Following a breakout marketing campaign because the main scorer for the Brooklyn Nets, Cam Thomas can have a bigger function this upcoming season.
After the Nets confronted the Los Angeles Clippers on the Thomas & Mack Heart through the NBA Summer time League in Las Vegas, Thomas spoke with HoopsHype in regards to the fallout from the Mikal Bridges commerce, his extension talks, the return of Ben Simmons, the adjustment with new coach Jordi Fernandez, the re-signing of Nic Claxton, and extra.
Cam Thomas: Sustaining what I did final yr however rising it extra. I wish to go into extra of a management function. I’ve been on the workforce the second-longest behind Nic Claxton. I’m going into my fourth yr, and he simply completed 5 years. Extra of that management function making an attempt to guide the fellows.
CT: It’s been good. He’s very sensible. He’s very detailed. I believe he’ll be good for our younger workforce. I believe we’re going the younger route, in order that’ll be good for us as a result of he’s all in regards to the particulars and pushes us to be nice. I can’t wait to truly get to work with him.
CT: Having extra alternative to play with the ball in my hand and showcasing that I can do this. Most individuals noticed the second half of the yr that I used to be a very totally different participant with my playmaking, rebounding, and defending. I’m making an attempt to keep up that all through the entire yr as a result of I’ll have the chance to do this and have that stability all through the entire yr. It’ll be good.
CT: Exhibiting I may do that basically helped me and confirmed that I’m greater than only a scorer. I really feel like going into that function to start out the yr might be a lot better as a result of I can do this for a complete season.
CT: You undoubtedly give it some thought, but it surely’s not one thing I’m pushing for. No matter occurs with the group occurs. I can’t management that. The one factor I can management goes on the market and enjoying the very best basketball I can play. No matter occurs will occur. I’m probably not pressed on it. No matter occurs will occur. You by no means know what may occur. As of proper now, I’m probably not pressed on it. I wish to maintain enhancing my sport to prepare for subsequent season.
CT: I believe lots of people noticed what Noah may deliver final yr in direction of the tip of the yr along with his defending, being a lob risk, making an open three if we kick it to him. I believe Dariq continues to be making an attempt to determine his footing out within the league. It’s been some time since he’s performed. He’s been harm quite a bit. He has time. He’s actually younger. The potential is there. With Jalen Wilson, everybody noticed him crashing the glass, bringing power, and he can knock down an open three if you kick it to him. He’s an excellent utility man. He may undoubtedly assist us for positive.
CT: It’s good. It offers us stability as a workforce. We’ve principally bought the identical workforce, simply with out Mikal (Bridges), and we added three gamers. It’s good to have that continuity and that stability as a result of the previous few years, I’ve had a distinct workforce each single yr. It’s loopy.
CT: We’re not going to deal with this as a rebuild as folks say we’re doing. We’re going to go on the market and compete and attempt to win each sport. If we lose, we lose. We’re not going to throw video games. We’re going to compete exhausting. It’s going to be entertaining and thrilling with good, younger Nets basketball. I can’t wait to see it.
CT: I wouldn’t say it’s motivating. I’d say it’s simply extra that we’ve bought to show it on the finish of the day. I don’t suppose anyone within the locker room goes to lose each sport. In the event that they do, that’s an enormous downside. The best way I’m constructed, I’m going on the market to win each sport. Groups have gotten to beat us. We’re not going to roll over and simply let groups beat us by 30 as a result of we’re younger. We performed plenty of shut video games final yr, particularly in direction of the tip of the yr once we performed plenty of good groups.
The workforce we have now now as we stand is principally the identical workforce. Cam Johnson. Me. Dorian Finney-Smith. Nic Claxton. Ben Simmons. Dennis Schroder.
CT: I rely on it yearly he’s on the workforce. I’m anticipating him to be wholesome and be able to play. I’m not going into yearly saying he’s not going to play. By no means. He’s on the workforce, and I believe he’s going to be wholesome to play to start out the yr off. No matter occurs through the yr occurs. To begin the yr off, I really feel like he’s going to be able to play.
You’ll be able to comply with Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) on X, previously often known as Twitter.
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