Inside The Nets

Mikal Bridges Acknowledges Cam Thomas as Nets' Premier Scorer

Bridges has accepted his role as the Nets’ secondary star on offense.

Peter Sunjic

© Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
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Going into the 2023/24 season, most people thought Mikal Bridges would continue to be the top scorer for the Brooklyn Nets after he averaged 26.1 points per game when he was dealt to the team.

In the early stages of the 2023/24 season, Mikal has willingly passed the go-to scorer torch to Cameron Thomas, who currently leads Brooklyn's scoring charts with an average of 28.7 points per game, including an impressive 45-point performance against the Milwaukee Bucks.

“That’s who Cam is man, a certified bucket. He’s honestly our best scorer,” Mikal said in his post-game presser. “I wanna do it on both ends, so if I need a little break I know he has it. It’s good to have another guy out there who can go get it. He scores at will.”

Mikal has found his stride

Earlier in the 2023/24 season, Mikal opened up about his struggles with building consistency. He was not hitting the usual shots he was making but now, he has settled into his rhythm. He is not the number one priority for the defense, which means he has more opportunities to shoot since he is being given more space to operate now.

In the game against the Bucks, he was the Nets’ second-leading scorer at 31 points. This was his best game of the season so far because he was hitting his mid-range shots even when he was being tightly guarded.

This was what the Nets needed when the rest of the team struggled but it was not enough to beat the Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard-led team.

The Nets now have a two-pronged attack

Heading into the season, the Nets' offense was a major uncertainty. However, in just a handful of games, Coach Jacque Vaughn has demonstrated his proficiency in orchestrating a transition-centric offense with this team.

Ben Simmons has been stellar at point guard with his playmaking and distribution while Mikal, Cam, and the rest of the team are hitting their threes and attacking the rim when needed. When the pace slows down, any team will need a go-to guy but with the Nets, they have found two with Bridges and Thomas.

They have defined roles now with Thomas as the clear-cut top guy as he was who Vaughn trusted at the end of the game to get them a bucket. Thankfully, Bridges has no worries playing the secondary role because he wants to help the team win.

Cam Thomas Feels He's More Than Just A Bucket-Getter

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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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