Cameron Thomas on the importance of veterans serving as mentors

Thomas speaks on his experience of being supported by veterans.

© Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Cameron Thomas has played with plenty of experienced names during his three-year career. The former LSU Tiger has learned from superstars like Kevin Durant to reliable veterans like Spencer Dinwiddie.

At just 22 years old, Cameron Thomas, showcasing his talent, has gleaned valuable insights during his relatively brief tenure in the NBA, benefiting significantly from the guidance of seasoned veterans, a factor contributing to his continuous improvement with each passing season in the league.

“It’s good to have just ‘cause they’re in their 30s, they’ve seen a lot, they’re experienced. When I’m out there playing, they gave little tips about certain stuff I can do on both ends that could help. They’ve been in big games, big playoff games, they know what it takes. It’s good to have vets like that, it’s good for me to learn from those guys, for sure,” Cam said before the Nets’ game in Paris.

Cam has benefited from his vets

Thomas has continued to grow with every season in the league. Early in his career, he was the understudy to two elite guards, Kyrie Irving and James Harden. Cam was already one of the most talented scorers from the 2021 NBA Draft, but learning from two of this generation’s best players made him better.

The former LSU Tiger once spoke about how much he’s learned from both, even before he joined the team. Cam cited that he adopted Harden’s step-back jumper when he played for LSU. The 22-year-old refined the move when he joined the Nets since he could learn it from his vets.

Even when the superstars have left Brooklyn, Cam believes his time under their tutelage has helped him improve. He’s reaping the benefits as he’s already a 20 points-per-game scorer in just his third year.

Cam has earned the vets’ respect

Before the 2023/24 season started, Dinwiddie had nothing but praise for his young teammate. The veteran guard called Thomas the “best shotmaker” on the team, which is high praise because Dinwiddie and Mikal Bridges are superb at creating shots.

Even the trio of KD, Kyrie, and Harden have all praised Cam at some point. Having the support of names like that shows Thomas deserves more respect than he’s getting. Nets fans should expect him to break out as a potential All-Star because he has the talent and the boldness to take over as the go-to guy under Coach Jacque Vaughn.

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