Nets RFA Cam Thomas Says 'F--k You and the Consensus' About 'Mega-Detractors' Report
Brooklyn Nets restricted free agent Cam Thomas had a strong reaction to NBA insider Zach Lowe saying the "consensus" opinion is that Thomas is an "empty calories ball-hog."
"The consensus? F*** you and the consensus," Thomas wrote in a Friday post on X.
Thomas continued, "This is most likely the same consensus teams who can’t guard me and send double teams from jump ball. Why are we double teaming a guy who's 'not that good' make it make sense please."
Thomas missed most of the 2024-25 campaign due to a hamstring injury, but when available, averaged a career-high 24.0 points and 3.8 assists through 25 games.
The Nets ranked seventh in the East as of Nov. 25, the last game Thomas played before missing most of the rest of the season with the injury. The team spent the remainder of the season sliding down the standings, per Basketball Reference.
"Can’t control what the GM wanna do with the team … 2nd ball hog? I was 2nd on the team in assists , not counting the Pgs traded away and traded for... Guess nobody was passing the mf ball," Thomas wrote.
Thomas was responding to Lowe's comments during a July 14 episode of Lowe's podcast, The Zach Lowe Show.
"What do we make of this guy who scores in bunches, who upped his assists significantly last year?... Flashes some good passing skills, some lobs, some dump-offs," Lowe said at the 1:17:20 mark of the episode. "Still had a usage rate of almost 33 percent, which is what you would associate almost with Russell Westbrook, James Harden, MVP kind of seasons. Defensively, meh. But the dude can put the ball in the basket, and he took more threes, and he shoots pretty well from three. Doesn't get to the rim that much, his rim rate is lower than I anticipated.
"Look, the consensus on Cam Thomas, if there is one—and he's got some fans, and he's got some mega-detractors—but the consensus is kind of like, empty calories ball hog."
Of the Nets' offensive possessions last season, 32.8 percent ended with Thomas making a shot attempt, taking a free throw or committing a turnover, according to NBA.com.
That usage rate ranked seventh in the NBA, higher than those recorded by stars like the Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Dončić, Memphis Grizzlies' Ja Morant or Minnesota Timberwolves' Anthony Edwards.
Thomas was also one of the more efficient shooters in the NBA last season, as noted in the post the guard shared from The Nets Wire's Sharif Phillips-Keaton.
Thomas was one of 15 players to average a minimum of 24.0 points per game while averaging at least 43 percent shooting from the field when available, per NBA.com.
Defending his impact on the Nets last season is particularly important for Thomas given that he has yet to be signed for the 2025-26 season.
NBA insider Jake Fischer wrote on Thursday that the Nets have not "significantly engaged" with Thomas about his next contract.
The New York Post's Brian Lewis reported Friday that both sides appear to be far from a resolution as Thomas seeks an annual salary in the range of $30 million on his next contract.
