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Cam Thomas silences Knicks with 3-point dagger in Nets’ historic win

ByJordanna Clark|
Feb 16, 2022; New York, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (24) celebrates a three point shot against the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 16, 2022; New York, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (24) celebrates a three point shot against the New York Knicks during the fourth quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Hours before Cam Thomas nailed a dagger for the Brooklyn Nets, the NBA’s latest weekly rookie rankings were released. And somehow, Thomas didn’t make the cut.

It’s not like Thomas has scored 20+ points in five of Brooklyn’s last seven games. Or that he averaged 21.6 points and shot 48.7% during that span.

In the three games that the Nets have played in since the previous week’s rankings were released, Thomas averaged 21 points and shot 51.8% from the field. That includes a clutch four-point play to cut Washington’s lead to two points with a little over a minute left to play in last Thursday’s game.

Although this is Thomas’ first year in the league, he’s no stranger to the moment. The 20-year-old didn’t hesitate to pull up for a 3-point shot with less than 10 seconds left to play against New York in Madison Square Garden.

His 16-point performance in the fourth quarter on Wednesday night propelled Brooklyn to come back from a 28-point deficit for a 111-106 win over the Knicks.

Cam Thomas delivers for the Brooklyn Nets in comeback win over the Knicks.

We just have to say it again… thank you, Sean Marks.

Last year at this time, Thomas was starring for LSU. Do you think that he had any inclination that in 365 days he’d lead the Nets to victory and be praised by teammate Kevin Durant afterward?

The No. 27 pick in the 2021 draft came off the bench and finished with a team-high 21 points. Brooklyn was down 87-73 heading into the final quarter of play and up until that point, Thomas wasn’t having his best shooting night and had scored only five points.

Then everything changed.

He took the game over on basketball’s biggest stage. Thomas’ pull-up jumper with four minutes left gave the Nets their first lead of the game, 99-97.

After the game, Thomas commented on what will go down as one of the most impressive shots of his career. We know that it’s still early but that’s how good it was.

Wait, so he was nervous? You couldn’t tell.

Regardless of the absolute fact that Thomas hasn’t received the respect that he deserves, no one can take away the role that he played in Brooklyn’s largest comeback win in franchise history.

Enjoy this feeling, Thomas. Maybe your name will show up in next week’s rookie rankings.