Cam Thomas is finally set to return to the Brooklyn Nets’ lineup, and his comeback couldn't be timed with more intrigue. Head coach Jordi Fernandez confirmed that Thomas, sidelined since November 5 with a left hamstring strain, will be available Saturday when the Nets take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Now here’s where it gets interesting: Thomas returns to a Brooklyn team that looks very different from the one he left. When he went down, the Nets were reeling - 0-7 to start the season, with Thomas playing heavy minutes and carrying a massive offensive load.
His 31.5% usage rate during that stretch ranked 18th in the league, and he was averaging 24.4 points per game on .408/.356/.875 shooting splits. This was a player who had the greenest of green lights, dominating the ball and serving as the team’s primary on-ball creator.
But since Thomas’ injury, the Nets have found a new rhythm - and some surprising contributors.
Brooklyn has gone 9-12 in the 21 games without Thomas, and while that record doesn’t scream contender, it’s a clear improvement from the winless start. Offensively, the Nets have been steady - posting a 111.3 offensive rating compared to the 113.0 they had during the first seven games. That’s not a dramatic shift, but the real story is on the other end of the floor.
The defense, once a glaring weakness, has become a strength. With Thomas out and rookie Noah Clowney stepping into the starting lineup, Brooklyn has transformed from the league’s worst defense - a brutal 128.5 defensive rating during the 0-7 start - into one of the NBA’s best. Since Clowney’s insertion into the starting five, the Nets rank sixth in defensive rating (111.7), and in December, they’ve been the league’s top defense while going 6-3.
That kind of turnaround raises fair questions about how Thomas will fit back into the mix.
Fernandez didn’t shy away from addressing the elephant in the room. “The context is different [now],” he said.
“Before Cam got hurt, obviously, his superpower was the ability he had to score. At the same time, we always want to see playmaking efficiency and improvement on defense.”
It’s a delicate balance. Thomas is a gifted scorer - that much is clear.
But Brooklyn has evolved during his absence, finding a more balanced, defense-first identity that’s starting to yield results. Fernandez acknowledged that reintegrating Thomas will be a challenge, and made it clear that team success remains the top priority.
“When he comes back, it’s going to be on me to figure out how we introduce him into the group,” Fernandez said. “The most important thing, it’s always the group… You’re willing to do whatever it takes to help the group and obviously improve yourself. That’s how this works: Team success will bring your own success as well.”
Whether Thomas will return to the starting lineup or come off the bench remains to be seen. Egor Demin has shown flashes of promise since stepping into the starting point guard role, and Terance Mann - the team’s veteran presence - has started every game he’s played this season. The second unit is also crowded, with young guards like Drake Powell, Nolan Traore, and Tyrese Martin all carving out roles.
That leaves Fernandez with some tough rotation decisions. Thomas gives the Nets a unique scoring punch that few on the roster can replicate, but the team’s defensive gains can’t be ignored. It’s about finding the right blend - and doing it without disrupting the chemistry that’s started to take hold.
There’s also a larger storyline looming in the background. Thomas turned down a two-year, $15 million extension this past summer - a deal that included a team option - instead opting to play out the season on a $6 million qualifying offer. That decision sets him up to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, and with a no-trade clause in place, his future in Brooklyn is anything but guaranteed.
For now, though, the focus is on the present. The Nets are trending in the right direction, and Thomas is back in the fold. How he fits into this new-look Brooklyn team - one that’s defending with purpose and developing its young core - could shape not just the rest of the season, but the trajectory of his career.