/p>\n
Neither player\u2019s status was updated for Wednesday\u2019s tilt at press time.<\/p>\n
Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
The game will air locally on the YES Network.<\/p>\n
![\"Brooklyn](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Claxton-AP-Photo-by-Noah-K.-Murray-600x410.jpg\")
The Nets expect to have starting center Nic Claxton back in the lineup Wednesday when they host Orlando at Barclays Center. AP Photo by Noah K. Murray<\/p>\n
NOTHING BUT NET: Saraf has been ruled out for Wednesday with left-knee soreness, but the Nets expect to have starting center Nic Claxton back against the Magic. Claxton missed the last two games for personal reasons. \u2026 This will be the second meeting of the year between the teams. Orlando dropped Brooklyn to 1-11 at the Kia Center on Nov. 14 with a 105-98 triumph that saw the Magic score the game\u2019s final 11 points. \u2026 After hosting Orlando, the Nets will close out their three-game homestand vs. the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJanuary 6 | \t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDecember 31 | \t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/ultima-reader-response.png\"\/)
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Brooklyn](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Porter-AP-Photo-by-Yuki-Iwamura-250x250.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNets\u2019 Porter Jr. gets best of ex-teammates<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJohn Torenli, Sports Editor\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Brooklyn](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Traore-AP-Photo-by-Yuki-Iwamura-1-250x250.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFern\u00e1ndez wants \u2018more\u2019 from Traor\u00e9<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJohn Torenli, Sports Editor\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
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