Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas has long been a fan favorite within NBA circles and among league fans. With that said, his popularity will likely play a part in whether he wins the 2024 Most Improved Player award. Nonetheless, there may honestly be no more deserving player. When splitting hairs between him and the other projected Most Improved Player candidates, Thomas stands out not only because of his reputation but because of his production amid a sticky situation.
Even he knows it.
Cam Thomas Reveals Thoughts on Winning Most Improved Player Award
In a live stream with Bleacher Report insider Chris Haynes, Thomas is asked if he’s aiming to win the 2024 Most Improved Player award. After all, he’s averaging 21.3 points per game, nearly twice his average from last season. As noted by Haynes, the +10.7-point year-to-year increase is the highest in the NBA. Furthermore, despite being well-guarded on many of his opportunities, Thomas has been shooting above 44 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3 in his last two seasons.
Reluctantly, the 22-year-old admitted that he believes that he should be in the conversation. However, Thomas is more focused on the Nets’ goals than his aspirations:
“I feel like my name should definitely be in the conversation more,” Thomas says. “I’m just worried about getting wins for the team. Because we have bigger goals as far as getting to the playoffs [or] the play-in. So, I feel like that’s more important than that.”
Thomas continues candidly, stating that “obviously, for the season I’ve had and for honestly what I’ve gone through my first two seasons until now, just playing sporadically and just kind of getting a full-time role a little bit in my third year and that jump… I feel like that just can’t go unnoticed.”
Not Just a Tough Shot-Maker
Many players show flashes early in their careers. However, Thomas was more like a blinding light.
Last season, he achieved the remarkable feat of scoring 40 or more points in three consecutive games. The then 21-year-old became the youngest player to do so, edging out fellow Virginia native Allen Iverson, the previous record-holder. In his previous game, Thomas joined LeBron James as the youngest player to score at least 44 points in back-to-back contests.
A tough shot-maker who tends to play like he’s on the concrete rather than the hardwood, he’s a sight to behold when he catches fire. All he ever needed was steady minutes if not an uptick in them. This season, he’s received that, playing a career-high 29.8 minutes per game. He’s also started in a career-high 35 games.
That said, he was perturbed by his lack of playing time under former head coach Jacque Vaughn. However, he accepted the tough coaching of both Vaughn and interim head coach Kevin Ollie. This has led to Thomas making strides as a two-way playmaker, with him displaying better court vision, offensive awareness, and passing ability.
He averages a career-high 2.9 assists per game this season. Those numbers are unimpressive in and of themselves. Nonetheless, they underscore his increased willingness to move the ball and work his teammates open for easier shots. To that point, he averaged 5.4 potential assists per game this season. Defensively, Thomas has simply played with better effort and focus than in previous seasons.
The Race Isn’t Over Yet
This illustrates many of his merits as a Most Improved Player candidate. However, the race is still wide open with several players making compelling cases. With 17 games remaining this season, how Thomas plays for the next month matters as much as ever.
