Inside The Nets

Cam Thomas reflects on his 36-point performance against Cleveland Cavaliers

The third-year guard scored 36 points off the bench to set the record for most points for a reserve on opening night.

Peter Sunjic

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Cameron Thomas impressed the NBA world yet again with his natural scoring ability in the 2023/24 season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was the saving grace for Brooklyn early on after they went down 16-5 in the first quarter. Thomas quickly made an impact, dropping 15 points in just seven minutes.

He was hitting various shots, including a wild step-back three over Caris LeVert. The third-year guard kept building on his performance as he scored nine more points in the second quarter, taking his total to 25 first-half points. 

Despite Cam's outstanding 36-point performance as a reserve, the Nets narrowly lost 113-114. Nonetheless, he views this as a promising foundation for the upcoming 2023/24 season.

“I felt we played well. I felt the only thing is we got off to a slow start, so we had to fight back for three quarters; that’s a tough thing to do against a good team like Cleveland,” Thomas said in the post-game presser. ”Honestly, I felt we did a lot of good things, but it’s still the first game of the year.”

Encouraging signs for Brooklyn

Aside from Thomas' exceptional offensive showing, the Nets’ defense looked good. They were switching on defense for most of the night, veering away from the drop coverage they were running during the 2022/23 season.

Ben Simmons had a strong performance, grabbing ten rebounds while dishing out nine assists. He scored only four points but was taking what the defense gave him and mainly served as a distributor.

Backup point guard Dennis Smith Jr. also had a positive performance, posting 10 points and four rebounds. He played with good energy, even hitting a go-ahead corner three in the fourth quarter.

Thomas has a case to start for Brooklyn

Thomas is, of course, the biggest positive for the Nets as he makes a case for himself as a starting guard next to Simmons. His scoring prowess becomes invaluable for Brooklyn, especially when Bridges faces challenges, as was the case in this game. While Mikal ultimately tallied 20 points, most of his scoring occurred in the fourth quarter.

Cam's presence will alleviate the burden on Mikal, forming a formidable duo. This move also allows Spencer Dinwiddie to thrive as the dynamic sixth man coming off the bench. While it was a loss for Brooklyn, they're eager and optimistic about what the future holds.

Despite the Nets' loss, Cam Thomas turned heads during the season opener in Brooklyn

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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