Cam Thomas isn’t staying quiet about the criticism. After Zach Lowe recently suggested the Nets guard plays like a ball hog, Thomas pushed back hard on the label, saying people need to stop spreading lies and actually watch the games before forming opinions.
“I didn’t really put too much into it,” said Thomas during Nets’ media day. “But at the same time, you know, it gets frustrating, whether you want to admit it or not, that people keep trying to spread these narratives and lies about you that just isn’t true, and without actually looking at the facts and watching the games.”
Cam was recently put on the spot by NBA Insider Zach Lowe, who called the Nets guard a “ball hog” on one of his recent podcasts. To Zach’s credit, Cam averaged 18.2 shot attempts per game last season, the most on his team by far. That number is on par with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic, who were leading the MVP candidates.
What’s worse is that Cam Thomas doesn’t have the same efficiency as Jokic or Shai. He shot just 43.8% from the field and 34.9% from three. He was also at just 3.8 assists per game.
It’s undeniable that Cam takes a lot of shots on the Nets, but he clearly sees it differently than Lowe. In Thomas’s mind, he’s just playing within the flow of the offense and taking shots that he feels confident he can make. He’s arguably the best scorer on the Nets, and he’s now looking to prove that he can be so much more.
Cam Explains Why He Accepted Qualifying Offer
Cam was one of a few notable restricted free agents this summer, including Jonathan Kuminga and Josh Giddey. Like Kuminga and Giddey, he was holding out in hopes of signing a larger, player-friendly deal, but he had to settle for the qualifying offer for reasons he recently revealed.
“I’d rather control my situation,” said Thomas, via Erik Slater. “As a player, that’s what you want… I’m just here to play my game and keep doing what I was doing. Really just enjoying my 5th year with the team that drafted me… We’ll see what happens, but I’m happy to be here. Happy to play in front of the fans again. I love playing here, so I can’t wait to get started.”
Thomas wanted control of his NBA future, and accepting the qualifying offer did just that. While he sacrificed a higher paycheck, the Nets guard set himself up for unrestricted free agency next summer, which means he’ll be able to sign with whatever team he sees fit.
Cam’s next contract will depend on his performance this upcoming season, but it’s no secret that he’s pursuing a deal worth at least $30-40 million per year. Whether it’s with the Nets or not, he intends to follow the money and has bet on himself to maximize his earnings.
At the end of the day, Cam Thomas knows his worth, and it starts with shutting down the “ball hog” narrative and letting his game do the talking. He can argue against the label all he wants, but unless he proves he can score efficiently and elevate the Nets as more than just a volume shooter, the criticism isn’t going away. This season is his chance to flip the script and show he’s more than just empty stats.
