LAS VEGAS — Even on a Nets staff with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving (a minimum of for now), Cam Thomas doesn’t lack confidence. He by no means has, by no means will.
However coming again to the Las Vegas Summer time League not solely because the 2021 main scorer (27 factors per recreation) and co-MVP, but additionally after a powerful rookie marketing campaign within the NBA, that confidence has been complemented by consolation.
“It’s actual completely different, simply being extra comfy understanding what to anticipate,” stated Thomas earlier than scoring 31 factors within the Nets’ 94-90 loss to the Bucks on Friday evening. “So I’d say this yr I’m extra like ready to what’s to come back for summer season league. So I’m simply excited to be a part of it.”
Although Thomas’ confidence might have led to some groups misreading him, which allowed him to fall within the 2021 NBA Draft, it was a promoting level for the Nets, who chosen him twenty seventh general. However Adam Caporn — who coached Thomas in his temporary G-League stints with the Lengthy Island Nets, and can coach the summer season league squad — stated it’s noticeable how a lot the staff’s 5 second-year execs have grown.
“You'll be able to sense a unique stage of consolation for positive. And yeah, Cam is all the time assured, which I really like,” Caporn stated. “They've an expectation of themselves now to exit and put their greatest foot ahead and compete to win. It’s a bit of bit completely different, particularly from their optimistic. From ours, we need to assist them get higher, show that they've higher.”
The Nets tipped off Las Vegas Summer time League Friday versus the Bucks with a powerful roster. Thomas, Kessler Edwards, Day’Ron Sharpe and David Duke Jr. logged almost 3,000 minutes mixed final yr for Brooklyn, with 40 begins between them.
And Thomas might have drawn extra consideration than any of them.
Sources instructed The Publish that the Nets have obtained curiosity from a number of groups relating to the 6-foot-3, 210 pound guard, with league personnel saying he doubtless may convey again a first-round decide. The Cavaliers, Mavericks and Pelicans reportedly made concrete affords, in response to LegionHoops.
However as Caporn stated, the Nets want Thomas to maintain enhancing. An inefficient shooter, he’s additionally being challenged to change into a greater defender, playmaker and chief.
“Cam’s gotten so significantly better,” Caporn stated. “I’m actually happy with him, working actually onerous. He can rating, he’s an elite scorer. He’s going to attain and we’re going to place the ball in his hand. I do know he’s actually grown as a defender, and he’s a man that he’ll simply make plenty of good choices, underrated passer, keen passer.
“He’s finished an excellent job main this group. The final couple of days he’s practiced actually onerous, had an excellent angle. The management tasks are the issues that develop probably the most within the second yr. He’s gotten higher, I'll say that.”
For his half, Thomas stated Caporn and the opposite Nets coaches have labored with him on his general recreation, from his on-ball protection to passing to his catch-and-shoot effectivity. After hitting simply .270 from 3-point vary as rookie, that is smart.
“It’s actually simply the whole lot: Playmaking, protection. I suppose they need to see extra catch-and-shoot 3s, so I’m engaged on that so much. I’m simply going to work on the whole lot that they need me to. I simply need to present the whole lot out in summer season league,” stated Thomas, including he had gotten optimistic suggestions by way of the primary few practices heading into the opener.
“Yeah, simply [keep] doing what I’ve been doing, making performs, scoring the ball, main, lead as a lot as I can. To date, simply doing what I’ve been doing all summer season.”
Although not probably the most verbal of gamers by nature, Thomas has embraced the added management tasks being placed on his shoulders for a younger summer season league staff with seven inexperienced rookies.
“Yeah, undoubtedly,” Thomas stated. “You simply need to educate the whole lot you realized out of your first yr to these guys, in order that they’ll know what to do. Final yr I used to be simply studying on the fly. So simply me having the ability to assist them as a lot as I can, it’s going to be massive for them. So I simply need to assist as a lot as I can.”
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