Inside The Nets

Kyrie Irving believes Cam Thomas and Nic Claxton can be "great players"

Kyrie was full of praise for his former Nets teammates.

Peter Sunjic

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Kyrie Irving made his first appearance at Barclays Center since the trade. He was phenomenal, scoring 36 points to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a win over the Nets. While the result favored the Mavs, Kyrie was the night’s biggest attraction.

The eight-time All-Star addressed the controversies during his time in Brooklyn, but he also had insights about the future of his former team. He cited former teammates Nic Claxton and Cam Thomas as superb players for the Nets moving forward.

“I love those guys, and it’s gonna continue, but I really just care about their development. While I was here, I really had their ear and really sat them down a few times to prepare for what’s coming,” Kyrie said about Nic and Cam in his post-game interview after the game against Brooklyn. 

“I know they have the potential to be great players in this league. They just gotta be consistent and find that continuity and be patient.”

Cam has a superstar ceiling

Cam’s ability to be a go-to scorer has already made him one of the brightest talents in the league. At only 22 years old, Thomas is lighting up NBA defenses, which is rare for a young player like him.

The Nets coaching staff must fully buy into him because the former LSU Tiger can become an All-Star player. When given the opportunity, Cam is scoring around 23.1 points per game as a starter this season, and that can go even higher when his role is locked in.

Kyrie was vital in his development because Cam has a killer mindset, and his scoring improved when learning under Kyrie, Kevin Durant, and James Harden. That kind of mentorship paired with natural talent are the makings of a budding superstar for Brooklyn.

Nic should be the franchise center for Brooklyn

Claxton is one of the best defensive centers in the league while playing as an ultra-efficient offensive player. The former Georgia Bulldog is a superb talent because he is proficient at protecting the rim and guarding perimeter players on switches.

That defensive impact made him a Defensive Player of the Year candidate when Kyrie and KD were still in Brooklyn. Now, Clax can spread his wings and become more of an offensive threat while maintaining his defensive impact.

If Kyrie is to believe, these two players have bright futures. Pair these two with an elite wing like Mikal Bridges, and it will be easy to see why Irving believes the Nets will be good for the future.

Brooklyn struggles in a 107-119 loss to the visiting Dallas Mavericks

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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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