American professional basketball player Cam Thomas currently suits up for the Brooklyn Nets. The 2020 top shooting guard recruit is a unanimous five-star prospect.
On February 3, 2023, Thomas became the youngest NBA player in history to record three straight games with 40+ points after scoring 43 points in a defeat to the Suns.
This season, only a select few players in the league have scored 40 or more points in consecutive games.
Cam has joined the ranks of other great scorers like Devin Booker, Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Damian Lillard, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Stephen Curry by scoring 40 points or more in a game.
Things are about to get rough for the Nets. With Kyrie Irving now playing for the Mavericks and Kevin Durant for the Suns, the Nets’ second-year guard has stepped up to run the show.
There is no doubt that Thomas plays games that are pleasing to the eye, yet even his professional attractiveness cannot shield him from controversy.
On February 9, 2023, after his team’s 116-105 victory over the Bulls, he gave a postgame interview in which he used “derogatory and disparaging language,” for which he was fined $40,000. Listen in to hear the rest of the tale.
Quick Facts
Full Name |
Cameron Bouchea Thomas |
Known As |
Cam Thomas |
Nickname |
Cam |
Birthdate |
October 13, 2001 |
Age |
21 Years Old |
Birthplace |
Yokosuka, Japan |
Current Residence |
Brooklyn, New York, United States |
Father’s Name |
Dale MacMillan |
Mother’s Name |
Leslie Thomas |
Siblings |
Shaniece Collins (Elder sister) |
Nationality |
American |
Marital Status |
Unmarried |
Girlfriend |
None |
Children |
None |
Built |
Athletic |
Sexual Orientation |
Straight |
Hair Color |
Black |
Eye Color |
Dark-brown |
Weight |
210 lb / 95 kg |
Height |
6 ft 4 in / 1.93 m / 193 cm |
Ethnicity |
African-American |
Zodiac Sign |
Libra |
Profession |
Professional Basketball Player |
Education |
Oscar F. Smith High School Oak Hill Academy Louisiana State University |
NBA Draft |
Brooklyn Nets: 2021/Round: 1/Pick 27th Overall |
Awards & Achievements |
First-team All-SEC (2021) |
Playing Career |
2021-Present |
Association |
Brooklyn Nets (2021-Present) Long Island Nets (2021, NBA G-League) |
Position |
Shooting Guard |
Roster Status |
Active |
Salary |
$2.61 Million |
Net Worth |
$1-$5 Million |
Social Media |
|
Merch |
Early Life & Education
Early Life
Cam Thomas, a 21-year-old shooting guard for the Brooklyn Nets, was born in Yokosuka, Japan, on October 13, 2001, to parents Leslie Thomas and Dale MacMillan.
Cam’s mother raised him, thus he doesn’t have a close relationship with his father.
Cam has said that his mother significantly influenced his upbringing and taught him the value and importance of hard work and discipline.
Sportsmanship runs in the family since Leslie served in the military and played basketball in high school and middle school herself.
Cam’s interest in basketball was piqued when he watched his older sister, Shaniece Collins, play the game. Later, Thomas would learn from his sister.
Interestingly, he won a contest by making 33 straight free throws when he was seven.
Education
Cam spent his first year at Oscar F. Smith High School before transferring to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia.
He had a successful time in high school. He won the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League’s Offensive Player of the Year award for 2019.
He chose Louisiana State over UCLA on November 18, 2019, after an outstanding high school career.
Cam forewent his remaining collegiate eligibility and entered the 2021 NBA Draft on April 15.
Career
The Nets selected Cam in the first round of the 2021 NBA Draft, and he will play with fellow first-round choice Marcus Zegarowski. (round two, 49th overall).
While with the Brooklyn Nets, he participated in the 2021 NBA Summer League, where he was crowned the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
On August 5, 2021, Cam Thomas became the club’s newest rookie signee.
On October 19, 2021, he made his first appearance in an NBA game, a loss to the Milwaukee Bucks by a score of 104-127.
In 67 games (two starts) as a rookie in 2021-22, he averaged 8.5 points, 1.2 assists, and 2.4 rebounds.
The 2022 NBA Summer League roster for the Nets includes Thomas as well.
Cam, at 21 years old, scored 43 pts in a 116-112 defeat to the Phoenix Suns on February 7, 2023, becoming the youngest NBA player to have three consecutive 40-point games.
LeBron James, a superstar of the Los Angeles Lakers, scored 38 points as his team lost 133-130 against the Oklahoma City Thunder on the same day, he became the NBA’s all-time leading scorer with 38,388 points.
At 19 years and 88 days old, James is the youngest player in the basketball history of the NBA to score 40 points (precisely 41 points).
He played 28 minutes and scored 18 points on March 26 in a loss to the Orlando Magic.
After losing to OKC, San Antonio, Denver, and Orlando in a row, he and his squad faced elimination.
Net Worth & Contracts
As of 2023, shooting guard Cam Thomas of the Brooklyn Nets has a net worth of anywhere from $1 million to $5 million.
Cam’s brand endorsement partnerships help supplement his NBA salary.
Cam Thomas, a rookie, inked a multiyear endorsement deal with Adidas in September 2021.
He was one of five players that year (with Evan Mobley, Jalen Green, Sharife Cooper, and Jalen Suggs) to sign a contract with Adidas.
However, both parties have kept the contract’s monetary terms secret from the public.
Given the star rookie’s acclaim, its value is likely in the millions.
Contracts
On August 5, 2021, the Brooklyn Nets and rookie forward Cameron Thomas agreed to a four-year, $10.46 million contract.
The agreement includes a $2.61 million yearly salary over the guaranteed sum.
Cam will have a basic salary of $2.13 million in 2022–23.
The Nets picked up a $2.24 million option for the 2023-24 campaign on October 17, 2022.
Cam can sign a rookie extension after the 2023–24 season that could pay him an average of $35.31 million per year for a total of $205 million.
Controversy
Cam’s professional career seemed to be going well until he made an anti-gay slur in a postgame interview.
During a postgame interview after the Nets’ February 9, 2023, victory over the Chicago Bulls, Cam used “derogatory and disparaging language,” earning him a $40,000 punishment from the NBA.
On-court reporter TNT questioned him about teammate Spencer Dinwiddie’s claims that the squad didn’t recruit the best players but the most attractive ones.
Cam said, “We already had good-looking guys,” before ending his sentence with an anti-gay insult.
He apologized after the social media event, but it hasn’t gone down well with his followers.
During the postgame interview, Thomas uttered a term that some people could find offensive. “I was joking around because I was overjoyed with the victory. I didn’t want to be offensive, but I was. Once again, I apologize. Much affection”
Girlfriend and Social Media Presence
Nobody knows anything about Cameron Thomas’s personal life.
However, his supporters are confident he can help the Brooklyn Nets recover from the loss of Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.
Cam maintains a sizable social media presence, having over 185,000 Instagram followers and over 30,000 on Twitter.
His games and highlight videos from practice are documented on Instagram.