Fans Deem Cam Thomas Biggest Winner of Kyrie Trade Despite Nets’ Loss to Clippers

AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

Coming off a 44-point outing on Saturday, Brooklyn Nets point guard Cam Thomas continued his stellar play with another jaw-dropping performance in Monday’s matchup against the Los Angeles Clippers.

Thomas lit it up once again, pouring in 47 points on 15-of-29 shooting as the Nets fell to the Clippers 124-116 in front of their home fans at the Barclays Center. Thomas, who had 22 points in the first half alone, became just the fifth player in franchise history to record 40-plus points in back-to-back games and the second-youngest player in NBA history to achieve the feat.

The 21-year-old has quickly established himself as the focal point of Brooklyn’s offense in the absence of Kyrie Irving, who was traded to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday. Star forward Kevin Durant also remains sidelined with a sprained MCL, leaving Thomas free to showcase his talents.

Despite the loss, another strong outing from Thomas earned him the adulation of NBA Twitter on Monday night, with many declaring that the Nets made the right decision to trade Irving so the youngster could be unleashed:

The No. 27 pick in the 2021 draft, Thomas entered the league with a reputation for being able to score at-will. During his lone season at LSU, he led all freshmen in scoring at 23.0 points per game and was named first-team All-SEC.

If Thomas continues to perform at a high level, he could be a key piece for the Nets’ push for the playoffs. When Durant returns from his injury, he will need Brooklyn’s supporting cast to step up, and it appears Thomas is ready to accept that responsibility.

Thomas and the Nets (32-21) have a quick turnaround, as they will host the Phoenix Suns (29-26) on Tuesday.